Environmental stewardship refers to responsible use and protection of the natural environment through conservation and sustainable practices. Aldo Leopold championed environmental stewardship based on a land ethic "dealing with man's relation to land and to the animals and plants which grow upon it."
Think of six natural resource systems and desired outcomes for each one:
Air: Sustain clean and healthy air
Ecosystems: Protect and restore ecosystems functions, goods, and services
Energy: Generate clean energy and use it efficiently
Land: Support ecologically sensitive land management and development
Materials: Consume less, reduce waste, and shift to environmentally preferable materials
Water: Sustain water resources to ensure quality and availability for desired uses
The Blue Ridge Center is a nonprofit organization that manages nearly 900 acres featuring hiking trails through deep woods, babbling streams, a working farm, wildflower meadows, and historic farmsteads. Located in the western region of Virginia’s Loudoun county, we are a key member of the community – our land protects Potomac River tributaries and the Chesapeake Bay watershed, preserves the Appalachian Trail viewshed, and conserves the natural habitat for hundreds of animal species.
If any single word in the Christian vocabulary captures our relationship to--and responsibility for--the environment, that word is stewardship. It is a word that brings into view the relationship between humanity and the natural world of water, land, animals, and fellow human beings. Nevertheless, today, some people think Christianity, especially Calvinism, is largely responsible for many of our environmental problems.
Sustainability has come to the forefront in the wake of increased global understanding that economics, environmental health and human well-being are interconnected and interdependent. Our institute has taken a leadership role in understanding and promoting sustainability.
There has been increasing attention to and investment in local environmental stewardship in conservation and environmental management policies and programs globally. Yet environmental stewardship has not received adequate conceptual attention. Establishing a clear definition and comprehensive analytical framework could strengthen our ability to understand the factors that lead to the success or failure of environmental stewardship in different contexts and how to most effectively support and enable local efforts.
Environmental stewardship in the energy sector requires careful understanding of all impacts of consumption so that the most sustainable energy options can be selected.
Audio Clips:
Gana Wingard, lead scientist on the expedition Wildlife of the Mongolian Steppe, has been working for more than 20 years to conserve the Ikh Nart Nature Reserve and empower the local communities to take an active role in this work. On this episode of the Earthwatch Podcast, Gana shares how she was inspired to pursue a career in conservation, the importance of community involvement, and how she’s working to create the next generation of environmental stewards.
Angelou is the founder and CEO of Greening Youth Foundation, an organization that focuses on the recruitment and placement of thousands of youth and young adults from diverse backgrounds in careers in conservation and land management. Her book, Engage, Connect, Protect: Empowering Young Diverse Environmental Leaders, illustrates the lifelong pursuit of inclusion and equity in conservation and environmental stewardship. On today’s episode, we chat with Angelou about her journey and the work she is doing to bridge the cultural divide and activate a new generation of environmental stewards, as well as why it’s so important to foster a love for this kind of mission.
Joining me today is the author of the article, and previous guest of Open Space Radio, Kathleen Gibi, the executive director for Keep the Tennessee River Beautiful. Kathleen is also a member of Parks & Recreation magazine’s Editorial Advisory Board. We’re also joined by Brad Collett, the director of Tennessee RiverLine, to have a conversation about the good work that’s happening on the Tennessee River and in the surrounding communities.
