Topology of Sustainability - Human Ecology
Human ecology is the study of the interactions of humans with their environments. Human societies can be regarded as individual species due to the complexity and diversity of human adaptations within specific societies. Human culture can be described as genes since cultural behavior have similar properties as human genes.
Human Ecological Topology can be generalized into three separate areas: wilderness, rural, and urban. These places can describe the level of ecosystem quality, modification and degradation based upon human ecology.
Wilderness places are areas where humans do not dominate the landscape. The ecosystem is healthy and intact. The land has not been subjected to mining, deforestation, agriculture, or urbanization. There is a low level of technological adaptations and a high level of environmental adaptations associated with resource and energy production, consumption and expenditure by humans.
Rural places are areas where human developments are intermingled with vegetation. The natural ecosystem has been replaced with higher yielding domesticated animals and plants. There is a moderate level of technological adaptations and a moderate level of environmental adaptations associated with resource and energy production, consumption and expenditure by humans.
Urban places are landscapes that are almost entirely covered by human developments, including most areas within cities and towns, subdivisions, commercial and industrial parks, and similar developments whether inside city limits or not. There is a high level of technological adaptations and a low level of environmental adaptations associated with resource and energy production, consumption and expenditure by humans.