Mike Eckhoff Q&A: The Aesthetic Value of Nature
The Colorado State University professor speaks about the value of nature on a personal level.
Colorado State University Professor and Regional Biomass Contact for the United States Department of Agriculture, Mike Eckhoff, speaks on his perception of the natural world’s value as well as natures impact on society and self.
Eckhoff is known for being the USDA Forest Service contact for Forest Service Region 2 covering Colorado, Kansas, Nebraska, South Dakota, and Wyoming. He has worked on projects such as the Colorado Wood Utilization & Marketing Program and conducted research and managed biomass in more than 40 million acres across five states. Eckhoff is also a professor at Colorado State University in Fort Collins, Colorado.
In an online interview with Colorado State University student Zachary Menz, Mike Eckhoff explained his stance on the aesthetic value of the natural world, as well as his connection with nature.
Q: What values do you associate with the natural world?
A:
In short: all of them. For my career, I focus on the market and scientific values that nature provides. If I ignore the life-cycle values of our forests, I’d be out of a job fairly quickly! Because I work in the public sector, my work in nature involves equality, democracy, and localism values, to name a few. Personally, I spend time in the woods for recreation, to recharge the soul, and appreciate the historic value as nature continues to evolve around me.
Q: Do you think that society is gradually distancing itself from the connection it once had with the natural world?
A:
Yes. A few years ago, Kirk Klancke, formerly with Winter Park Ranch Water & Sanitation District and 2011 Field & Stream National Conservationist of the Year, went to the 16th Street Mall in Denver with a video camera and asked passers-by where they thought their water came from. The answers included “I don’t know,” “No,” and “the sink.” Society’s distance from nature feeds its ignorance of how dependent it is on nature — food comes from the grocery store, lumber comes from Lowes or Home Depot, etc. This separation is a tremendous problem and an urgent one, too.
If you are interested in Kirk Klancke’s study, click here.
Q: How has the natural world influenced your life?
A:
The natural world has provided me with a career, a place to seek refuge after a bad week, and an outlet for creative discovery. My life is infinitely richer because I stay connected to my “roots,” both the natural and the historical. I simply couldn’t see myself working in a field or working in a location where I didn’t have regular interactions with and connections to nature.
Q: Do you think it is important to spend time in nature? And, if so, why?
A:
Absolutely! Spending time in nature is critical. Studies from the University of Rochester have found that when our batteries are depleted, spending time in nature is more effective at restoring our mental and physical vigor than a cup of coffee, for instance. Remaining in touch with our natural roots is essential for basic survival.
If you are interested in why spending time in nature is important, and what it can do for you, click here.
