How is the word 'possible' used in this sentence?

"My job is important because it makes the best use of nature possible."

I'm not sure how the word 'possible' is used in this sentence. I've looked up the dictionaries and thought of possible usages. First, I guess it could be a way used after adjectives to emphasize that something is the best, worst, and so on as the sentence "It was the best possible surprise anyone could have given me." Otherwise, it could be used to modify the word 'nature' as post-modification. It's quite confusing. I would appreciate if someone answers this question. Thank you.

Solution 1:

The sentence is syntactically ambiguous. It could be interpreted as a somewhat unusual variant of:

My job is important because it makes the best possible use of nature.

In other words, the idea may be that, out of the many ways in which nature could be used, the way in which it is used in my job is the best one. On that reading, the meaning of the sentence would not change significantly if possible were omitted; it functions principally as an emphasising device.

Alternatively, the sentence could be interpreted as an equivalent of:

My job is important because it makes it possible to use nature in the best way.

On that reading, the sentence would not, strictly speaking, say (although it may conversationally implicate) that nature is actually used in the best way in my job; the sentence wold say only that in my job the possibility of such use is created, which possibility may or may not be actualised later. If the sentence is interpreted in this way, then possible is essential to its overall meaning.