Introduction to Conservation Series
In general, we have more freedom and ability to move through the world today than any other group of people, at any time in history, regardless of whether we take advantage of that fact or not. That leads me to ask, what responsibility do we have to the world around us if we do take advantage of our freedom to move around the globe and experience other cultures and peoples and places? If I thought the answer was “none“ then this would be a short article, but I do think that people who travel have a responsibility to the places they go and to the people who live there.
In this series of articles we are going to explore conservation issues and concerns, what obstacles exist to being good stewards of our world, and what travelers are obligated to do, have the ability to do, and have the opportunity to do. We are going to feature articles written by us here at the Gilded Gosling, and some written by outside sources, offering unique views and thoughts. So…
What does conservation mean to someone in modern America and other developed countries?
Storm King, Olympic National Park
Conservation is one of a few “C words” that can be tricky to use. Often contrary to another hot button word, Capitalism, both can be dirty in certain circles. To some it means restoration and renewal, a return to something better and more meaningful. To others, it is simply using a resource efficiently, regardless of whether or not that resource becomes depleted. In some places it can mean a waste of resources, leaving fallow what could be turned to profit. Whatever the word means to you right now, it is an important word that means the difference between wealth and poverty. Whether that means profits in the form of money or poverty in the form of natural beauty is the heart and pith of the question.
Today we find ourselves blessed by the efforts of previous generations with parks and forests protected by laws, with the right to enjoy those places at our leisure. We benefit, as Americans and visitors to America, from the beautiful and varied spaces that make up the natural state of the United States. We have many people to thank for this largesse, among them Presidents U.S. Grant and Teddy Roosevelt, and conservationists such as Gifford Pinchot, John Muir, and Aldo Leopold, to varying degrees. As of this writing, the recent passing of President Jimmy Carter is notable in this context for his signature creating vast tracts of protected land in Alaska.
Orcas Island, Washington
The benefit of this state of affairs and of these spaces is derived from the enjoyment we experience from seeing, smelling, tasting, and experiencing these places, and the things that live within them. Whether they are the wetlands of Wisconsin, the Rocky mountains of Colorado, or the temperate rainforests of Washington they are worth keeping as they are for their own sake. They have intrinsic value that is inherent in the untouched, or less touched, nature of nature. As I, and many others, derive a benefit from these natural places that comes from its very nature, I think that it is likely that I am at least indirectly responsible for its well being.
Does nature need anyone to do anything?
“Nature, uh, finds a way.” quoth Jeff Goldblum.
There are many reasons, and many of those sound and rational, to interfere with the natural and untouched course of the world around us. Where we draw the line is where my mind goes next, after supposing that I do indeed have a responsibility to maintain what I am benefitting from. At what point do we need to intercede on nature’s behalf? Thankfully, most of us will not require much moral or ethical introspection to behave in a responsible manner toward the natural world and engage in conservation as we can, and where we can. These articles are not being written to create culture warriors, but to call you to action in your own community and in your travels, as befits an organization focused almost entirely on travel, to be a good steward of where you happen to be right now.
Bocas del Toro, Panama
Some places do, and will continue to, need a lot of help. Bocas del Toro, Panama always comes to mind when I think of what could or should be done. These islands in the Caribbean are lovely, tranquil, and not yet overrun by tourists. They are also covered in litter, especially plastic. Your local park might not need as much TLC as BdT, because it probably already receives the attention it needs for the benefit of its patrons. There are plenty of places in the world that do not. As we, people at large that is, have caused the litter to exist in Panama, we are the ones who are responsible for cleaning it up. The dolphins and the frigate birds didn’t make the mess, and can do nothing about it in any case.
What can you do to protect, preserve, and enhance the areas around you?
As a person grounded in a home, an apartment, a college, or in the home of another, there are plenty of things you can do to encourage the natural habits and patterns that occur where you live.
As someone who travels, how can we practice good conservation habits while we travel?
The first step to becoming a conservationist that makes a difference, no matter where you are, is recognizing the interconnected nature of the world around you. Monarch butterflies are one of over 200 species of butterflies and skippers in the state of Indiana alone, and this one species of butterfly migrates thousands of miles every year into Mexico. The sheer number of species of insects, let alone the number of insects themselves, makes keeping track of them all an impossible task. Yet the Monarch does illustrate the relationships that are formed between far flung corners of the globe by those living beings that move between them.
Recognizing the interconnected nature of the world we live in enables travelers to see much more easily the importance of conservation and conscientious efforts to improve and maintain the world around them, no matter where in that world they happen to be.
Conservation on the Go
Devoting time to conservation and preservation of our natural areas is difficult enough in our modern lives where our days are accounted for down to the minute at work, and our leisure time is precious to us. How much more difficult it is to devote our few vacation days to areas of the world we, in all probability, will never see again!
It would be a powerful article that persuaded people to give their only truly free extended periods of time to causes not really their own, and if so, only by extension. Instead, it is a much easier task to persuade people to travel sustainably and in a manner that preserves nature wherever it is.
So, we should consider the manner of our travel: planes, trains, and automobiles. How should we travel? What gives us the most efficient use of our limited time and resources to get us where we want to go while not destroying the world we are trying to enjoy?
Over Kentucky
I hate cruises. The reason has nothing to do with the organizations or people that own those ships, or people that go on those ships, and from a business standpoint I think cruises are an interesting and worthwhile idea. They are, in my overall opinion however, a detriment to society and a terrible vacation, as they are terribly inefficient, they produce nothing of value that cannot be had without them, and they consume a massive amount of resources that could be used in much more worthwhile endeavors. While ships vary in size, a large cruise ship can use 200-250 tons of fuel per day. On a 7 day cruise, that’s 1,400 tons of fuel, which is nearly 500,000 gallons! That’s a lot of fuel burned just to sit around listening to Jimmy Buffet impersonators for a week.
Aside from cruise bashing, the point is that we have choices to make when we travel, and those choices have to do with more than convenience to ourselves or our pocketbooks. We can choose to go on a cruise, or we can camp in the back country under the power of our own two legs. We can take the train, or we can rent a car. Fly private or commercial. All manner of choices await us as we explore the world, some with larger consequences than others, but all of them important in their own way. As we travel, how can we do so with a good conscience, as good stewards of what we benefit from?
