Ecology means:

Growing food as much as possible within the community bio-region

supporting organic food production there

Creating homes out of locally adapted materials

Using village-based integrated renewable energy systems

Protecting bio-diversity

Fostering ecological business principles

Assessing the life cycle of all products used in the Eco-village from a social and spiritual as well as an ecological point of view.

Preserving clean soil, water and air through proper energy and waste management

Protecting nature and safeguarding wilderness areas.

Eco-villages embody a sense of unity with the natural world and with cultural heritage around the world. They foster recognition of human life and the Earth itself as part of a larger universe.

Most Eco-villages do not place an emphasis on spiritual practices as such, but there often is a recognition that caring for one's environment does make people a part of something greater than their own selves.

Observing natural cycles through gardening and cultivating the soil, and respecting the Earth and all living beings on it, Eco-villages tend to maintain, re-create or find cultural expressions of humans' connectedness with nature and the universe, respecting that spirituality and culture manifest in many ways in different traditions and places.

General Background

For millennia, people have lived in communities close to nature, and with supportive social structures. Many of these communities, or "Eco-villages", exist to this day and are struggling for survival.

In those parts of the world where an indigenous base has been destroyed, Eco-villages are now being created intentionally. This way people can once more live in communities that are connected to the Earth in a way that can ensure the well-being of all life forms in the indefinite future.

The problem in our world today is that our planet is experiencing the limits to growth, and that our lives are often lacking meaningful content. According to increasing numbers of scientists, we have to learn to live sustainably if we are to survive as a species.

Recently, The United nations launched its Global Environment Outlook 2000 report, based on reports from UN agencies, 850 individuals and over 30 environmental institutes, concluding that "the present course is unsustainable and postponing action is no longer an option."

Eco-villages, by striving for lifestyles which are "successfully continuable into the indefinite future", are living models of sustainability, and examples of how action can be taken immediately. They represent an effective, accessible way to combat the degradation of our social, ecological and spiritual environment.

They show us how we can move toward sustainability in the 21st century (Agenda 21).

In 1998 the first Eco-villages were officially named among the United Nations' top 100 listing of Best Practices, as excellent models of sustainable living.