Definition
Human ecology is a study of the relationship between human development and the natural environment. This field examines reciprocal relationships between social, economic, and cultural aspects of human settlement, how humans shape the natural environment, and how the natural environment shapes human settlement and activities. In this manner, human and natural environments are not assessed separately; they are examined together.
Introduction
The origin of human ecology can be traced to ancient times. As early as the fifth-century BCE, Hippocrates admonished ancient Athenians of adverse health-related impacts of locating cities on marshy and damp land and the benefits of development on sunny and windy slopes. Later, Roman architect Vitruvius advised city builders to design cities with buildings and streets that harnessed sunlight and wind patterns....
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Fricano, R.J. (2021). Human Ecology: Integrating Urban and Natural Environments. In: Farazmand, A. (eds) Global Encyclopedia of Public Administration, Public Policy, and Governance. Springer, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-31816-5_4077-1
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-31816-5_4077-1
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