Sister Damien Marie Savino

The Contemplative River: the Confluence Between People and Place in Ecological Restoration Sister Damien Marie Savino

What is the proper role of human persons in creation, especially in light of current ecological challenges? This book brings the disciplines of ecology and theology to bear upon this question, drawing upon the work of the ecologist C. S. Holling and the Franciscan theologian Saint Bonaventure. Holling developed a dynamic model to describe the resilience of ecosystems in the face of disturbance. In his theological anthropology, Bonaventure incorporates the notion of human persons as mediators. The two approaches are brought into dialogue to explore how they can contribute to understanding the role of humans in creation, particularly in relation to restoring it. Interdisciplinary principles are applied to a case study on the Anacostia River in Washington, D. C. The focus is on building the resilience of the urban social-ecological system by conceiving ways to reconnect people with place and to enhance contemplative experiences of the river. This book promises to be a theoretical and practical aid for environmental scientists and engineers, theologians and ethicists, policy makers, and those working toward a holistic approach to ecological restoration.