Landscape Ecology & Planning
Landscape Ecology is the study of ecological systems at the landscape scale (regions, watersheds and metropolitan areas). Planners can bring the principals and theory of Landscape Ecology to the land-use planning process to create cities, towns and developments that best preserve the natural environment.
The field of Landscape Ecology was named by the German geographer Carl Troll in 1939. The landscape architect Ian McHarg was the first to apply landscape ecology to the planning process in the 1960s.
Other People Are Reading
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Planning with Nature
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Ian McHarg's "Design with Nature" describes the methods and practices of using landscape ecology to assist the land-use planning process. His method of analysis and mapping the landscape to determine appropriate land-uses and placement of development established the contemporary practice of planning. McHarg's mapping technique was the foundation for Geographic Information Systems (G.I.S.) that spatialize ecological, topographic, economic and urban systems information into a comprehensive digital database.
Landscape Ecology
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The International Association of Landscape Ecology defines the field as: "... the study of spatial variation in landscapes at a variety of scales. It includes the biophysical and societal causes and consequences of landscape heterogeneity. Above all, it is broadly interdisciplinary."
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Planning
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Planning is the practice of determining land use and urban growth. Planners typically work for municipalities and other government agencies responsible for administering zoning and land-use plans. The act of creating a comprehensive plan or new zoning map is both a technical and political process. Different philosophies toward the best and highest use of a place factor into the planning process. Landscape ecology can informs planners of the ecological value of a place and how to best preserve the ecosystem services while allowing human habitation.
Education in Planning with Landscape Ecology
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The International Association of Landscape Ecology maintains a list of colleges and universities that have departments of Landscape Ecology. Some of the better known programs in the United States include the University of Massachusetts and the University of Wisconsin. The American Planning Associations lists many planning programs on their Web site. Planning programs vary in their emphasis on economics, social issues, policy and exploration of urban forms. Programs that focus on urban form and environmental impacts are where students will gain the best exposure to the principals of Landscape Ecology.
Careers in Planning that use Landscape Ecology
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Most planners work for municipalities or other government agencies, while some work as consultants or for large multidisciplinary engineering firms. When planners determine the environmental impacts of a project they may use the principals of landscape ecology. The National Park Service is known for their use of landscape ecology in planning projects. The American Planning Association provides job listings on their site.
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References
Resources
- Photo Credit aerial image by Rick Sargeant from Fotolia.com
