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What is Human Ecology?
By Robert Dyball (July 2008)
Human Ecology is about the interrelationships between humans, their cultures and their ecosystems.
Human Ecology takes a holistic approach to these interrelated parts, meaning that it seeks to
understand them as parts of a single, complex interacting system. Human Ecology is concerned with
the processes that limit and change this system over time, including whether or not current
arrangements are sustainable. Human Ecology is also concerned with the social dimensions of
current or proposed alternate arrangements, asking is it fair, is it just, is it ethical?
These ethical questions extend at least to other humans, including, arguably, future generations.
Some would extend them to other species.
Because Human Ecology does not just describe the state of the systems that it looks at but is fundamentally
concerned with questions about ecological sustainability and social justice it has a normative aspect that
distinguishes it from other branches of science. That is, Human Ecology is concerned with change that
improves the situations it investigates, assessing proposed ‘solutions’ and alternatives against the
same ethical and ecological criteria by which the current situation was criticized. Improvement of
what, by what means, and in whose interest are all important questions for Human Ecology. As
solutions are as likely to involve cultural change as they are to involve material or
technological change, there are important questions around community acceptance of such
change. There also questions about what right one person has to propose, let alone force,
them on another. These are all unavoidable dilemmas with which Human Ecology grapples.
Core components of Human Ecology include:
- building an understanding of ecosystem and social processes on the way to understanding the human condition
- building an understanding of ones place in human-ecological situations
- a focus on understanding the complex, multi-scaled interactions that characterize human-ecological situations and their associated problems (eg., such as that developed through investigating historical and current
strategies for human use of materials and energy and the ecological consequences of those strategies)
- connecting theory and practice
- methodology and the implications of methods for interdisplinarity and trans-disciplinary research
- a systems based approach
- developing a broad picture of the constraints and opportunities for sustainable and worthwhile futures
Ultimately Human Ecology is motivated by care and concern for the future. It seeks to
imagine what it might be to live and do well in a humane, sustainable and worthwhile
world and to invite and enthuse broader community commitment to work towards realizing
those futures.
Some recommended readings in Human Ecology
This list presents a basic set of readings and sources in Human Ecology which could be used to orientate to
the field.
- A slightly older publication but still one of the best - a holistic and integrative study of an urban system's demand on
ecosystem services:
- Boyden, S., S. Millar, K. Newcombe, B. O'Neill. (1981). The ecology of a city and
its people: the case of Hong Kong. ANU Press: Canberra, Australia. (437 pages).
- For a more recent summary of the conceptual framework and systems thinking developed in the
Hong Kong study mentioned immediately above:
- Boyden, S. (2003). The biology of civilisation: understanding human
culture as a force in nature. UNSW Press: Sydney, Australia. (224 pages).
- For a good introduction to a dynamic systems approach to understanding humans and their ecological interactions:
- Walker, B. and Salt, D. (2006). Resilience Thinking:
Sustaining Ecosystems and People in a Changing World. Island Press: USA. (192 pages).
- For a deeper look at some of the methodology of systems-based approaches:
- Midgley, G. (2000). Systemic Intervention: Philosophy, Methodology
and Practice. Kluwer Academic/Plenum: New York, USA. (461 pages).
- A good approach to Human Ecology from a historical and comparative anthropological perspective:
- Schutkowski, H. (2006). Human Ecology: Biocultural Adaptations
in Human Communities. Springer: Berlin, Germany. (305 pages).
- There are also a range of (allied) texts that that are useful for Human Ecology:
- National Research Council. (2002). The Drama of the Commons.
Committee on the Human Dimensions of Global Change. E. Ostrom, T. Dietz, N. Dolšak, P. C. Stern,
S. Stovich, and E. U. Weber (Eds).
Division of Behavioral and Social Sciences and Education. National Academy Press: Washington, DC, USA.
(534 pages).
- Pimental, D. Westra, L. and Noss, R. (2000). Ecological Integrity:
Integrating Environment, Conservation, and Health. Island Press: USA. (428 pages).
- Other works by Stephen Boyden which may also be of interest are:
- Boyden, S. (1979). An Integrative Ecological Approach to the Study of Human
Settlements. MAB Technical Note No.12. UNESCO: Paris, France.
- Boyden, S. (1987). Western Civilization in Biological Perspective:
Patterns in Biohistory. Oxford University Press: Oxford, UK.
- Boyden, S., S. Dovers, M. Shirlow. (1990). Our Biosphere Under Threat:
Ecological Realities and Australia's Opportunities. Oxford University Press: Melbourne, Australia.
- Boyden, S. (1992). Biohistory: The Interplay between Human Society and the
Biosphere - Past and Present. Parthenon/UNESCO: Paris, France.
- Boyden, S. (2004). People and Nature: The Big Picture.
Nature and Society Forum: Canberra, Australia.
- Boyden, S. (2008). Our Place in Nature: Past, Present and Future.
Nature and Society Forum: Canberra, Australia.
- The publications page of the Nature and Society Forum
(Canberra) also holds some of Stephen Boyden's works (with a few shorter pieces available online in the 'occasional paper' series).
- For a refereed journal looking at current topics in Human Ecology:
Photography courtesy of Alan Fox
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