ENVCUL Module 9 Discussion Assignment
Question #6
When Donald Worster refers to the “tragedy of the laissez faire commons,” he is talking about the rapacious depletion of a resource that isn’t technically under ownership and the consequences that result from the exhaustion of said resource. The example Worster uses is the U.S.’s western ranching industry during the late 19th century, which boomed for a brief period but then quickly collapsed. Its demise was due to ranchers, not caring about public land they weren’t responsible for, overgrazing their cattle herds. This overgrazing had a domino effect, decimating the vegetation needed for the livestock to survive, which led to the death of much of the livestock. Worster adds that the ranching
Question #6
When Donald Worster refers to the “tragedy of the laissez faire commons,” he is talking about the rapacious depletion of a resource that isn’t technically under ownership and the consequences that result from the exhaustion of said resource. The example Worster uses is the U.S.’s western ranching industry during the late 19th century, which boomed for a brief period but then quickly collapsed. Its demise was due to ranchers, not caring about public land they weren’t responsible for, overgrazing their cattle herds. This overgrazing had a domino effect, decimating the vegetation needed for the livestock to survive, which led to the death of much of the livestock. Worster adds that the ranching