I used to believe the myth of the Primitive Man Conservation Ethic too,
because I wanted to, but no longer. It's been pretty well said, but I'd
like to add a couple more examples from the world of birds. An article a
few years ago (I've forgotten where) said that it appears that more bird
species have apparently been made extinct on the Hawaiian Islands by the
Polynesians before white man's technology and attitudes arrived than
since, which surprised me.

Second, recall the roc (elephant bird), a giant Madagascar species, and
the moa family of New Zealand, wiped out by the locals without thought for
the future; a classic case of "killing the goose which lays the golden
egg" if ever there was one. My assessment is that most, if not all,
humans or at least their cultures, are basically capitalists at heart, and
if exploitation of something for a perceived gain is possible, they (we)
will do it. BTW, I'd love to be proven wrong.

Charles Easterberg
University of Washington
easterbg at u.washington.edu