Comparing The Works Of Pinchot, John Muir, And Aldo Leopold

For their time, Gifford Pinchot, John Muir, and Aldo Leopold held to beliefs that would influence conservationist ideals for many years to come. These pioneers of the concept of "harmony between men and land" (Leopold, 1949, p. 217) constructed a new wave of thinking towards conservation. Their work provided the foundations of contemporary thinking, which is more concerned with globalization and education than moral obligation. Although conservation is still a well discussed issue, many steps have yet to be taken to align society with the goals necessary to preserve a lush natural world. Pinchot held that the natural world exists for the sole "benefit of the people who live [on the Earth]" (Pinchot, 1910, p.33). This ideology fell under the
Muir and Leopold, in contrast, argued in favour of a biocentric view, that nature is a god-given privilege that must be preserved and respected (Muir, 1901). Leopold, specifically believed in a sense of harmony and community between man and nature, that they are not separate and are instead one and the same (Leopold, 1949). A more contemporary conservationist effort, Parks Canada, stresses "public understanding, appreciation and enjoyment" (Parks Canada) are necessary to "ensure the ecological and commemorative integrity" (Parks Canada) of the world. This corresponds to Pinchot's view, because both perspectives share the assumption that humans give value to nature. The World Wildlife Foundation (WWF), a more biocentric organization, holds true to the belief that it is humanity's duty "to build a future in which people live in harmony with nature" (WWF). Biocentrism considers natural equality paramount. At the other "end of the continuum, people who are strongly anthropocentric care only about the welfare of humanity; all other species are resources to be exploited." (Hunter