Naturalness and Beyond: Protected Area Stewardship in an Era of Global Environmental Change

Abstract

have begun to question the feasibility of maintaining natural conditions in protected areas. Growing awareness of Native American influence and recognition of the dynamics of natural systems raise questions about what naturalness even is. And with increasing recognition of the potential effects of climate change, there is a dawning awareness that it may not even be desirable to maintain naturalness. Is the concept of naturalness still sufficient to guide protected area stewardship? Should it be reinterpreted or more precisely defined? Are there other concepts that should complement it or take its place (Box 1)? In April 2007 we convened a small workshop to explore this question. In this paper, we share some of what was discussed in that workshop. We examine the various meanings of naturalness and why it is increasingly problematic (as commonly defined) as a central goal for protected area management. We detail the case for and against human intervention in ecosystem processes. We explore how naturalness might be redefined or reinterpreted, and how concepts such as ecological integrity