Integrating Ecology and Environmental Ethics: Earth Stewardship in the Southern End of the Americas

• Published in: Bioscience Vol. 62; no. 3; pp. 226 - 236
• Main Authors: Rozzi, Ricardo, Armesto, Juan J, Gutiérrez, Julio R, Massardo, Francisca, Likens, Gene E, Anderson, Christopher B, Poole, Alexandria, Moses, Kelli P, Hargrove, Eugene, Mansilla, Andres O, Kennedy, James H, Willson, Mary, Jax, Kurt, Jones, Clive G, Callicott, J. Baird, Arroyo, Mary T. K
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Oxford University of California Press 01-03-2012; Oxford University Press
• Subjects: Biomes; Biosphere; conservation; Conservation biology; Cultural Pluralism; Earth; Ecological research; Ecologists; Ecology; Ecoregions; Ecotourism; Environmental engineering; Environmental ethics; Environmental philosophy; Environmental social sciences; Ethics; field stations; Global Approach; Grants; Human ecology; long-term ecological research; Multiculturalism & pluralism; Networks; Old growth forests; OVERVIEW ARTICLES; Philosophy; Science and Society; Society; Southern hemisphere; Studies; sub-Antarctic ecoregion; Temperate forests; Wilderness areas; Northern Hemisphere; Chile
• ISSN: 0006-3568; 1525-3244
• DOI: 10.1525/bio.2012.62.3.4

The South American temperate and sub-Antarctic forests cover the longest latitudinal range in the Southern Hemisphere and include the world's southernmost forests. However, until now, this unique biome has been absent from global ecosystem research and monitoring networks. Moreover, the latitudinal range of between 40 degrees (°) south (S) and 60° S constitutes a conspicuous gap in the International Long-Term Ecological Research (ILTER) and other international networks. We first identify 10 globally salient attributes of biological and cultural diversity in southwestern South America. We then present the nascent Chilean Long-Term Socio-Ecological Research (LTSER) network, which will incorporate a new biome into ILTER. Finally, we introduce the field environmental philosophy methodology, developed by the Chilean LTSER network to integrate ecological sciences and environmental ethics into graduate education and biocultural conservation. This approach broadens the prevailing economic spectrum of social dimensions considered by LTSER programs and helps foster bioculturally diverse forms of Earth stewardship.