What is Nature? - Emma Forrest

    In class we discussed how “nature” is not a clear or universal concept. Some people imagine nature as the untouched wilderness - mountains, forests, rivers - places where human presence is minimal or absent. But the reality is that almost all landscapes on Earth have been shaped by human influence in some way. Even national parks, which seem wild, are managed areas shaped by policy, tourism, and development decisions. So the idea of nature as something separate from humans is not accurate.

    This can cause confusion about how we talk about protecting nature. If humans are already a part of natural systems, then perhaps the goal is not to keep nature separate from us, but to learn how to live within ecosystems responsibly. The way we frame nature impacts policy and our perception. For example, treating nature as separate often leads to the idea that it is something far away from daily life, not something we interact with constantly. In reality, the street trees by an apartment, the air we breathe, and the food we eat are all parts of nature. Recognizing this could change how we as a society think about our responsibility to our natural environment. 


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