Contemporary landscapes are laced with feelings of romanticism, nostalgia and a sense of belonging as well as alienation. Volcanic mountains and geological formations represent the dynamism of powerful changes that occurred over millions of years. The very act of living is increasing our footprint on the world and forever changing the planet’s ecology. Not one continent remains unaltered by humans! We may aspire to understand the natural world – but this ‘old ecology’ is harder and harder to find. The ‘new ecology’ is one of constant change, of juxtaposition of the man- made and the natural – a world where humans significantly alter the extent, frequency, magnitude and direction of change. Understanding the ‘new ecology’ requires new eyes – a different perspective. While we ecologists may wistfully