Names: Bethany, Alanna, Kristen, Kate, Emeil, Cedric, Gen, Lucas, and Allister
Readings: Stokes, David L. Marian F. Handson, Deborah D. Oaks, Jaime E. Straub, and Aileen V. Ponio."Local Land-Use Planning to Conserve Biodiversity: Planners' Perspectives on What Works." Conservation Biology. Society for Conservation Biology, 2009.Del Tredici, Peter. "Spontaneous Urban Vegetation: Reflections of Change in a Globalized World." Nature and Culture. Berghahn Journals, 2010.
Summary of Readings:
Local Land-Use Planning to Conserve Biodiversity: Planners' Perspectives on What Works:
This article discusses the conversion of natural land to urban uses. The researchers who wrote the article interviewed 17 planning directors and found that the population grew by 25% from 1995-2005. They discovered that because of this increase, more land was being converted to urban uses, destroying the habitat. Each of the 17 interviewee's answers for what planning techniques were most effective for saving biodiversity quite different, but not limited to: cluster zoning, transfer of development rights, incentive zoning, and planned unit development. Most of the interviewees considered community as an important aspect of planning and 10 out of the 17 believed that biodiversity conservation as a component of planning was just based on human-centered reasons. Another important finding in this interview was that all 17 stated that funding would help their biodiversity conservation. A major concept that a lot of the planners discussed was that biodiversity was studied because it benefits humans. Planners surprisingly do not use the word "biodiversity" very much as the public does not have a very good understanding of it.
Spontaneous Urban Vegetation: Reflections of Change in a Globalized World:
This article discusses Urban Ecology as the blend of human culture and natural history. The article split up urban land into 3 categories: remnant native landscapes, managed horticultural landscapes, and abandoned ruderal landscapes. The focus of the article was on ruderal landscapes. It states that landscape disturbances are the key role in cycle of vegetation. An urban landscape characteristic that this article mentions is the use of concrete buildings and pavings, which decrease water infiltration, increase runoff, and compact the soil. They also increase the temperature, making the city have a higher temperature than the outer regions. The article then goes on to discuss Urban Vegetation: they found that native species percentages were actually quite high in the United States because of historical and socio-economic factors. The article also discusses the role that cities have to play in regards to climate change as the city 'heats up', in coming generations, so will the countryside. The author warns readers to be ready for this change. The discovery of plants that are adapting to cities by the forces of urbanization, globalization, and climate change.
Minutes of Seminar discussion: The seminar group asked 5 questions:
1. Do you think its better for nature to be left to itself or should we intervene when it begins to take over?
-the class discussed this and the general opinion was that nature should be left to itself.
2. Why are our views toward certain plants negative and how can we change these views that native species can grow where they are intended to?
-we should change our views towards plants/weeds to make them more appealing
-can we advertise with native plants for the general public?
3. Should all vacant areas that vegetation has taken over be turned into parks or should they be left alone to let biodiversity take over? What are other ways we conserve biodiversity other than making a park?
-I believe that there should be a balance between parks and land with uncontrolled biodiversity. Because we live in the city, some areas should be maintained and controlled, but some areas should be left to their natural state, benefitting the natural habitats in these areas.
4. How can planners think of biodiversity as a primary concern instead of an after thought & care for it before it become an issue?
-By making biodiversity a standard/law when urban planning, then people will be forced to integrate biodiversity into their plans. That being said, a lot of designers will find a way out because it is difficult to force people to do things that may not be of high importance to them.
5. Do you think that every person has a responsibility to protect biodiversity or is it solely the planners responsibility?
-Every person on this earth is responsible to protect biodiversity and care for it. The problem is that people do not take this responsibility, and as planners I think we have the perfect opportunity to motivate people to take the steps of taking care of our planet.
Reflections:
As planners, it is important for us to incorporate sustainable design and biodiversity into our designs. It is difficult however, because there must be a shift in the way people think in order for them to design differently. I believe that the first step in preserving biodiversity and incorporating it into design, is to educate the public and make society aware of why it is so important. It is only until then, that they will be motivated to move forward with sustainable design and preserving biodiversity when planning.
Image: Guy2010, John. "Preserving Biodiversity with Heritage Plants." Flickr. JPEG. http://www.flickr.com/photos/cupids400/5004362977/ accessed April 16, 2013.
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