Who is she?

Nicknamed the “Ethical Ecologist,” Aldo Leopold (1887–1948) is considered the father of modern wildlife management. In fact, we still use many of his methods today. Leopold was guided by a philosophy he called the “Land Ethic” — the idea that humans have a moral obligation to one other and to nature, which has intrinsic value of its own. You can learn more in his groundbreaking book of essays, A Sand County Almanac.

He worked for the U.S. Forest Service (1909-1928) in the Southwest region and helped establish the first official wilderness area, Gila National Forest wilderness. He then went on to teach wildlife management at the University of Wisconsin.

Why is Leopold called the founder of wildlife management?

As a hunter, Leopold witnessed how removing apex predators can devastate an ecosystem. He was among the first scientists to recognize the far-reaching consequences of removing animals like wolves, and he advocated for the protection of predators and sustainable hunting practices.

He also stressed the importance of habitat preservation to support and protect all wildlife. When sandhill cranes were on the brink of extinction with just 20 estimated pairs remaining, Leopold championed wetland preservation to help these birds recover.

Leopold’s work highlights the importance of saving all pieces of an ecosystem: predators, prey and habitat. This was a foundation for modern conservation efforts as well as the U.S. Endangered Species Act.

How can you become a conservation hero?

Leopold’s Land Ethic idea came at a time when advancing technology was pulling people away from nature, like it is today. We see this disconnect in our modern world, as many legislators and even some Members of Congress are trying to dismantle the ESA and other conservation efforts. Defenders of Wildlife works to respond to new conservation threats and to develop solutions that improve outcomes for wildlife. You can help by speaking out in your community and to your leaders to protect our most imperiled wildlife and their homes!