The preservationist idea saw these designated landmarks and historical sights as a symbolic representation of American heritage. More recently, new justifications for preserving public lands and resources have entered into the realm of public land management politics. Nature is a potential place which stimulates humility and patience in humans. Nature can provide mental health treatments. Nature has the right to exist, regardless of whether or not humans deem it worthy of preserving.
Nature provides a reservoir for healthy ecological functions and biological diveristy.
As resources become more scarce, they become increasingly valuable. Most of these rationales, if not all, can be found in the policy practices and patterns of the National Park Service, as well as state, local, and private agencies.