What, Exactly, Is an “Environmentalist?”

If you ask 10 different people to define “environmentalist,” you’ll probably get 15 different definitions.  So let’s first find what might be considered a neutral, baseline definition of environmentalist by looking up the word on Merriam-Webster’s website (www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary).

Of course, the first definition was the rather obvious: “An advocate of environmentalism.”  The second definition was more helpful:  “One concerned about environmental quality especially of the human environment with respect to the control of pollution.”  By the way, the definition of environmentalism, according to Merriam-Webster, is: “advocacy of the preservation, restoration, or improvement of the natural environment; especially: the movement to control pollution.”

On the surface, at least, I’d say these definitions for environmentalist and environmentalism sound reasonable and maybe even cast environmentalists in a noble light.  But does the average person, one who is not immersed in environmental politics, get a sense of that noble intent when they read or hear about environmentalists?

Jumping over to www.urbandictionary.com, we find 23 different definitions for environmentalist.  Now, if you are not familiar with Urban Dictionary, this is a website that lets users add their own definitions for any (and I mean ANY) word for phrase.  You’ll find a common word like environmentalist, or something on the cruder side like dirty sanchez, or a double entendre like clam bake.  While Urban Dictionary can be a good resource for finding the meaning of slang phrases that teens might try using amongst themselves in the presence of parents or teachers like an inside joke, there really is a lot of duplication of essentially the same alternate definitions of words and phrases.  Most likely, the redundancy inherent in the Urban Dictionary model is the result of baked college kids trying to out-do each other in posting their personalized definitions of stoner phrases or sexual positions that they themselves have never witnessed and probably never will.  But, you get the point.  The point here is that, in reading through the 23 definitions for environmentalist, only three of them are not unflattering, derogatory, or outright hostile toward the environmentalists who they are trying to define.

So, am I, personally, an environmentalist?  If it is referring to science-based environmental work that people do professionally, I think it’s best to be specific about the professionals’ specialties.  For example, I am a hydrogeologist (geologist specializing in groundwater).  Someone else might be a limnologist (someone who specializes in the ecology of lakes).  Or an ornithologist (birds).  Or an entomologist (insects).  Or an ichthyologist (fish).  Or a freshwater invertebrate biologist.  Or a wetland scientist.  In other words, when so many people in the general public have various feelings, ranging from neutral to loathsome, of “environmentalists,” why not be specific about those professionals’ qualifications to comment on a particular environmental or conservation topic?  To refer to scientist as an environmentalist gives those opposed to environmental causes the opportunity to imply or allege that a scientist's work is something other than objective, solid science – that their research was guided by an agenda rather than solid scientific method.

And what about the lay people – those folks without professional credentials but with strong feelings in favor of protecting the environment and who advocate for the environment in their spare time?  Or who have opinions about environmental issues outside of their area of vocational specialty?  And what about people who work full-time or part-time in some non-scientific capacity advocating for the environment?  In other words, what about the majority of the folks on the front lines in environmental battles?

The option that I'm tossing up for consideration is to start substituting the phrase environmental advocates in place of environmentalists.  Advocate is one of those cool words that works as both a noun and a verb.  There is not necessarily any activity implied in the word environmentalist.  The phrase environmental advocate, however, conveys the sense of active advocacy for the environment.

Some folks might be pleased to earn a profit at the expense of clean water and clean air and would use the term environmentalist as a pejorative for folks who seek a balance between economic growth and protecting natural resources.  Don’t let them put you on the defensive because of your feelings about conserving natural resources.  Being an environmental advocate conveys the noble intentions implied in Merriam Webster’s definition of environmentalist while also conveying the sense of actively advancing a particular environmental cause.  And that seems like a win for both “environmentalists” and the environment while leaving the haters apoplectically ranting about some vague bogie man lurking in green-tinted shadows.

How Do You Hug a Stream?

Welcome to the first installment on my new blog, Streamhugger, which deals with my thoughts and observations about grassroots conservation efforts.  Perhaps you're raising an eyebrow and wondering, "Streamhugger?"  Sure, why not?  The term "Treehugger" has been worn out ( and has a somewhat negative connotation for the topics that I plan to write about) and is more likely to make a web surfer roll their eyes than pause to read a blog by that name.  Streamhugger, on the other hand, seems a bit abstract and thus might catch a web surfer's curiosity.  And, arguably, water resources are crucial to nearly any conservation program.  So, yes, I embrace water resources, therefore I am a Streamhugger.

The other name that I was considering for this blog was "Fear and Loathing in Grassroots Conservation."  But I didn't want potential readers coming to the blog expecting tales of mescaline-fueled clandestine dam removals or importing bog turtles to a pipeline construction site to get the project shut down.  No, I expect this blog to be more tame than any blog whose name conjures thoughts of Hunter S. Thompson.  Hopefully, it will be somewhat entertaining.  Maybe something like if Aldo Leopold had tried to write for Rolling Stone.  But only time will tell.

Let me tell you about the contents I think you will find on Streamhugger when you come back to scan my posts in the coming weeks, months, and, hopefully, years.  This blog is about community conservation efforts -- grassroots stuff -- from my perspective as a volunteer in my municipality's Environmental Advisory Council and in my fledgling local watershed association.  I also bring my perspective as a hydrogeologist and Licensed Professional Geologist, with over 15 years working as an environmental consultant.  But despite my day job, this is not a scientific or technical blog.  This is a blog written for the layperson who wants to hear about how other groups of lay people have pooled their talents, intellects, and, sometimes, muscles to preserve, protect, and, sometimes, rebuild the natural world among which they live.

It's my belief that, for laypeople to do effective grassroots conservation work, laypeople must be willing to educate themselves on the topics that matter.  Therefore, rather than having to dumb down my writing to the 8th grade level at which most newspapers are written, I'll aim for a high school senior level or maybe a college freshman level.  I'll try to educate you, as needed, to something beyond the level of the average person who doesn't know or even care to know a state-designated High-Quality Coldwater Fishery from a drainage ditch; or can't tell a labyrinthian, automobile-dependent, high-density residential development from a walkable, mixed-use development.

As implied by the subtitle of my blog, The Political Economy of Conservation, grassroots conservation work can get very political.  And there is always a juggling act to try to line up the economic resources needed to fund conservation projects.  There are lots of local, county, and state politics at work when trying to pull together a conservation project.  Most local and county politics affecting grassroots conservation seem to me to be power struggles among local bureaucrats rather than clashes of true partisan politics.  Partisan politics don't seem to become prominent until you get to the state level.  Regardless, I don't plan on getting partisan here on this blog.  This blog is about accomplishing work that anyone, regardless of party affiliation, should be able to appreciate.  Having said that, I reserve the right to ridicule anyone posting comments that are more rude than constructive.  

Although I'll be writing from my own experiences in the Lehigh Valley of Pennsylvania, I hope many of the topics that I expect to write about will resonate with folks from different parts of the United States who are facing or thinking about tackling similar debates or projects.  So please check back on Streamhugger from time to time and see what's up in my neck of the woods.  And I hope you'll feel compelled to leave a comment about what I've written.  Whether your comment is pro, con, or a little of both, I look forward to a chance to learn from my readers as much as I hope that my readers pick up something useful from me.

Cheers.