‘Long live the weeds and the wilderness yet.’ (‘Inversaid’ by Gerard Manley Hopkins, 1881.) To what extent have the poet’s hopes for environmental preservation been fulfilled?

environmental preservation
  • People still seek adventure, recreation, and solitude in the wild
  • There are sanctuaries for wildlife
  • Also harmful encroachment upon their habitats
  • Educators are aware
  • Destruction by the use of pesticides and insecticides
  • The manicured garden syndrome
  • The disappearance of forests, marshland, and other wild habitats has engendered a worldwide ecological movement
  • Many writers have taken up Hopkins’ theme
  • Urban dwellers cherish the opportunities to visit wild areas
  • Financial priorities may not be helpful