Author Institution: Chairman, Ohio Natural Areas Council ; Director, The Ohio State University Museum of Zoology ; and Curator, The Ohio Historical Society, Columbus 4321

Stansbery, David H.

The Ohio Journal of Science

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THE OHIO JOURNAL OF SCIENCEVol. 72 JANUARY, 1972 No. 1THE RESPONSIBILITY OF THE PROFESSIONAL ECOLOGISTIN THE PRESERVATION OF NATURAL AREAS1DAVID H. STANSBERYChairman, Ohio Natural Areas Council; Director, The Ohio State University Museum of Zoology;and Curator, The Ohio Historical Society, Columbus 43210We are professional ecologists. Though each member of the Academy'sEcology Committee has reservations about his own qualifications in certainaspects of the subject, we are, nevertheless, part of that group of professionalscholars to whom our colleagues and the lay public look for guidance and leader-ship in things ecological.Over the past decade I have become involved in a number of group effortscharacterized by having an ecological or environmental concern. These groupstake the form of clubs, societies, committees, councils, commissions, etc., andencompass public and private, local, state, and federal organizations. Many ofthese groups are composed largely of non-ecologists, but I have been very favor-ably impressed, especially in recent years, by their deep interest and desire to seecorrective action taken in environmental problems. Not the least of these prob-lems is the preservation of at least representative samples of natural and near-natural habitat areas.Those of us engaged in field work are keenly aware of the continuing degrada-tion and disappearance of our native forests, prairies, rivers, streams, swamps,and bogs. The problem here is an exceedingly difficult one, since what is lookedupon as "destruction" by one part of society is considered "progress" by another,and is viewed with confusion by the majority who wish to do what is right andbest for man and his environment, both from an ethical and an economic pointof view. These people want and need competent help—much of it of the typethat only the professional ecologist can provide.Many voices are being heard in environmental discussions today. Some ofthe loudest are characterized by immovable positions based on inadequate in-formation. There are the so-called "diligent destroyers" on the one hand and the"irresponsible preservationists" on the other. Please don't misunderstand me.I am quite convinced that we have some who deserve such labels, but thankfully,these individuals and organizations are few in number. Most of society findsitself very realistically between these two extreme positions. Name-calling andmis-labeling, no matter how sincere or warranted this action may be, will mostcertainly add to our problems rather than solve them.The non-ecologist, deeply concerned about the welfare of man and his world,desperately needs the help of the professional even though he may not knowhow to seek aid, what questions to ask, or, sometimes, even that this need exists.We, as teachers of and researchers in ecology, have much of the informationneeded to solve these problems. We are all painfully aware how incomplete ourOriginally presented before the second annual meeting of the Ecology Committee of TheOhio Academy of Science, held in Columbus on November 20, 1971, the members of whichenthusiastically voted for its publication in The Ohio Journal of Science.THE OHIO JOURNAL OF SCIENCE 72(1): 1, January, 1972.2 DAVID H. STANSBERY Vol. 72knowledge is, compared to what is needed, but what information we do haveneeds to be shared so that it can be put to work. There is also a need to let thepublic at large know what the questions are that we cannot answer, either becausethe needed facts are outside our field of specialization or, as I've found in manyinstances, because the necessary research has yet to be done. All of this meanswe have an obligation to become involved. Our fellow specialists in relatedfields must also become involved. Unless we make it a point to participate inconferences (not merely attend) and to join appropriate action groups (and beheard), we will have few to blame except ourselves if governmental and privateagencies and organizations do not operate in accordance with at least basic eco-logical facts and principles.Each of us has somewhat different interests and abilities, hence can and shouldserve in different ways. I want to discuss briefly how the professional ecologistcan and should help in the preservation of natural areas.At the outset, let me stress that in nearly every instance it will be necessaryfor us to initiate the communication ourselves. One of the better means of learn-ing what is needed is to join one or more of the existing environmental organiza-tions such as the Audubon Society, The Nature Conservancy, Sierra Club, NationalParks and Conservation Association, and/or Friends of the Earth. There are manyothers, each somewhat different in its orientation and organization. All are inneed of ecological expertise in the evaluation of natural areas being considered forpreservation.It is only fair to mention that the image of the academic ecologist is somethingless than glowing in the eyes of many lay persons now hard at work trying to edu-cate the powers that be without the factual information we could provide. TheEcological Society of America founded The Nature Conservancy (which unques-tionably has preserved more acres than all other such organizations combined),but how much support do the ecologists or their society give The Nature Conservancytoday? We use the areas they preserve for both research and teaching. Don'twe have a debt here? Only recently I heard the academic ecologist described as"hiding behind the shield of pseudo-professional respectability." The idea wasthat we consider ourselves above membership in so-called "amateur organizations,"and that we aren't about to lower ourselves to do the kind of work that is neces-sary to save an area which is biologically valuable and/or aesthetically pleasing.So far the "little old ladies in tennis shoes" have been carrying the brunt of theload for all of us. Isn't it time we gave them some help?Another important contribution we can make is to restore a sense of balanceto the reasoning process where it has gone astray. To arbitrarily condemn allsuper-highways, all river impoundments, all stream dredging, and all housingprojects is unrealistic in our present circumstances (see Dambach, 1970, p. 201).Some preservationists, however, have lost so often and so much in recent yearsthat they find it difficult to be wholly rational in these matters. On the otherhand, some developers are so accustomed to running roughshod over areas havinggreat biological or aesthetic value that they have great difficulty in taking thesevalues into serious consideration. We badly need genuine cooperative long-rangeplanning, not merely for decades or a century or two, but for the indefinite future.We must discern as best we can today what values and opportunities will be de-sired by future generations. We must carefully study our natural resources todetermine what as-yet-unrecognized potential values they may hold. I refer hereto our resources of wild plants and animals, as well as other facets of our naturalenvironment whose ecologic and economic importance is as yet virtually unin-vestigated. Hopefully, as individuals accustomed to viewing entire ecosystems,and as persons used to making an effort to recognize and to take into account all ofthe interrelated factors operating in any given situation, perhaps we can tactfullysuggest possible alternatives and bring a greater efficiency into such deliberations.No. 1 RESPONSIBILITY OF THE PROFESSIONAL ECOLOGIST 3Perhaps the expertise of the ecologist and the ecosystematist is most neededto appraise accurately each endangered natural area, an unplowed prairie, anundrained bog, or an unpolluted stream. In this way biological values may beadded to the aesthetic and other values in setting priorities for land acquisitionand other costly items of preservation. Here is a function which no one butcompetent specialists can perform. I hope and trust that before long most preser-vation organizations will have established as standard procedure the carefulexamination of each proposed natural area by a group of such specialists. Thiscan only improve the standards by which the areas are evaluated and assignedpriorities.Those of us who teach have the obligation of encouraging knowledgeable,responsible, considerate action in these matters on the part of our students. Forthem to postpone participation in such matters until they are established profes-sionals will be too late in many instances. Many graduate students are moreknowledgeable and better able to communicate than are many of those who arenow carrying the work forward. The emphasis here must be on having the facts,being responsible for one's words and actions, and being considerate of the opinionsof those with different views.Providing this ecological knowledge is an unusual opportunity to put ourability and experience to work in a cause just as worthy as teaching and research.Here is the opportunity to add a very practical dimension to our all too-academicimage and to leave the "ivory tower." Here is the opportunity to serve thegreater community of man, both now and for generations to come.REFERENCE CITEDDambach, Charles. 1970. The search for environmental quality. Ohio J. Sci. 70(4): 199-201.

The Responsibility of the Professional Ecologist in the Preservation of Natural Areas

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The Responsibility of the Professional Ecologist in the Preservation of Natural Areas

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