Final answer:
Aldo Leopold identified two choices for those who disturb or alter the land: treating the land as a commodity based on economic value or recognizing the land as biota with a broader interpretation of its function. The latter choice embraces a land ethic that emphasizes respect and recognizes the value of all parts of the natural world, resulting in more stable biological communities.
Step-by-step explanation:
The Two Choices for Land Alteration
Aldo Leopold, an advocate for a biocentric ethic in conservation, pointed out that there are fundamentally two choices or directions facing those who disturb or alter the land. The first group regards the soil as a commodity and treats the land solely based on its economic value. They would grow trees like cabbages, focusing on maximizing production. The second group, on the other hand, sees the land as biota, with a broader interpretation of its function. They strive to maintain a natural ecosystem and recognize the value of species that may not have economic value to humans but play integral roles in the ecosystem.
Leopold argued that the conservation movement should go beyond economic necessity and embrace a land ethic. The land ethic respects all parts of the natural world regardless of their utility, resulting in more stable biological communities. It seeks to change the role of humans from conquerors to plain members and citizens of the land-community, emphasizing respect for fellow members and the community itself.