The total human ecosystem: integrating ecology and economics

The current ecological crisis shows clearly that it is impossible to efficiently manage the house of humans while neglecting the house of nature. Both ecological and economic stewardship of the natural resources should be mobilized so as to sustain their stock for future generations. For this goal to be achieved, economists must realize that sustainable development should not be reduced simply to economic growth, and ecologists must realize that sustainable development is more than ecological sustainability. One possible over arching conceptual framework for a transdisciplinary science is the Total Human Ecosystem (ТНЕ). The role of ТНЕ in landscape ecology is discussed. An important expression of these mutual synergistic benefits will be the creation of healthy, productive, and attractive landscapes for the emerging information society.