Ecosystem Environmental Assessment

Our need to appreciate landscapes and the changes that lands have undergone in the past decades has increased. This has been partly due to an increased demand for understanding the best way to manage changes in land and ecosystems. This has resulted in innovative new techniques which help us to understand natural countryside and also help us to support ecosystems to remain stable whilst they undergo changes and accommodate development.

The most important subject for understanding landscapes is learning about the character of the landscape itself. Landscape character assessment, or LCA, is a technique which uses the description of the distinct and recognizable patterns of landscape components, such as field size, hedges, building layout, that occur in a particular area. Each distinct landscape character area has characteristics that distinguish it from other land character areas. Landscape architects judge those key characteristics which give rise to the overall landscape character, in order to understand the particular land character of an area. Using this knowledge of various landscape characteristics, one can differentiate between land management and land design methods. These methods are used to enhance the future landscape for social, environmental and economic purposes. LCA also allows judgments to be made about the land by government appointed policy makers, developers and land managers. With this understanding we have knowledge of how places differ so that future development is sensitive to the area and location in which it is to be situated.

The characteristics of the land can be judged by landscape character assessment, as part of this is concerned with the quality assessment of the condition of any given landscape. The quality assessment is usually done as part of a strategic planning process. This is undertaken to estimate the capacity of land to accept new development to determine and ascertain any impact the proposed development will have on the countryside. A systematic investigation of existing conditions and the processes of landscape and ecosystems are undertaken, with an analysis of any changes to LCA produced by a given development. These are then used to give landscape design mitigation measures which produce both the desired developmental outcome and help to enhance the landscape character. Continue Reading

There is a growing recognition, that the expanding suburban landscape is having a negative environmental impact. Suburban development often includes vast energy dependent monocultures (perfect, grass lawns). They consume a significant amount of natural resources, (water to keep them green and gasoline to keep them trimmed), and they reduce the amount of habitat available for native wildlife. Over use of fertilizers, herbicides and pesticides can leach into water supplies and be harmful to children and pets. Trends toward ecological landscaping and organic lawn care are lessening the detrimental effects of these designs. Many landscape designers are recommending native plant species, and even golf course managers are moving toward organic methods.

In practical terms our goal should be to move away from designs that depend on an extensive use of energy, without asking people to give up their lawns entirely. There are a number of options:

• Buffer zones and open space requirements in subdivisions allow for wildlife corridors and bird habitats.
• Leaving a portion of each lot in a natural state will invite birds and beneficial insects into the yard, while reducing the amount of grass to water and mow.
• The use of native plants in the design will greatly reduce the amount of care needed for the plants to thrive.

We should stop worrying about whether our lawns looks like the eighteenth fairway of the local country club. Many of the “weeds” that appear in our lawns are considered to be medicinal, by herbalists, and others attract beneficial insects.

We should stop over watering our lawns. Don’t worry about your grass dying. Grass will turn green when it rains. Trust me.

If you must have an all grass lawn, there are organic methods that claim to do as well as chemicals will. It’s probably a good idea to test any remedy before applying it to your entire yard. Spot treating problem areas will often be all that is needed. Continue Reading

Why is landscaping important? There are several reasons and just to mention a few: aesthetics increase the property’s value and make it unique, personalized.

Why ecological landscaping? Again many reasons, but the most important is preserving nature and keeping our health.

Ecologically responsible landscape practices are rooting into the public’s awareness. More and more people opt to go green and they find out that there is a healthier way to create and maintain landscapes.

Over use of pesticides, fertilizers and herbicides can leach into water supplies and be dangerous to humans and animals as well. Everybody should turn to ecological landscaping and organic lawn to avoid such dangers.

The first thing to do when creating eco landscapes is an environmental assessment of the site.

Second is to find out what are the native plants, wildlife habitat and birds habitat.

Trees fight global warming, so it’s a good idea to have some in your yard. Choosing native plants is a smart choice because they are already used to the region and climate so they will need least attention – they will stay healthy without much help. Also if you choose to plant deciduous trees, they can cool down your house during summer time and help you save energy. For winter time it helps if you have a few evergreen trees to create a natural windbreak. Continue Reading