Of what value are values in resource management?

Pete Nowak

Excerpt

VALLIES, widely accepted statements about what is right and important, are truly important in terms of our everyday activities in natural resource management. Relevant examples in natural resource management include stewardship and sus-tainability.

We all recognize the preeniinence of these values. A dominant part of our role as professional resource managers incist be to support and enhance these values among the various public with which we work.

By supporting and enhancing these values I mean they must be a principal part of both our professional and personal relations. Meetings, discussions, newsletters, and demonstrations must be built around such values as stewardship and sustainability. We also must continue and expand the time and resources we commit to working with youth groups relative to these values. I can think of no higher mission for resource professionals than instilling these values among youth, our future land users.

Reality

If you are reading this and feeling comfortable while agreeing with these statements, then I am afraid that I must disappoint …

Footnotes

Pete Nowak is a professor in the Department of Rural Sociology, College of Agricultural and Life Sciences, University of Wisconsin, Madison, and a soil and water conservation specialist with the University of Wisconsin Extension Environmental Resources Center. This article is adapted from a presentation given at the 47th annual meeting of the Soil and Water Conservation Society, Baltimore, Maryland, August 10, 2992.
Copyright 1992 by the Soil and Water Conservation Society

This article requires a subscription to view the full text. If you have a subscription you may use the login form below to view the article. Access to this article can also be purchased.