preview

Human Nature And Nature In The Ecotone By James Clifford

Decent Essays

Human actions do not disturb the pristineness of nature but add into the pristineness by enhancing nature. Artificial structures, such as the landfills and flood control gates aid in protection of property, but cause destruction of certain animal habitats. However, artificial structures in the Bay Area have an ecotonal relationship with nature. Building the floodgates sacrifice the habitat in place of the floodgate, but in the long term, protects more habitats. In “The Ecotone” by James Clifford, Clifford shows the university has a symbiotic relationship with nature. In “Man, the Dominant Animal” by RatCliffe, RatCliffe introduces how human actions go through a cycle of aiding and destroying peregrine life. Landfills help reduce the contamination of toxic chemicals with nature. Floodgates protect buildings against nature’s floods, which create millions of dollars in damage of trees and animal habitat. In the Bay Area, cities, such as Milpitas debate if a floodgate is more beneficial or damaging, and San Francisco debated how to remove the contamination from the rust of old war ships. In my interview with MetCalfe, MetCalfe claims that human machines help nature dispose of waste through the use of anaerobic digesters. Artificial structures have an ecotonal relationship with nature because the relationship consists of a mergence between the two communities. This is important because humans must create artificial structures in a way that will not harm nature. In the writing, “In the Ecotone” by Jim Clifford, Clifford argues that the “composite environment is always being assembled and reassembled— with friction and difficulty”(Clifford 7). In other words, the intersection between human made structures is a natural event of nature because nature continually consists of rearrangement of members. Gathering from Clifford, artificial structures, such as buildings, do not disturb nature but are a part of the natural ecotone. This view is important today because many have a one sided, negative view of construction of buildings. In San Francisco protest that the new skyscraper destroys the beauty of the city by blocking the sun. However, the skyscraper is part of the developing city and creates many habitats for eagles

Get Access