Preservation of wilderness: The need to go beyond intrinsic values and rights?

In Hong Kong the wilderness is facing threats. To protect the low lying coastal areas from the growing pressure of development, convincing environmental ethics subscribed by the general public are needed to mount up social pressure to formulate comprehensive policy on conservation. This study focuses on examining the environmental ethics embedded in the instructional materials and programs of major green groups. How the green groups publicize their environment philosophies through articles or education programs are influential in convincing the public to support and initiate environmental conservation. There are various environmental positions. Some may go for the intrinsic values in Nature, some may regard that it is immoral to disregard the rights of Nature, while others look for the instrumental values of Nature to help saving the wilderness. A discussion on the intrinsic environmental value, environmental and instrumental value follows to compare the pros and cons of justifying the need for environmental conservation through different ethical perspectives. Copyright © 2006 The Chinese University Press.