Chapter 2 Reflection Questions

Compare and Contrast the similarities and differences between Biocentric Preservation and Utilitarian Conservation.

The term Biocentric Preservation is defined as such: someone who values natural resources because of their usefulness for practical purposes, but uses them sensibly and carefully. A person who values these ideals is not concerned with the entire big picture of the situation, but believes that a little effort makes a big difference in the long run. They are more concerned with the logical course of action, and take more time planning a legally and politically correct way of tackling the problem.

Alternatively, the term Utilitarian Conservation describes the other side of the spectrum, and defines the person who believes in protecting nature because all forms of life deserve respect and consideration, not just in terms of profit or practicality. These kinds of people tend to be more eccentric and idealistic, trying to look out for every single thing on the spectrum while abandoning logical ideas and actions. Basically, they focus more on abandoning as many harmful actions towards the environment as the Biocentric Preservationists, but take drastic measures to do so and end up causing confusion for both parties.

These two terms are similar in terms of the few basic ideas (preserving nature, creating environmental laws and protecting wildlife), but they are fundamentally different and oppose each other's thinking. While the Biocentric Preservationists logically create ways to handle a situation in a way that benefits both parties, and focus more on smaller-scale situations, the Utilitarian Conservationists go whole hog and put the salvation of the natural species before anything else. They think in terms of the big picture, the global view, and so the legal repercussions do not matter in the long run

Optional- Describe the environmental impact of an environmental “incident” (fire, hazardous material spill, ecosystem disruption, either natural or man-made) in your bio-region. How had this incident affected the local economy?

When something small such as a fire occurs in your town, you don’t think too much of the external consequences that arise from an event such as this. In fact, something as small as one fire can leave drastic consequences for the economy of the town you live in. 

Only when you consider the larger implications that something so harmless as one house burning down can have for the environment and the larger global community can you begin to realize that we are all, in fact, connected in some way. As a natural or man-made disaster occurs, so too does the increasing need to fix said disaster in an economically convenient way. 

These things known as Environmental Impact Statements affect the government’s consideration of whether or not to approve of funding certain environmental projects. For example, by deciding to finance the construction of a dam, they need to produce a cost-effective analysis which can establish the solution that is least damaging to the economy.