Aldo Leopold

Sure, I've heard of The Sand County Almanac and Aldo Leopold. I know he's the father of the environmental/conservationist movement but beyond that, I don't actually know too much about him. So I set out to find a bit more about him and his background. Here's what I found:

"He was instrumental in establishing the first official “wilderness area” in the United States (the Gila National Forest), helped to create The Wilderness Society, and founded the field of Wildlife Ecology."

"His biggest contribution was his articulation of “The Land Ethic” (that we are part of a natural community of interdependent parts) and his pioneering work in what is now known as restoration ecology – bringing the land back to health."

"The shack (a converted chicken coop) that Aldo and his family used to vacation at is a small post and beam structure in the sand counties of Wisconsin. It was this location that inspired a sand county almanac. The shack is considered a Mecca for environmentalists, historians, and educators, and has the distinction of being the only chicken coop on the National Register of Historic Places."

"Aldo Leopold (1887-1948) is considered the father of wildlife ecology and a true Wisconsin hero. He was a renowned scientist and scholar, exceptional teacher, philosopher, and gifted writer."

"The roots of Leopold’s concept of a “land ethic” can be traced to his birthplace on the bluffs of the Mississippi River near Burlington, Iowa. As a youngster, he developed a zealous appreciation and interest in the natural world, spending countless hours on adventures in the woods, prairies, and river backwaters of a then relatively wild Iowa. This early attachment to the natural world, coupled with an uncommon skill for both observation and writing, lead him to pursue a degree in forestry at Yale."

Sources: http://aldoleopoldnaturecenter.org/about-us/all-about-aldo/
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