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What is a naturalist?

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No, it does not mean that you run around naked all the time. That is a nudist! Nor does it mean that you have to belong to any particular political party, religion or group. Webster’s dictionary definition is “One who makes a special study of animals and plants”. In my opinion, that is a bit too narrow. To me, a naturalist is a person who has a curiosity about the natural world. That curiosity drives him to go out and explore, observe and try to better understand its complexities. By this definition, a naturalist is also an ecologist interested in the function of ecosystems as a whole. If we increase our knowledge of the natural world, we can do a better job of protecting and maintaining it. As naturalists, this should be our main objective.

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