ECOLOGICAL INTEGRITY AS AN ALTERNATIVE FRAME FOR THE WATER, UNCONVENTIONAL GAS, AND FOOD NEXUS.

This Article argues that the present economic growth frame is not appropriate for mediating the water, energy (unconventional gas), and food nexus. Its application perpetuates the problems caused by overexploitation and overconsumption of nexus resources. The Article instead calls for replacing the current economic growth frame with one based on ecological integrity. Ecological integrity not only provides a more direct path towards sustainable outcomes, but also encourages, invites, and opens up the use of alternative legal doctrines, institutions, and tools to reach those outcomes. The key alternatives the Article highlights are (1) the public trust doctrine and (2) legal personhood for natural resources. The Article begins with an overview of the water, energy, and food sectors. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]