Practical Ecology for Planners, Developers and Citizens

THIS BOOK IS a practical explanation of how to integrate ecological values and concepts into planning and development practices. It presents a concise overview of ecology and its application in a simple and pragmatic manner that is intended to be both accessible and convenient for professional planners, landscape architects, developers and others involved in land use and its environmental impact. It provides them with guidelines, tools and information on how to protect species and ecosystems while at the same time creating healthy, sustainable human communities. The three parts of the book lead the reader from concept to application, using a myriad of examples and case studies as well as figures, tables, maps and photos to illustrate the explanations.
The book starts by looking at the relationship between humans and their environments, and introduces key ecological concepts, such as biodiversity or ecological integrity, explaining their importance and implications for land planning and development (Chapters one and two). Chapter three discusses the different types of human impacts on their environment, and lays the basis for thinking about how to lessen these impacts.
The second part covers the basic aspects of ecology and conservation biology that are most relevant to the work of land use professionals. The phenomenon of ecosystem change over time is discussed in Chapter four, while Chapter five addresses the fields of community ecology and population ecology, which are particularly relevant for planning in locations with rare or endangered species. Chapter six examines how the arrangements of landscape elements, such as cities, farms, roads and nature reserves, affect the form and function of ecological communities. All these topics provide planners and developers with specific recommendations for improving the ecological compatibility of their projects.
In the third part, these concepts are related to the two goals of improving the ecological integrity of human-influenced landscapes and ensuring that humans benefit from, and are not endangered by, local ecosystems, with specific examples of how land use professionals can apply an understanding of ecological processes to their work. Chapter seven presents a typology of natural lands, and then addresses questions about planning nature reserves. Chapter eight moves to the scale of the neighbourhood to discuss the design of smaller parks and nature areas, as well as techniques for managing and restoring land. Chapters nine and ten offer a range of practical tools and techniques in planning “smart growth” from an ecological standpoint, including how ecological data can be incorporated into plans, the factors that should inform the design for protecting biodiversity and ecological integrity at the scale of entire landscapes, and the ways in which human health, safety and welfare can be enhanced in the ecological context. The book concludes with an interactive planning and design exercise that offers the reader an opportunity to practice ecologically based planning and design, along with a list of resources for practical information on ecology and conservation.