Cohabitation

Topic: Environmental Policy
Advocates of "separation ecology" often argue that it is undesirable for animals to become accustomed to human presence. By contrast, connection ecologists view it as desirable for human and non-human species to "learn to live together." Such "cohabitation" requires first that humans learn to leave these animals alone and respect their genuinely critical habitat (as they do in Boulder with increasing sophistication). Such habitat protection measures include, for example, the avoidance of areas immediately around nesting sites and the construction of new, "compensatory" habitats such as wetlands and nesting boxes. Once animals become confident of their security, however, they are almost always able to adapt to human presence. And, this adaptation enables them to inhabit much larger areas than would otherwise be possible. After all, genuinely human-free areas are going to be in increasingly short supply.

Role of Urban Wilderness

Topic: Environmental Policy
From an ecological perspective the most important role of wild areas adjacent tourban centers is the building of human/environmental connections. It is these connections which ultimately underlie public support for a broad range of environmental goals. Preservation of urban wilderness at the cost of undermining environmental constituency building is likely to be a great mistake.

Unconventional Environmental Connections

Topic: Environmental Policy
A number of widespread human activities which reflect human desires to connect with the natural world are commonly overlooked or even condemned by the mainstream environmental movement. These include, for example, the deep connections that people to develop with domestic animals -- dogs, cats, and horses, for example. There is also the role that gardening plays in the lives of people who have lost the agricultural connections which are so central to human history. Beyond this is the human drive to engage in adventurous activities with intense physical exertion. These activities resonate with our evolutionary history in ways which passive theme parks, movie theaters, and computer games can't hope to duplicate. Rather than pushing people away from such activities, environmentalists should be encouraging them.

User Fees / Sweat Equity Option

Topic: Environmental Policy
While certainly affordable, there are increased costs associated with connection ecology programs and environmentally responsible visitor plans. And, in a society as wealthy as ours, there is no reason why visitors can't help cover these costs. Still, one of the real attractions associated with environmental recreation is that it is accessible to all income groups. So, we suggest that any user fee program include a component which allows visitors to substitute sweat equity for cash payments. For example, participating in an all-day trail construction and maintenance program could entitle visitors to a free one year pass.