Participation Type
Paper
Presentation #1 Title
All Creatures Great and Small: Valuing Biodiversity in Our Common Home
Presentation #1 Abstract or Summary
Of the many forms of diversity that exist in Appalachia, the rich variety of non-human life or biodiversity may be one of the most spectacular. According to the Highlands Biological Station of the University of North Carolina, the southern Appalachians are one of the most biologically diverse regions in the temperate world, containing thousands of species of plants and animals—many of which are found nowhere else—in notable concentrations. Not only wildlife biologists but also Christian theologians and people of faith have reasons to value biodiversity, as was recently articulated by Pope Francis in his encyclical On Care for Our Common Home. In light of the letter’s foundational concern for an “integral ecology” that recognizes the interdependence of environmental and social issues, Francis is adamant that the destruction of plant and animal species due to human activity is a serious moral issue (#32-39). This paper will offer an interdisciplinary and theological exploration of the value of the region’s biodiversity, particular ways that it is threatened by industry and development, and on-the-ground action that is being taken to protect it.
At-A-Glance Bio- Presenter #1
Jessica Wrobleski is originally from Morgantown, WV and received her PhD in theological ethics from Yale University in 2009. In 2011 she began teaching at Wheeling Jesuit University. Her first book, The Limits of Hospitality (Liturgical Press) was published in 2012.
All Creatures Great and Small: Valuing Biodiversity in Our Common Home
Of the many forms of diversity that exist in Appalachia, the rich variety of non-human life or biodiversity may be one of the most spectacular. According to the Highlands Biological Station of the University of North Carolina, the southern Appalachians are one of the most biologically diverse regions in the temperate world, containing thousands of species of plants and animals—many of which are found nowhere else—in notable concentrations. Not only wildlife biologists but also Christian theologians and people of faith have reasons to value biodiversity, as was recently articulated by Pope Francis in his encyclical On Care for Our Common Home. In light of the letter’s foundational concern for an “integral ecology” that recognizes the interdependence of environmental and social issues, Francis is adamant that the destruction of plant and animal species due to human activity is a serious moral issue (#32-39). This paper will offer an interdisciplinary and theological exploration of the value of the region’s biodiversity, particular ways that it is threatened by industry and development, and on-the-ground action that is being taken to protect it.
