Howweviewnaturetransformstheworldaroundus.Peoplerehearsestoriesaboutnaturewhichmakesensetothem.Ifweaskthequestion’whyconservenature?’,andtheanswersarebasedonmyths,thenarethesegoodmythstohave?Scientificknowledgeabouttheenvironmentisfundamentaltoideasabouthownatureworks.Itisessentialtotheconservationendeavour.However,anyconservationmotivationisnestedwithinasociety’smeaningsofnatureandthewaysocietyvaluesit.Giventhetherapeuticandpsychologicalsignificanceofnatureforusandourculture,thisbookconsidersthemeaningsderivedfromthepoeticandemotionalattachmenttoasenseofplace,whichisarguablyjustasimportantasscientificevidence.Thefunctionalsignificanceofspeciesisimportant,butsotooisthetherapeuticvalueofnature,togetherwiththehistoricandspiritualmeaningsentwinedinahumanfeelingforlandscapeandwildlife.
