Details zur Publikation

Kategorie Textpublikation
Referenztyp Zeitschriften
DOI 10.1007/s10531-006-9088-8
Volltext Shareable Link
Titel (primär) The application of environmental ethics in biological conservation: a case study from the southernmost tip of the Americas
Autor Haider, S.; Jax, K.
Quelle Biodiversity and Conservation
Erscheinungsjahr 2007
Department NSF
Band/Volume 16
Heft 9
Seite von 2559
Seite bis 2573
Sprache englisch
Keywords beaver; Cape Horn Archipelago; Chile; conservation conflicts; conservation ethics; environmental ethics; evaluation; invasive species
Abstract Biological conservation is not only about facts and technical measures concerning ecology, rather it must also consider values. This pertains to both the balancing of various human interests and also to the ethical evaluation of human actions towards nature. Here we discuss how environmental ethics can be incorporated into conservation decisions, and what implications the inclusion of ethical valuation has for the practice of conservation biology. While this is done mostly on a rather abstract level, we illustrate this here by applying ethical theory to a case study: the options for management of the introduced North American beaver (Castor canadensis) in the very south of Chile (Navarino Island). The beaver is an exotic species to the area and has substantially altered the ecological systems of the region. We discuss different options for dealing with the beaver (eradicate, control, tolerate, promote) from the viewpoint of anthropocentric environmental ethics and biocentric ethics. The results of our analysis demonstrate the value of ethical discussions in clarifying and underpinning arguments for and against specific actions. At the same time, they also show that ethical arguments do not decrease the need for sound scientific data but, on the contrary, may even increase this demand. We also highlight that the conclusions regarding adequate actions to be taken vary depending on the specific ethical theory embraced.
dauerhafte UFZ-Verlinkung https://www.ufz.de/index.php?en=20939&ufzPublicationIdentifier=1834
Haider, S., Jax, K. (2007):
The application of environmental ethics in biological conservation: a case study from the southernmost tip of the Americas
Biodivers. Conserv. 16 (9), 2559 - 2573 10.1007/s10531-006-9088-8