Building Ecological Culture, Showcasing Ecological Wisdom
587
Cultural ecology views man’s relation with nature and social environment from
an ecological perspective. In the ecological system, the change of environmental
factors in the biosphere and non-biosphere depends on cultural factors of mankind,
especially the scientific level, technology and equipment involved in the exploitation
of natural resources. Meanwhile, environmental evolution also exerts inestimable
effects on man’s cultural development. The anthropologist Steward first put forth the
concept of “cultural ecology” in 1954, which studies the process of how man adapts to
the environment, or in other words, it studies the generation, development and change
of culture by analyzing the interactions of various factors in the natural and social
environments people live in. The environmental system is deeply affected by man’s
cultural and economic activities—they are closely connected in mutual restriction
and common changes. Human activities have changed the original state of ecological
environment by, for instance, building dams on rivers, reclaiming farmland around
lakes and creating land by filling seas. Ecological evolution is deeply imprinted with
the footprint of human activities.
From a cultural perspective, environmental problems are deeply linked with
people’s cultural values, involving their ideas, behaviors as well as cultural ecology
and ecological culture. The ecological environment, a natural system that man relies
on, is the source of all materials we need for survival. It isn’t an external system
outside human life, but an indispensable source of resources to support our existence, life, production and development. Man is restrained by environmental rules
and all human activities must be within the bounds of environmental bearing capacity.
Civilization prospers when ecology prospers; civilization declines when ecology
declines. When man lives in a cultured manner, the culture should not be anti-nature.
The dialectical unity between culture and nature is the essence of human existence.
Man is restricted by natural rules, and man’s right to enjoy a good material life and
pursue freedom and happiness has to be within the bearing capacity of the ecological
environment.
The ecological crisis has exposed the dilemma of human existence and human
culture. Only by taking concrete steps to reshape the cultural values and change
people’s ideas can we overcome the ecological crisis, safeguard ecological security
and achieve man-nature harmony. Man is at the same time the user, builder and
manager of nature. To manage nature well, they should first manage themselves
well. Man should effectively prevent ecological risks, so that people can eat and live
in safety, maintain the pastoral scenery, and live in a comfortable environment.
Lucid waters and lush mountains not only provide man with material benefits,
but also the resources of living, healthy conditions and spiritual pleasure. In Kubuqi,
Inner Mongolia, more than 6000 square kilometers of sandy areas have been well
harnessed, which now conserve more than 24 billion cubic meters of water resources
and is valued at RMB 349 million for its role in biodiversity protection. The Saihanba
National Forest Park, a forest converted from a desert, is the largest of its kind in
northern China. Presenting the unique views of both a forest and a grassland, it
is reputed as the “source of rivers, hometown of clouds, heaven of flowers, ocean
of forests, and paradise for precious birds and beasts alike.” In December 2017,
Saihanba and Kubuqi were jointly conferred the Champions of the Earth award
587
Cultural ecology views man’s relation with nature and social environment from
an ecological perspective. In the ecological system, the change of environmental
factors in the biosphere and non-biosphere depends on cultural factors of mankind,
especially the scientific level, technology and equipment involved in the exploitation
of natural resources. Meanwhile, environmental evolution also exerts inestimable
effects on man’s cultural development. The anthropologist Steward first put forth the
concept of “cultural ecology” in 1954, which studies the process of how man adapts to
the environment, or in other words, it studies the generation, development and change
of culture by analyzing the interactions of various factors in the natural and social
environments people live in. The environmental system is deeply affected by man’s
cultural and economic activities—they are closely connected in mutual restriction
and common changes. Human activities have changed the original state of ecological
environment by, for instance, building dams on rivers, reclaiming farmland around
lakes and creating land by filling seas. Ecological evolution is deeply imprinted with
the footprint of human activities.
From a cultural perspective, environmental problems are deeply linked with
people’s cultural values, involving their ideas, behaviors as well as cultural ecology
and ecological culture. The ecological environment, a natural system that man relies
on, is the source of all materials we need for survival. It isn’t an external system
outside human life, but an indispensable source of resources to support our existence, life, production and development. Man is restrained by environmental rules
and all human activities must be within the bounds of environmental bearing capacity.
Civilization prospers when ecology prospers; civilization declines when ecology
declines. When man lives in a cultured manner, the culture should not be anti-nature.
The dialectical unity between culture and nature is the essence of human existence.
Man is restricted by natural rules, and man’s right to enjoy a good material life and
pursue freedom and happiness has to be within the bearing capacity of the ecological
environment.
The ecological crisis has exposed the dilemma of human existence and human
culture. Only by taking concrete steps to reshape the cultural values and change
people’s ideas can we overcome the ecological crisis, safeguard ecological security
and achieve man-nature harmony. Man is at the same time the user, builder and
manager of nature. To manage nature well, they should first manage themselves
well. Man should effectively prevent ecological risks, so that people can eat and live
in safety, maintain the pastoral scenery, and live in a comfortable environment.
Lucid waters and lush mountains not only provide man with material benefits,
but also the resources of living, healthy conditions and spiritual pleasure. In Kubuqi,
Inner Mongolia, more than 6000 square kilometers of sandy areas have been well
harnessed, which now conserve more than 24 billion cubic meters of water resources
and is valued at RMB 349 million for its role in biodiversity protection. The Saihanba
National Forest Park, a forest converted from a desert, is the largest of its kind in
northern China. Presenting the unique views of both a forest and a grassland, it
is reputed as the “source of rivers, hometown of clouds, heaven of flowers, ocean
of forests, and paradise for precious birds and beasts alike.” In December 2017,
Saihanba and Kubuqi were jointly conferred the Champions of the Earth award