While Sauer didn't coin the phrase itself, he was a strong advocate for viewing human geography through the lens of ecology. His work emphasized the interdependence between human societies and their environments, arguing that humans actively shape and are shaped by the landscapes they inhabit.
However, it's important to note that the idea of human geography as human ecology existed before Sauer, with thinkers like Friedrich Ratzel and Ellen Churchill Semple contributing to this perspective.
Therefore, while Sauer played a significant role in popularizing this concept, it's more accurate to say that the idea was developed and refined over time by several geographers.
