commodification of nature

According to Erik Swyngedouw, under capitalism each level of nature, meaning non-human things, organisms and processes, is transformed into usable, ownable, and trade-able commodities (Swyngedouw 2015). Nature is reconsidered in political terms, so the uneven patterning of ecological qualities strongly links to the political power, wealth, and income. There are different strategies for commodifying nature, what Neil Smith (2007) refers to as a shift from the formal and real subsumption of nature. According to Smith this is about transforming nature into an accumulation strategy. This new model, which gained momentum in the 1980s, does not hinge upon the mere exploitation of nature, but its production in the form of “ecological commodities” (Smith 2007), and it transformed the core socio-economic relationship with the natural world.

Emilie Rážová illustrates a dual commodification of particular elements in the area of a spoil bank in northwestern Bohemia through comics. Egemen Mercanlioglu, in his project, researches how restoration of Estonia’s wetlands serves as a tool of political and economical power. Zahaan Khan is questioning the priorities for the restoration of parks around the world while categorizing the driving factors. Lisa Rohrer illustrates commodification of the aesthetic charm of Charleston, South Carolina (US) which is complicated by the city's environmental transformation. Anna Pederzini examines the effect of historical layers and potential future use of an industrial site in Rovereto, Italy, which became an urban wasteland. In terms of commodification of nature, Marina Pushkar looks at the site of Insects’ Highway in Tallinn, Estonia through the lenses of different actors and interprets the meanings of wasteland.