[Ecoed] question about environmental terminology

[Jerrold Zar]

"Stewardship" means responsible management, so that's a pretty good
term.  I don't view it as necessarily implying managing with the goal of
resource acquisition. 
 
"Conservation" refers to protecting and preserving, which is OK if what
exists is what one want to preserve.  (For example, if an ecosystem is
in pretty bad shape, it might be desired to manage it with the intent of
improving it, not to keep it the way it is.)  
 
"Creation Care" is definitely a religious reference.  Thus, it may be
useful in a religious context, but it is not appropriate in a scientific
context. 

---Jerry Zar
 
Jerrold H. Zar
Department of Biological Sciences
Northern Illinois University
DeKalb IL 60115
 
jhzar at niu.edu

>>> "Piper, Jon" <SMILAX at bethelks.edu> 09/05/07 10:25 AM >>>

I have a question for anyone who has thought a lot about the choice and
use of words. My college*s administration has decided recently to
strengthen the college*s commitments to the environment (e.g., improving
the campus recycling program, exploring and installing renewable energy
sources, conducting an audit of energy use on campus), and has sometimes
used the term *environmental stewardship.* I have never been comfortable
with the term *stewardship* because of the implied regard for the Earth
merely as *resources or property to be managed.* But, I do not yet have
a better alternative at hand. I know that many of you have thought a lot
about appropriate terminology, and am wondering whether someone has
discovered or coined is a better term or set of terms. A lot of the
churches talk about *Creation Care,* which I don*t mind too much except
for the connotations with creationism. I*ve heard some people talk about
*Tending the Garden,* but the Earth is considerably more ancient,
complex, and profound than a garden, and again the implication is that
Earth exists to serve our needs.  Anyway, if anyone has thought about
this question and has arrived at better terminology, I*d be happy to
learn of it. Thanks, in advance, for sharing your wisdom. Jon K.
PiperDept of BiologyBethel CollegeNorth Newton, KSUSA 

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