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What is a Naturalist?

Naturalism is a study of biology that focuses on the impact of living species on one another and on the environment in which they live. Naturalists must take into account both the world as a whole and the intricacies of different species’ interactions in their differing environments. 

Naturalists are different from ecologists in that they study more closely the patterns of living species, whereas ecologists focus more on rectifying environmental issues. Many naturalists are employed in parks, lead programs and educational courses, and constantly work on preserving, protecting, and observing natural habitats.

This strain of science has long been dominated by men, but there have been many influential female naturalists that we would like to give a shout out to! All these women still spread their wisdom and knowledge throughout the world today with their groundbreaking work and teaching. Read on to learn more about these amazing women and the impact they had on environmental awareness.

4 Famous Female Naturalists Who Impact Our World

Photo courtesy of Mission Blue

Sylvia Earle (b. 1935)

Sylvia Earle, from New Jersey, is an American leader in oceanography and advocacy for widespread education on the significance of oceans on the global environment. Earle has many titles to her name: first woman to be a chief scientist of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), Time Magazine’s first Hero of the Planet in 1988, and affectionately known as the Sturgeon General. 

Earle has made her mark on the study of naturalism with her inspiring work to preserve all oceans on this Earth. She is a speaker, a best-selling author, and non-profit founder. This woman was busy! She was one of the first people ever to dive with SCUBA gear, and also built an underwater craft with her former husband. She raises financial support and social awareness for ocean and marine life conservation with Mission Blue.

Fun Fact: She has logged 6,000 hours underwater.

Photo Courtesy of Orangutan Foundation

Biruté Galdikas (b. 1946)

Hailing from Toronto, Canada, Biruté Galdikas led monumental efforts to study orangutans in the wild. She began her illustrious career as a naturalist at UCLA with a degree in psychology and zoology in 1966, continuing on to completing her master’s degree in anthropology in 1969. 

We can all thank Galdikas for her unprecedented study of the orangutan in its natural habitat. She faced much skepticism and disbelief that this lovable primate could be observed closely and accurately in its element, but she was not to be discouraged. She spent four years documenting their habits and lifestyle in the swamps and deep forests of Borneo, an Indonesian island, and when National Geographic published her research article, public attention was for the first time directed towards this endangered species.

In studying orangutans, she also devoted energy towards conservation, as she saw more and more that the orangutan’s home in the rainforest was being destroyed by loggers.

Her other accomplishments include fighting inhumane trading and capturing of orangutans, establishing a center to rehabilitate captured orangutans, and continuing to lecture and teach at the university level. Her mantra? “Without nature, humans are lost. That’s it.”

Fun Fact: At six years old, her first book checked out of the library was Curious George, so looks like her future was decided early!

Photo courtesy of White Earth Land Recovery Project

Winona LaDuke (b. 1959)

Winona LaDuke is a different kind of naturalist. She is an American environmentalist, activist, writer, and lecturer representing Native American heritage. Born in Los Angeles, her father came from the Objibwe White Earth Reservation in Minnesota, and her upbringing strengthened her loyalty to her Native American heritage.

In 1989, she founded the White Earth Land Recovery Project, a non-profit that is devoted to improving sustainable development, reforesting lands, restoring the traditional cultivation of white rice in Minnesota, and restoring lands back to the tribe members.

Fun Fact: She ran for Vice-Presidency for the Green Party in 1996 and 2000.

Photo courtesy of Green Belt Movement

Wangari Maathai

Wangari Maathai is a trailblazer in many regards. Born in Kenya, Maathai set out to change the world—for women, for naturalists, and for Kenyans.

Maathai led the fight to curb the environmental damage she witnessed in her own home country, most famously founding the Green Belt Movement. The Green Belt Movement sought to reforest damaged land in Kenya, create internal sustainability, involve women specifically in this campaign, and educate others on the importance of the land. Its success can be found in the numbers: over 51 million trees planted and more than 30,000 women trained in trades to provide work and financial independence.

An advocate for women’s rights, Maathai claims the title to being the first woman for many positions: first woman in East and Central Africa to receive a doctorate degree, first woman in her region to become chair of the Department of Veterinary Anatomy in 1967, and first woman in her region to be Associate Professor in 1977. She also led the National Council of Women of Kenya from 1981-1987 as Chairman.

Fun Fact: Maathai was the first African woman to receive the Nobel Peace Prize, in 2004.

These four inspiring women and naturalists are only a few of the many strong women who have made an enormous difference in naturalism and more. Hopefully their stories inspire you to take extra care of the Earth this month, because there are so many people out there working to preserve it for future generations!