The Land Ethic

What is ethic? Ecologically, it is a limitation on freedom of action in the struggle for existence. Philosophically, it is a differentiation of social from anti-social conduct. But all theories and definitions of ethics lie within the principle that an individual is a member of a community and that his ethics allow for co-existence among others.

Land ethics are simply the expanding of the definition of ethics to include soils, waters, plants, and animals to equal the land. Why is it necessary to add land to our understanding of ethics? Well, because it's our habitat it's where we live and if we don't take care of it, who will?

A land ethic changes the way we should live in our land. We shouldn't be conqueror's of the land but learn to live as citizens of it. Many times in order for us to accept or apply a concept or action in our lives it has to be of some economic importance. Well with animals and other environmental entities at times it is not applicable and thus we just overlook land ethic as a priority or ignore it completely.  Lack of economic value is sometimes a character not only of species or groups, but of entire ecological communities such as marshes, bogs, and dunes. What we usually do is delegate these lands into refuges, monuments, or parks but it is difficult for the government to undertake this task because unfortunately it cannot possibly own or control such scattered parcels. Therefore a critical obligation on behalf of the private owner is the only solution for these problems.