This paper argues that far from being half of an unhelpful dichotomy, intrinsic natural values are incontrovertible elements of any honest effort to sustain Earth’s biodiversity. The “good life” they support is a good life for humans, and not for nonhuman beings or collectives. While passingly acknowledging intrinsic natural values, the current IPBES platform gives little attention to these, and to corresponding ecocentric worldviews. This paper demonstrates the important practical implications of operationalizing intrinsic values for conservation, such as ecological justice, i.e., “peoples’ obligations to nature”. The authors urge the IPBES platform, in their future values work, to become much more inclusive of intrinsic values and ecocentrism.
“Nature’s contributions to people” and peoples’ moral obligations to nature
Authors: John J. Piccolo, Bron Taylor, Haydn Washington, Helen Kopnina, Joe Gray, Heather Alberro, Ewa Orlikowska
Date: 12/05/2022
Publisher: Science Direct
