The New Ecology Rethinking a Science for the Anthropocene

Our species has transitioned from being one among millions on Earth to the species that is single-handedly transforming the entire planet to suit its own needs. In order to meet the daunting challenges of environmental sustainability, ecologists have begun to think differently about the interdependencies between humans and the natural world. Oswald Schmitz describes how the science of ecology is evolving to provide a better understanding of how human agency is shaping the natural world, often in never-before-seen ways. The new ecology emphasizes the importance of conserving species diversity, because it can offer a portfolio of options to keep our ecosystems resilient in the face of environmental change. It envisions humans taking on new roles as thoughtful stewards of the environment to ensure that ecosystems have the enduring capacity to supply the environmental services on which our economic well-being - and our very existence - depend. It offers the ecological know-how to maintain and enhance our planets environmental performance and ecosystem production for the benefit of current and future generations.