The quest to measure our relationship with nature

As a movement, environmentalism has been pretty misanthropic.

Understandably so—we humans have done some destructive things to the ecosystems around us.

In the 21st century, though, mainstream conservation is learning that humans can be a force for good.

Foresters are turning to Indigenous burning practices to prevent wildfires.

Biologists are realizing that flower-dotted meadows were…