Integrating ecology and environmental ethics: Earth stewardship in the southern end of the Americas

RICARDO ROZZI; JUAN J. ARMESTO; JULIO R. GUTIÉRREZ; CHRISTOPHER B. ANDERSON; FRANCISCA MASSARDO; GENE E. LIKENS; ALEXANDRIA POOLE; KELLI MOSES; EUGENE HARGROVE; ANDRÉS O. MANSILLA; JAMES H. KENNEDY; MARY WILSON; KURT JAX; CLIVE JONES; J. BAIRD CALLICOT; MARY T. KALIN ARROYO

BIOSCIENCE

AMER INST BIOLOGICAL SCI

Año: 2011

0006-3568

The South American temperate forests cover the longest latitudinal range in the southern hemisphere, and include the world?s southernmost forests. However, until now this unique biome lacks LTER (Long-Term Ecological Research) and biodiversity monitoring programs. Moreover, 40 to 60oS represents the only the latitudinal range that is completely neglected by International-LTER and other ecosystem monitoring programs. In this article we first identify ten attributes of biological and cultural diversity that makes the austral biome globally significant. Then, we present the recently created Chilean Long-Term Socio-Ecological Research (LTSER) network, which is currently being linked to I-LTER. Finally, we introduce the ?field environmental philosophy? methodology, developed at the Chilean LTSER network to integrate ecological sciences and environmental ethics into biocultural conservation. This approach broadens the prevailing spectrum of social dimensions considered at LTSER programs, and contributes to foster bioculturally diverse forms of Earth stewardship.