Translating nature: river restoration as nature-culture

Abstract

In this paper we examine the process of river restoration at the river Cole in southern England. We argue that analysing such environmental transformations as actor-network translations or ‘nature-cultures’ can provide an integrative perspective on the process of restoration and its intertwining of natural and human actors and help to avoid the traps of defining ‘nature’ and separating it from society; traps which open up before environmental philosophy when examining restoration. However, a translation perspective is less helpful in evaluating or prescribing restoration as environmental management.