OCR
Chapter 1. Foundation It is worth remembering, however, that the ecocentric approach is one of the most ancient environmental and sustainability theories, as it is how Indigenous® communities have always viewed the environment around them and their role in the natural order.“ With regard to ecocide, Indigenous peoples are particularly concerned, especially in light of the growing literature pointing to the close link between genocide and ecocide (ecocide-genocide nexus). The environment is a complex system, and the regulatory instruments adopted must respond to this specificity. Mancentred instruments alone cannot successfully combat the environmental degradation of our time, the decline of nature, and we must learn from the ecological laws that modern scientific research has made it possible to understand: “Ecology teaches humility in another way, because from it we recognize that we do not know everything about the world’s ecosystems, and never will. 747 # Note of the author: Indigenous is capitalised as a mark of respect in the context of this book. * See McIntyre-Mills, J.J. - Makaulule, M. - Lethole, P. et al.: Ecocentric Living: A Way Forward Towards Zero Carbon: A Conversation about Indigenous Law and Leadership Based on Custodianship and Praxis. Systemic Practice and Action Research, Vol. 36, 2023, pp. 275-319. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11213-022-09604-0. # Washington et al. (2021): p. 39. 29