up:: [[CKLA400 - Ecology and Sustainable Landscapes]] tags:: #source/course #on/design #on/landscape_design # CKLA400 M1 - Introduction and Themes ## Ecology and Landscape Ecology [[Ecology and Landscape Ecology]] are interconnected disciplines concerned with understanding the interactions among organisms and their environments across various spatial and temporal scales. Ecology, dating back to the mid-1800s with roots in the work of Alexander von Humboldt, focuses on the relationships among organisms and between organisms and their environment. Landscape Ecology, emerging in the late 1960s and formalized in the early 1980s, *extends this study to understand the structure, functioning, and changes of landscapes and ecosystems over time, incorporating human interventions*. Both fields remain highly relevant, especially given the increasing impact of human activities on the environment. Integrating elements of geomorphology, ecology, and social sciences. In the UK, Landscape Ecology extends to landscape design and architecture. Central to both disciplines is the concept of ecosystem, crucial for grasping landscape sustainability. **Key Points:** - Ecology and Landscape Ecology are interrelated disciplines studying interactions among organisms and their environments. - Landscape Ecology emerged in the late 1960s and formalized in the early 1980s, studying landscape structure, functioning, and changes over time. - Ecology is credited to Ernst Heinrich Haeckel for the term coined in 1866, focuses on relationships among organisms and their environment. - Landscape Ecology integrates elements of geomorphology, ecology, and social sciences. ## Ecosystem The term "[[Ecosystem]]," coined by A.G. Tansley in 1935, refers to a discrete unit comprising living and non-living elements interacting to establish a stable system. Key concepts within ecosystem theory include the flow of energy through food chains and food webs ([[Trophic Levels]]), as well as the biogeochemical cycling of nutrients. These principles are applicable across various scales, from ephemeral ponds to entire planetary systems. Ecosystems are characterized by interaction, stability, energy flows, nutrient cycling, and scale. Stability, defined as the tendency of an ecosystem to persist over time, hinges on the concept of [[Ecological Resilience]], which plays a crucial role in ecology and landscape sustainability discussions. Scale, including *spatial, temporal, quantity, and intensity aspects*, is fundamental in understanding ecosystems, with spatial scale being readily observable in ecosystem dynamics. **Key Points:** - Ecosystem principles are applicable across all scales, from ephemeral ponds to the entire planet. - Ecosystems emphasize interaction, stability, energy flows, nutrient cycling, and scale, with stability and scale requiring special attention. - Stability refers to an ecosystem's ability to persist over time, with resilience being a key concept. - Scale encompasses spatial, temporal, quantity, and intensity aspects, with spatial scale being particularly observable in ecosystem dynamics. ## Ecological Resilience [[Ecological Resilience]] refers to an ecosystem's capacity and speed to recover from disturbances or perturbations and return to its pre-disturbance state. [[Disturbances]], such as fires, landslides, or floods, can significantly impact ecosystems by altering their structure and composition. Perturbations are similar events but of lower intensity or smaller scale. Resilience is contrasted with brittleness, which denotes a lack of resilience. Various interpretations of ecological resilience exist within the field, reflecting the diverse interests of researchers. Terms like ecological health and ecological integrity have been used interchangeably with resilience, *but they carry anthropocentric implications, unlike resilience, which is relatively neutral*. The relationship between resilience and biodiversity is a topic of ongoing debate in the field, with some arguing that high [[Biodiversity]] does not necessarily equate to high resilience across all ecosystems. **Key points:** - Ecological resilience refers to an ecosystem's ability to recover from disturbances and return to its original state. - Disturbances like fires, landslides, and floods can significantly impact ecosystems. - The concept of ecological resilience has various interpretations, with terms like ecological health and ecological integrity often used interchangeably. - The relationship between resilience and biodiversity is debated, with some arguing that high biodiversity does not always correlate with high resilience. ## Sustainability [[Sustainability]], while lacking a universally accepted connection to ecology or landscape ecology, is acknowledged by practitioners across disciplines as needing such a link to fulfill its potential. The term gained prominence in relation to the environment through the United Nations report "Our Common Future," published by the Brundtland Commission in 1987. The report defines *sustainable development as meeting present needs without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their own*, emphasizing essential needs of the poor and the limitations imposed by technology and social organization on the environment. Sustainability, rooted in human development, is inherently an economic and political concept with strong ethical foundations. Following the report's publication, global interest and promotion of sustainability intensified across societal strata. However, the widely presented *three-part model of sustainability*, with economic, social, and environmental elements depicted equally, is criticized from ecological and landscape ecological perspectives. There is insufficient research to support this model's representation of sustainability, leading to ongoing debates about its validity. Many argue that in practice, the economic element tends to dominate sustainability considerations, *questioning the assumption that the environmental component can equally influence sustainability determinations*. Amidst this discourse, efforts are directed towards integrating sustainability with ecology and landscape ecology, particularly through the concept of ecological resilience, which frames how sustainability can be applied and managed within ecosystems across landscapes. **Key Points:** - The term gained prominence through the 1987 United Nations report "Our Common Future," emphasizing meeting present needs without compromising future generations' abilities. - Sustainability is inherently an economic and political concept rooted in human development and strong ethical foundations. - Despite intense global interest, the widely presented three-part model of sustainability faces criticism from ecological and landscape ecological perspectives. - Insufficient research supports the model's representation of sustainability, leading to ongoing debates about its validity. - Efforts are directed towards integrating sustainability with ecology and landscape ecology, particularly through the concept of ecological resilience. ## Ecological Management The management approach for ecosystems and landscapes has evolved from a rigid, top-down method focused solely on human benefits and economic gain to a more holistic and dynamic perspective known as [[Ecological Management]]. This shift acknowledges the importance of understanding the structure, processes, and dynamics of ecosystems, as well as the diverse social interactions with them. Ecological management aims to enhance resilience within ecosystems and landscapes to sustain human utility without causing harm, instead fostering their improvement over time. **Key Points:** - It emphasizes understanding ecosystem structure, processes, and dynamics, alongside social interactions with ecosystems and landscapes. - The goal is to enhance resilience within ecosystems and landscapes to sustain human utility without causing harm. - This approach seeks to improve ecosystems and landscapes over time rather than exploit them solely for economic gain.