Literacy is defined in the narrowest terms as the ability to read and write in one or more symbolic forms, but applies to far more than translating symbols into meaning. Literacy also involves being able to apply what is read or written in order to make the ideas work in the world and in life. Ideas can be spoken, read and written, but it is in the fuller understanding of those ideas through application and experience that is literacy in its fullest form.
“The first step in this endeavor is to understand the principles of organization that ecosystems have developed to sustain the web of life. This understanding is what we call ecological literacy”-Fritjof Capra
Beginning with understandings of our immediate natural environments, ecological literacy develops as we gain knowledge about the effects of the natural environment on us. Conversely, ecological literacy allows to understand the impact of our activities on the natural environment. Ecological literacy shows us how to live our lives in ways that allow our environment to sustain life.
When a student begins to understand nature, there is also understanding of how production, consumption and waste impacts the environment. The first understandings about sustainable human activity should be taught as a part of learning about nature and the world.
When a student is interested in the physical and natural sciences, incorporated into that education should be ways in which societies and nations deal with protection, preservation, restoration and sustainability of natural resources and places.
When a student is interested in society, justice and the law, there is room for education about how attention is paid to environmental matters. From the vast array of social, human and natural issues that will come from the BP oil spill of 2010, to the great ecological disasters of the past and how they are to be prevented in the future, ecological literacy is rapidly becoming a more critical and essential part of general literacy.
Ecological literacy applies to marketing, the economy and business: Business students and professionals must now consider how their enterprises operate in terms of the environment and sustainability.
Ecological literacy applies to health and medicine. The effects of pollutants, wastes and toxins in the environment and foods, of the resulting scarcity of food, and of providing clean water are only some of the consequences of man made changes to nature and the environment. Environmental literacy allows us to know how our activities introduce pollutants, toxins and mechanical changes into nature, and how the results affect our ability to thrive.
Literacy in the ecological concepts of micro ecology allow us to shape our individual and small group actions and decisions in life. We take a few extra steps to recycle waste. We understand how one session on an all terrain vehicle permanently damages soil structure, leading to soil erosion and runoff. We understand why our vehicles have to pass smog inspections. We want to know why our recreational and neccessary water production is shut down.
At the community level, ecological literacy allows responsible citizens to become aware of water purity, toxic hazard management, waste management, clean power, clean air and a host of other issues that impact the quality of life and the sustainability of our communities and lifestyles.
At the macro level, ecological literacy allows us to shape our regional and national voting, policymaking and other socio-political decisions as we engage in approving or disapproving of programs for clean air, where millions of us contribute to pollution; and of offshore oil drilling, where millions of us are impacted by oil spills.
Overall, ecological literacy has grown by leaps and bounds. Even amongpeople who live in urban areas or who may not be accomplished in reading and writing, there is understanding of how our actions and interactions contribute to the quality of nature that surrounds us and how that nature contributes to the quality of our lives.
Kenneth M. Klemow, “BASIC ECOLOGICAL LITERACY: A FIRST CUT”, Wilkes University, 1991
