The nature of South African environmental history

On 14 and 15 November 2013, the 44th symposium of the Australian
Academy of the Humanities was held at the University of
Queensland in Brisbane. This year the meeting focused on the
burgeoning field of the environmental humanities and the
symposium was entitled The question of nature. The first two
sessions of the symposium were devoted to an important component
of the environmental humanities: environmental history. The
symposium opened with a keynote address by leading environmental
historian Jane Carruthers, Emeritus Professor at the University
of South Africa. Her talk entitled The question of nature, or the
nature of the question?, explored the nature and purpose of
environmental history in South Africa.


In this episode of the Exploring Environmental History Podcast
professor Carruthers argues that the European settlers were not
able to manage South Africa’s environment within its limits
because they misinterpreted the nature of African nature and it
created a legacy that still endures. She explores why and how
environmental history has an urgent role to play in addressing
this legacy and should contribute to discussions about issues
such as environmental and social resilience and sustainability as
well as social justice. Jane Carruthers argues that environmental
historians are well equipped to raise questions related to
environmental and social issues particular to emerging countries
such as South Africa.


Music credits: Where You Are Now by Zapac, available from
ccMixter. Lhasa by Nic Bommarito, available from The Free Music
Archive