> nature existed long before humans and exists beyond humans and will exist long after us

If this is true (and I believe it is), then it does not really matter much what humanity does in the big picture. Might as well drain some swamps and seas to reclaim some land.

> On earth, there are living creatures with their own motivations that inhabit all the remote wildernesses and deep seas

You can both acknowledge that, and believe that human must do what's good for humans and animals that are good for humans.