The land ethic at the turn of the millennium

Aldo Leopold's land ethic has proved more complex and subtle than he envisi oned. Nevertheless, Leopold launched what, facing a new millennium, has pro ved urgent on the global agenda: an environmental ethics concerned in theor y and practice about appropriate respect for values carried by the natural world and human responsibilities for the sustaining of these values. A blen ding of anthropocentric and biocentric values continues to be vital. These duties toward nature involve analysis of ecosystem integrity and evolutiona ry dynamism at both scientific and philosophical levels; any responsible en vironmental policy must be based on plausible accounts of ecosystems and a sustainable biosphere. Humans and this planet have entwined destinies. We n ow envision an Earth ethic beyond the land ethic.