Cultural vs. Ecological Values Governing Natural Resource Management: Lessons from Qualitative Food Webs
By Hiram W. Li
ABSTRACT
Many natural resource decisions are subjectively based upon esthetic and cultural values rather than objective analysis of ecological function. This
has led to a dichotomy with respect to managing resources. We classify organisms into commercially valuable, high valued fish vs. trash fish or
garbage species; critters vs. varmints. This led to clouded judgment in terms of several interesting case histories:
- management to remove bull trout (we
are presently fighting to save this endangered fish)
- introduction of hatchery fish into high mountain lakes (where they have extirpated native
species)
- attempts to decrease lamprey production in the Columbia River
- on-going attempts to relocate and diminish numbers of Caspian terns (suspected to be detrimental smolt predators).
Qualitative analysis reveals the ecological value of species with respect to their value to species of
interests along indirect lines of interaction, and underscores the need for multispecies management.
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