Abstract

Diverse ecosystems, with varied climates, soil types, and food chains, make up the biosphere: the atmosphere and life-structure of the earth, without which no life would be possible. Within each ecosystem there are various symbiotic familial relationships, and complex interdependencies among the flora, fauna, and the non-organic parts. In addition, there are redundancies both in the types of ecosystems making up the biosphere and in the familial types and interspecific interactions within ecosystems. These features of ecosystems---inter- and intra-ecosystemic symbioses, complex interdependencies, and numerous redundancies---are "ecosystemic goods" . Despite the fact that this structure of ecosystems is desirable for human flourishing and, ultimately, survival, many ecosystems are disrupted by human activities. ;This study examines several ethical theories that have arisen, in part, as a response to the environmental crisis of declining ecosystemic health. It then develops an ethical theory based on a particular conception of property rights. It argues that extending property rights to ecosystemic goods not commonly considered amenable to private ownership, would alleviate many difficulties and solve several interrelated problems which currently are thought to threaten the continued existence of healthy ecosystems