Connection Ecology: The Next Phase of the Environmental Movement?

To date, the environmental movement has gone through three phases. The challenges of continuing population growth are now demanding that the movement enter a fourth. We call it "connection ecology." Without a move toward connection ecology, proliferating access restrictions will increasingly separate people from their natural environment, undermining human quality of life and the environmental constituency. These four phases are briefly summarized below.

Phase I: Legacy Parks (The Establishment of Yellowstone through Mission 66)
Guiding Principle: "...conserve the scenery and the natural and historic objects and the wild life therein and to provide for the enjoyment of the same in such manner and by such means as will leave them unimpaired for the enjoyment of future generations." -- The Organic Act which guides the National Park Service

Accomplishments: Yellowstone; Rocky Mountain; Arches; National Forest lands, campgrounds, and trails; Boulder Mountain Parks, etc. Today the vast majority of natural area visits are to these legacy sites. It's hard to imagine where the environmental movement would be without them.

Shortcomings: Weak understanding of complex eco-dynamics, failure to protect non-park lands, overly commercial focus.

Phase II: Outrage and Revolution (Silent Spring through the Energy Crisis)
Guiding Principle: Opposition to the widespread pillage and looting of the environment.

Accomplishments: Clean Air and Water Acts, the Environmental Protection Agency, National Environmental Policy Act, Wilderness Act, Endangered Species Act, other key environmental statutes and agencies. Defeat or pro-environmental modification of countless major projects (Glenwood Canyon, Vail Pass, oil shale, Rocky Flats, nuclear power, Marble and Bridge Canyons...)

Shortcomings: Difficulty in dealing with the "close call" environmental issues where the benefits may not outweigh the costs. The environmental movement's opposition to anything that might adversely affect the environment may have led to over-reaching and the strengthening of backlash movements (such as Wise Use).

Phase III: Hold the Line/Separation Ecology (1980/90's--present)
Guiding Principle: "Earth First. No compromise in defense of mother earth." Opposition to "industrial tourism."

Accomplishments: Expanded open space programs, wetland and endangered species protection.

Shortcomings: Undervalues human visitation. Inadequate consideration given to the costs of environmental protection. Doesn't search for visitation/protection win-win. Contributes to excessive pressure on legacy parks. Diminishes visitor experiences. Increases separation between humans and the natural environment.

Phase IV: Connection (Coexistence) Ecology (The next step, I hope)
Guiding Principles: Earth and people connected, both valued.

Accomplishments: Encourages and accommodates human visitation. Innovative, win-win visitation/protection solutions. Builds quality of life for all citizens. Builds environmental constituency.

Likely Shortcomings: Accepts some environmental risk and damage. Will require repair and restoration.