'Publishedin 1949 as the finale to A Sand CountyAlmanac, Aldo Leopold’s
‘Land Ethic’ defined a newrelationshipbetween people and nature and set
thestage forthe modern conservation movement.Leopoldunderstood that ethics
direct individuals tocooperatewith each other for the mutual benefit ofall. One
ofhis philosophical achievements was theidea thatthis ‘community’ should be
enlarged toincludenon-human elements such as soils, waters,plants,and animals,
“orcollectively: the land.” ' Centralto Leopold’s philosophy is the assertion
to “quitthinking about decent land use as solely an economic problem.”While
recognizing the influence economics have on decisions, Leopold understoodthat
ultimately, our economic well being could not be separated from the wellbeing
of our environment. Therefore, he believed it was critical that peoplehave a
close personal connection to the land. Birders should easily grasp the
unbreakableconnection of the birds we love and the "land" described here. Aldo
Leopold was born on this date, January11, 1887. Harry GlasgowFriends of
Huntley Meadows park
