Land reclamation and Deep Ecology: in search of a more meaningful physical geography

Author: Haigh, Martin J.

Source: Area, Volume 34, Number 3, September 2002 , pp. 242-252(11)

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Abstract:

Deep Ecology provides a complete and practical philosophy to guide practice, research and teaching in physical geography. This proposes that long-term human self-interest is served best by serving the needs of Nature, which also provides an agenda for research. Understanding is constructed in three steps from the realization of the internal self, through the social self and ultimately the ecological Self, which provides an agenda for teaching and learning. Being `useful' is proposed as a duty for geography. Its first priorities should be environmental management, mitigating the ecological footprint of humanity: first for the benefit of society, but ultimately for the benefit of the Self - within Nature. Systems thinking should guide investigation because Deep Ecology conceives Nature as a single interacting, multidimensional whole.

Keywords: Deep Ecology Movement; physical geography; land reclamation; ecosophy; Gaia; Sarvodaya

Document Type: Research article

DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.1111/1475-4762.00078

Affiliations: 1: Oxford Brookes University mhaigh@brookes.ac.uk

Publication date: 2002-09-01