Ecological literacy (also referred to as ecoliteracy) is the ability to understand the natural systems that make life on earth possible. To be ecoliterate means understanding the principles of organization of ecological communities (i.e. ecosystems) and using those principles for creating sustainable human communities. The term was coined by Frank Herbert in his novel Dune - Liet-Kynes’s father tells him 'You must cultivate ecological literacy among the people'.[1] It was later developed by American educator David W. Orr and physicist Fritjof Capra in the 1990s[2][3] – thereby a new value entered education; the "well-being of the earth". Well-being, Well-being, or wellbeing, also known as wellness, prudential value or quality of life, refers to what is intrinsically valuable relative to someone.
An ecologically literate society would be a sustainable society which did not destroy the natural environment on which they depend. Ecological literacy is a powerful concept as it creates a foundation for an integrated approach to environmental problems. Advocates champion eco-literacy as a new educational paradigm emerging around the poles of holism, systems thinking, sustainability, and complexity.