So perhaps holy books are not the best manuals for environmental stewardship.
Genesis also gives the impression that plant life primarily exists for humans to eat. Humans don't need any encouragement to favor edible plants over inedible, to judge by their tendency to cut down forests to grow crops.
"Behold, I have given you every seed-bearing plant on the face of all the earth, and every tree whose fruit contains seed. They will be yours for food."
(that's 1 John 2:15 - John 2:15 is the one where Jesus attacks the money changers)
The next line is critical for context, as it defines what "things in the world" means.
> [...] For everything in the world—the lust of the flesh, the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life—comes not from the Father but from the world. The world and its desires pass away, but whoever does the will of God lives forever.
Seems clear to me this isn't about creation (ie not saying don't cherish nature / animals).
The Lord God took the man and put him in the garden of Eden to work it and keep it.
Of course fundamentalists tend not to see it that way.