Natural resources governance is deeply a theological issue. It has to do with four theological dimensions, stewardship, human dignity, justice and peace. First, stewardship is the responsibility human beings were given at creation. In Genesis Chapter 1, God created human beings and gave them a responsibility to make use and take care of the creation. The human being was tasked to ensure that the creation was made use of in service of the well-being of all people. The human being was also given the responsibility to nurture or take care of the created world so as to allow it to be self-replenishing and self-sustaining. Use of the earth was meant to be done in such moderation as to allow it to give life from generation to generation. Excessive and accumulation is inherently rejected in this theology of stewardship as can be demonstrated by how those who hoarded the manna found it with maggots the following day (Exodus 16vs20). Human beings were given an obligation to leave the earth as good as they had found it at creation. Every day of the creation narrative concluded that “all things were good”. Maintenance of this goodness of the earth must inform human stewardship in the use of the earth and its resources.
Theological-Reflections-on-Natural-Resource-Governance-Rev3-1.pdf