Recognized Webs in Ecosystems

Abstract

This chapter explores the psychological aspects of human–environmental/ecological interaction. The people of Roviana identified and acknowledged a variety of interactions that occur between humans, plants, and animals. They recognized the ecological fact that animals often affect humans through their relationships with plants, and these people recognized themselves as a part of the local ecological chains and food webs. However, this chapter also shows how the villagers recognized that people may have adverse effects on the ecosystem. For example, villagers reported their negative effects for plants they recognized as having direct negative effects on humans or, more simply, included plants they found problematic and typically killed. These analyses are used to discuss the existence of traditional conservation ethics that are designed to protect biodiversity and may affect it. In some ways, the people of Roviana are similar to people in Western countries, with an interest in short-term gains at the expense of the environment in some cases, while the conservation ethics of conservation organizations are often stronger than those of some individuals in both Roviana and in the West.