Human Ecology

HUMAN ECOLOGY

ECOLOGY: HUMAN - ENVIRONMENTAL RELATIONSHIPS and INTERACTIONS (a critical and dominant indicator of society’s abilities to achieve sustainability). Ecology, or more specifically human ecology, defines the final, but most challenging and inclusive variable to this proposed set. It, of course, includes the other four more basic environmental variables (air, water, land and energy).

The authors have separated them out for clarity, to minimize human centeredness and to emphasize that these natural, invisible variables are more biologically and ecologically fundamental to society’s ability to define, model and measure sustainable development. How society defines and manages its human-environmental interactions is probably the central defining issue to this all-inclusive variable. This requires a participatory grass-roots community process and leadership from governmental and design professionals. Literally hundreds of communities across the United States (Corson, 1992) and many times more around the globe are actively pursuing sustainable planning by defining and modeling "indicators" of human-environmental interrelationships.

This web site was developed with the authors and
Michael Mahaffy, Computer Systems Professional, School of Architecture, Washington State University

School of Architecture and
Construction Management

College of Engineering
& Architecture

Washington State University

Comments and questions:
Webmaster
School of Architecture and Construction Management Information:
or phone us at: 509/335-5160
Copyright© Washington State University
Disclaimerand Electronic Publishing and Appropriate Use Policy statements

updated 11/24/99