Urban Ecology and Landscape Management - Essay Example

Student Name: Tutor: Title: Urban Ecology Course: Introduction Ecology, design and sustainability are different fields but in the recent years they have been merged together. This has been compelled by the fact that human lifestyle is bearing an escalating negative effect on environments. Ecology provides the scientific foundation for the understanding of natural processes, management of environmental resources and attainment of sustainable development. Urban ecology involves the study of ecosystems that comprise of human living in cities as well as urbanizing landscapes. It is a growing interdisciplinary field that targets to comprehend how ecological and human processes can coexist within human-dominated systems and assist societies in efforts of becoming more sustainable (Breuste, Feldmann & Uhlmann, 2013). The relationship between nature and humans in cities make up urban ecology. Urban ecology establishes harmony between urban planning and nature. The paper examines closely the link between urban ecology and landscape management and the practice of landscape architecture as well as the principles that have to be articulated and actions that have to be implemented in addressing challenges and opportunities that come with it. Discussion The entire planet has become more urbanized which has contributed to profound effect on the natural systems that maintain clear air, clean water as well as fertile soil for purposes of agriculture. Scientists have acknowledged that the understanding of the interactions of nonliving and living components of the urban ecosystems is very important to future generation and sustainability of resources. The past twenty years has seen a resurgence of ecological thinking and ecological ideas in discussions concerning urbanism, culture, society and design. Ecology is a trans-disciplinary science that explores the relationship between living organisms and their immediate environments (Wu, 2014). Urban ecology involves all the study of the process of ecology within urban environments. This comprises of all components of ecology of organisms within urban areas together with the large scale considerations of cities’ ecological sustainability. Urban planning involved designing, regulating and managing cities, neighbourhoods as well as places inhibited by human beings. Conservation planning has to be integrated into broad-scale urban planning through strategic evaluation of the potential environmental effects attributed to urban development (Kohsaka, 2013). There are many opportunities available in improving the conservation of biodiversity as well as providing ecosystem services in cities through better integration of urban ecology into urban planning as well as landscape management across a range of spatial scales beginning from individual house to neighbourhoods, precincts as well as regions. Strategic assessments have to incorporate environmental goals and values into the broad-scale policy as well as planning at an early stage, putting into consideration alternative development scenarios, and assessing environmental impacts on the landscape (Barthel, Folke & Colding, 2010). Ecology deals with the natural world as well as how it behaves. Design is also important for major intervention point for attaining sustainability within ecology. Figure 1: Relationship between sustainability, design and ecology Environmental crisis is as a result of unsuitable design. It shows the outcome of the way cities have come up, ecoscapes used, and industrialization undertaken. The problem has escalated owing to insufficient incorporation of ecological concerns within planning (Ahern, 2011). Many situations have demonstrated that environmental crisis is often a design crisis. Design is a link that connects nature and culture using exchange of materials, energy floe and land use choices. Environmental challenges have emanated from design problems. Research indicates that design can have a great effect on the environment from different perspectives. Design decision translates to an environmental decision. Forms of various things around the world have been derived from design. Figure 2: Ecology and Design are complementary techniques for problem-solving Previously design has been used only for the purposes of meeting human needs without considering environmental impact. Environmental consequences were ignored at the design stage. Various practices within design have been carried out without sustainable design principles. Environmental challenges have enhanced sustainable explorations that are needed for the protection of the ecological system for the purpose of finding solutions to the challenges (Naveh & Lieberman, 2013). Ecological landscape design usually is anchored on ecological understanding of the landscape that ensures a dynamic, holistic, intuitive and responsive approach. It is considered holistic since it at the same time considers present and past as well as regional and local landscape processes and patterns. It is responsive since it emanates from recognition of the opportunities and constraints of context whether it is cultural or natural. Ecological landscape design preoccupies the designer’s intellectual, rational, creative and emotional capabilities (Kohsaka, 2013). Ecological design is a result of the interface of ecology with the profession of environmental design. The interaction of ecology with environmental design professions outlines a broad range of solutions, concepts as well as approaches. Contributions in the urban landscape design and architecture include practical strategies as well as design solutions to specific problems. The interaction of landscape architecture and ecology has been extensive resulting into holistic framework to landscape design (Wilkinson, 2013). Many contributions find inspiration in aim and nature to shame the environment of man sustainably together with beautifully. A good example of incorporation of urban ecology in landscape management and architecture profession can be witnessed in the city of Sydney in Australia. The Aboriginals perspectives are increasingly being integrated in the metropolitan Sydney landscape meaning that the practice of marginalizing Aboriginality to regional and remote spaces is quickly changing. The Aboriginal culture has become more visible within urban settings via initiatives like the Parramatta Riverside Walk. This comprises of an 800 meter painted pathway exploring Aboriginal history within the area. It celebrates cultural practices of traditional Aboriginal life like fishing, hunting and languages while recognizing more controversial elements like frontier massacre and violence. The Botanic Gardens portrays the Cadi Jam Ora display educating visitors on traditional life as well as lands of Aboriginal custodians within the region while looking at their association with British colonizers and various environmental perspectives. The old Australian Hall Building within Sydney is regarded as the birthplace of civil rights movement among the Aboriginals. It housed Aboriginal people about one hundred of them on The Day of Mourning on the 26th of January 1938 as they lobbied for cessation of mistreatment of Aboriginal people during protectionism as well as provided the foundation for the referendum campaign in 1967. This building is listed on the New South Western State Heritage Register and owned by the Metropolitan Local Aboriginal Land Council (Ignatieva, 2010). The building represents an appropriate symbolism for Aboriginal people who are urban-based. There are various initiatives like the construction of the Bush Tucker Walk within the grounds of Yarra Bay House at La Perouse. There are actions and principles that have to be undertaken in order to deal with challenges and opportunities that come with urban ecology. Developing policy comprises one of these actions. Policy or conservation policy is short form referring to all the actions and policies that are needed in the management of a place of cultural significance as well as retain its values. Developing policy is a significant prerequisite to the making as well as implementing decisions concerning a place’s future. Conservation policy goes beyond physical conservation. Developing policy is a daunting task that requires putting into consideration all competing interests as well as values (Forman, 2014). Policy is usually developed as being part of a management plan for any given place. Various Australian heritage agencies have come up with guidelines for preparation of a management plan. Policy has to comprise of guidance concerning its implementation and monitoring the achieved outcomes. Policy requires time to time review to make sure it is up-to-date. For instance, an update to policy can be required to capture the changing circumstances at a place or the outcomes as a result of the policy implementation. The policy has to be clear when the report or study has to be reviewed and updated. There are principles that must be adhered to when developing and implementing a policy (Ignatieva, 2010). The policy must be directed towards retention of cultural significance of the place as the most important thing. Policy comes about from recognizing the cultural significance and taking into account the factors that affect the place’s future. Policy has to integrate conservation processes in activities of place management and it has to explain the manner in which places of cultural significance are going to be conserved. Policy can only be as good as the analysis and information underpinning it (Kohsaka, 2013). Consequently, there should thorough research before developing any policy about a place. It should be noted that not even the best can cast forever. Policies have to be reviewed regularly or in line with major changes. The first step to developing policy is identification of the obligations arising from the significance. Conservation policy arises from the understanding of all elements of cultural significance of a given place. Consequently, as the Burra Charter dictates, the place’s significance has to guide decisions about it. The aim of the policy is to retain all elements of significance through application of the principles, practices and processes of conservation contained in the Burra Charter. Some elements of the significance can be intangible like the memories, rituals or meanings and may not necessarily depend on the fabric of a place for their own retention. Other elements will depend on the fabric, function, form, setting, location and the spatial qualities of that place (Ramalho & Hobbs, 2012). Once the elements are successfully identified as well as understood, suitable conservation processes can be considered for every one of them. Step two of developing policy entails identification of constraints and opportunities like future needs, condition and resources. Development of policy has to comprise of consideration of a variety of factors impacting a place’s future like the owner’s resources, needs, external constraints as well as its physical condition. The management of a place that is successful means identification and consideration of all factors as well as issues that can influence its future (Wilkinson, 2013). Some of the factors can pose an essential constraint on what can be attained whereas others can open up avenues for new opportunities. In the course of analysis of the opportunities and constrains it is essential to acknowledge that any of these has the potential of changing. It is impossible to be certain about future circumstances like change of ownership or use. When developing policy it is crucial to identify those major factors that bear strong influence on the direction of the policy proposed. When these change, the relevant elements of the policy have to be reviewed. Another important aspect of policy development is participation (De Groot et al, 2010). Developing a conservation policy has to involve people who the place bear significant meanings and associations, and people having cultural responsibilities of the place. In case there are multiple cultural values that can be competing, it is important to pay attention in understanding and working through the differences when developing policy. This will involve active participation of those people having the values. The next step is developing the policy itself. Conclusion Urban ecology has played an important part in landscape management and landscape architecture. The urbanization phenomenon across the world has brought focus on the study of urban ecosystem with the aim of ensuring sustainability in the use of resources. Environmental conservation is important in urban ecology. Architecture and landscape management incorporates ecological and design techniques that ensure sustainable development of urban settings. Urban ecology plays an important role of ensuring that cities developed well during urban planning. Developing conservation policy is fundamental to ensuring that opportunities and challenges are addressed holistically. 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