Celebrating Aldo Leopold's Legacy

Conservation is our attempt to put human ecology on a permanent footing.
(Aldo Leopold in Land-Use and Democracy – 1942)

The new Aldo Leopold Legacy Center near Baraboo, Wisconsin, is touted as the highest rated LEED building in the country, having achieved 61 of 67 possible points and a Platinum rating. (LEED - Leadership in Environmental and Energy Design - is the built-environment certification system developed by the U.S. Green Building Council. Subsequent posts will explore LEED in greater detail.) I had an opportunity to tour the Legacy Center on the first of March during the celebration of Aldo Leopold Weekend.

Aldo Leopold is best known for authoring A Sand County Almanac, in which he reflects, month by month, on the passage of time. His observations reflect that which is unique to this part of the country. Leopold’s writing blends the notes of a naturalist with prose that is rich in imagery. The Boston Globe characterized the Almanac as a forerunner to Annie Dillard’s description of creek ecology in Pilgrim at Tinker Creek, and Edward Abbey’s observations about the environs of Moab, Utah in Desert Solitaire. Both of these personal favorites can be found on my list of recommended reading.

The Almanac also includes a number of essays on various aspects of conservation. Leopold's essay on the land ethic is credited with formally changing the way we view ourselves within the larger ecological community, and spurring the development of the environmental movement.

In short, a land ethic changes the role of Homo sapiens from conqueror of the land-community to plain member and citizen of it. It implies respect for his fellow-members, and also respect for the community as such.
(Aldo Leopold in A Sand County Almanac, 1949)

Leopold's exemplary life's work should be understood and appreciated by all, as perpetuated by his words and by the work of the Legacy Center. In Part II I'll describe the experience of visiting the Aldo Leopold Legacy Center and touring its many sustainable design features.