Ecology is for the people

Abstract

The paper provides a theoretical frame work of evolution of ecological prudence in human populations. It emphasizes the urgent need to understand the conditions that favour or militate against the exercise of ecological prudence. Evidence is presented to show that the Indian society had evolved a rich tradition of social restraints on resource utilization. It is suggested that ecological prudence could come to prevail in India only through the involvement of the people at the grass-roots level.