August Frey
South University Online
Wild World Lost
All throughout history, man has sought to improve his quality of life and those of generations to come. Creating great cities, housing millions, where the inhabitants live work and play together, he has provided space for the species to thrive. Offering safety, support and commerce to the inhabitants, these cities have grown, spreading out, getting larger and more numerous. This expansion and growth reduces the area available to the wildlife and vegetation in the natural world. Governments on both the local and national levels trying to offset the impact, set aside expanses of land for nature preserves, sanctuaries, and even historical sites, yet this is not enough. As hard economic times begin to affect everyone, many of these places are closing or suffering cutbacks and some being sold. The lands protected by regulations and statutes will succumb to the needs of humans. The native populations will be evicted becoming endangered or extinct. Private interest groups are now stepping up to offer support and funding. The Friends of Five Rivers group has taken a stance to rally for the preservation of an area once known to house The Delmar Game Farm and Zoo located in the town of Delmar, New York. Originally set aside in the 1930’s as a wild game bird refuge, it has seen its share of financial and other hardships. It was only through hard work and persistence that “The Friends Group” the Five Rivers Environmental Education Center was constructed (Conservation, N. Y.). Without groups such as “The Friend’s” the wild natural world around us could be lost forever. Groups like this urge people to take good hard look at what they believe and take a stance. Environmental protection is everyone’s concern, in the debate of wilderness versus urbanism.
Upon entering the debate, one must be able to define the terms wilderness, and urbanism. Wilderness can be described as a wild, uninhabited, and