Which of the following statements is correct?

a- In the North humans are not seen as part of nature and the ‘environment’ is perceived as ‘somewhere out there’, as something that should be protected from humans through the creation of parks and reserves.
b- Most environmental issues in the South are based on the assumption that people live in the forests.

Both statements are correct.

What distinguishes the forest movements of the South from those of the North is that the forests of the former are still peopled, whilst the forests of the latter are more or less devoid of human habitat or, at least, are perceived as thus. This explains to some extent the prevailing notion of wilderness in the North as a ‘wild place’ where people do not live. In this perspective, humans are not seen as part of nature. In other words, ‘environment’ is perceived as ‘somewhere out there’, as something that should be protected from humans through the creation of parks and reserves. On the other hand, most environmental issues in the South are based on the assumption that people live in the forests.