The term "deep ecology" is mis-leading in that there is very little of the science of ecology contained in it. Deep ecology is much more of a philosophy similar in nature to Buddhism and Taoism. Deep ecology is extremely skeptical that science can show us the things that we really need to know about nature.

The founder of deep ecology is Norwegian philosopher Arnie Naess, who actually preferred the term "ecosophy". Many who are concerned about the environment may be surprised to learn they are not deep ecologist. If you are concerned about clean air, clean water, or healthy forest because of their impact on human health and well being, then you are what Naess would call a "shallow ecologist".

Believing that to use natural resources constitutes exploitation, deep ecologists feel that all life has equal value. Therefore, humans should exploit non-human life, plant and animal, only to satisfy the vital needs of life.

One of the most startling aspects of deep ecologist’s thinking is just how far they are willing to go in order to create a biocentric society. George Sessions, one of the leading US deep ecologist, (and a Wild Earth editorial advisor) writes:tell their story.

The two main principles of Conservation Biology are: (a) that we can never understand the way ecosystems work, and (b) since we cannot understand them, we need to do as little to them as possible. However, Conservation Biology does not necessarily preclude management as long as the goal is to restore ecosystems to their pre-Colombian condition.

copyright © 1997 Citizens With Common Sense

The Wildlands Project exist within legal boundaries, however that should not prevent us from being concerned. At the very least, it advocates an extreme manifestation of environmental and public policy. Therefore, any claim the Wildlands Project makes toward public policy must be debated, and ultimately decided, in the public arena. Yet to date it has existed almost anonymously; beyond the knowledge of the wider public. It must be examined out from behind the cover of more general environmental concerns, held up for public scrutiny, and either accepted or rejected by a public fully aware of its implications. Failing to do so could have dire consequences, for as John Adams once wrote, "Liberty cannot be preserved without a general knowledge by the people."

"Ecology is a limited science which makes use of scientific methods."

"...it should, first of all, be borne in mind that the norms and tendencies of the Deep Ecology movement are not derived from ecology by logic or induction."

--Naess, Deep Ecology for the 21st Century, pgs 154-153

"Ecosophy, or Deep Ecology, then, involves a shift from science to wisdom."

"The crucial paradigm shift the Deep Ecology movement envisions as necessary to protect the planet from ecological destruction involves the move from an anthropocentric to a spiritual/ecocentric value orientation...Humanity must drastically scale down its industrial activities on Earth, change its consumption lifestyles, stabilize and then reduce the size of the human population by humane means, and protect and restore wild ecosystems and the remaining wildlife on the planet."

•Ecosystems are not only more complex than we think, but more complex than we can think.

•The less data or more uncertainty involved, the more conservative a conservation plan must be (i.e., the more protection it must offer).