Ethics is a branch of philosophy that involves systematizing, defending, and recommending concepts of right and wrong conduct.
Chapter 5 discusses the various viewpoints in environmental ethics and the bases for disagreements between them on how humans should or should not interact with the environment. Major questions that are addressed include the question of whether nature has intrinsic value separate from human use, whether non-human entities have “rights,” and to what degree humans should intervene in natural systems.
Environmental Ethics slides here.
Paul Robbins, John Hintz, and Sarah A. Moore, Environment & Society: A Critical Introduction (3rd edition), Chapter 5.