‘Ecocriticism is unique amongst contemporary literacy and cultural theories because of its close relationship with the science of ecology. Ecocritics may not be qualified to contribute to debates about problems in ecology, but they must nevertheless transgress disciplinary boundaries and develop their own ‘ecological literacy’ as far as possible’ (Garrard, 2004:5).
Why should we teach narratives that are more eco-literate?
- Climate change
- Environmental degradation
- Mass increase in human population
- Rapid species loss
- Survival
(Hayden, 2017)
MASS EXTINCTION
Professor Robart May states that ‘the impending sixth mass extinction will be unique in the history of the planet, being the first to result not from environmental changes as such, but rather from the extraordinary population growth and associated activities of one single species. Homo sapiens now sequester for its own use somewhere between 25% and 50% of all terrestrial net primary productivity. This state of affairs is without precedent, and in this sense makes the coming extinction spasm qualitatively different from all previous ones’ (May et al, 1995:20).
