Professional planning is commonly defined as an activity which is concerned with the rational allocation or exploitation of resources for man's maximum short- and long-term benefit. The science of. ecology is the study of the basic components of these resources (soil, water, air etc. ) and their inter relationships with living organisms. Planning and ecology therefore have many common interests and, as such, have long been associated in resource management. This association was, for example, reflected as early as the 19th century in the writings of Patrick Geddes, the progenitor of modern town planning, whose training as a biologist led him to re-interpret the phenomena of urbanization in ecological terms (Geddes, 1886). Since the time of Geddes the place of ecology has declined in planning circles as other professions and considerations, initially public health and engineering, latterly economic and sociological, have become more central. The reasons for this shifting emphasis are three-fold. First, they reflect changing social attitudes and aspirations in the post-war period. Secondly, many other professions and persuasions (agriculturalists, foresters, in dustrialists etc. ) became organized as pressure groups and helped shape public attitudes and governmental actions. Thirdly, and by far the most important reason, is the prevalence of misconceptions about ecology. Too many people, perhaps misled by the debate surrounding the' environmental movement', equate ecology with conservation. In reality, conservation is but one component part of ecology.

Trees and vegetation in cities aren’t just there to make the place look pretty. They have an important ecological function. This book contains studies and perspectives on urban forests from a broad array of basic and applied scientific disciplines including ecosystem ecology, biogeochemistry, landscape ecology, plant community ecology, geography, and social science. The book includes contributions from experts around the world, allowing the reader to evaluate methods and management that are appropriate for particular geographic, environmental, and socio-political contexts.

Introduction to Ocean and Ecology Course Description This is the suggested course sequence that allows one core area of science to be studied per semester. You can change the sequence of the semesters per the needs or interests of your student; materials for each semester are independent of one another to allow flexibility. Semester 1: Oceans The oceans may well be earth’s final frontier. These dark and sometimes mysterious waters cover 71 percent of the surface area of the globe and have yet to be fully explored. Under the waves, a watery world of frail splendor, foreboding creatures, and sights beyond imagination awaits. The Ocean Book will teach you about giant squid and other “monsters” of the seas; centuries of ocean exploration; hydrothermal vents; the ingredients that make up the ocean; harnessing the oceans’ energy; icebergs; coral reefs; ships, submarines, and other ocean vessels; the major ocean currents; El Niño; whirlpools and hurricanes; harvesting the ocean’s resources; whales, dolphins, fish, and other sea creatures. Learning about the oceans and their hidden contents can be exciting and rewarding. The abundance and diversity of life, the wealth of resources, and the simple mysteries there have intrigued explorers and scientists for centuries,. A better understanding of our oceans ensures careful conservation of their grandeur and beauty for future generations, and lead to a deeper respect for the delicate balance of life on planet Earth. Semester 2: Ecology Study the relationship between living organisms and our place in God’s wondrous creation! Learn important words and concepts from different habitats around the world to mutual symbiosis as a product of the relational character of God. This is a powerful biology-focused course specially designed for multi-age teaching. Students will: Study the intricate relationship between living organisms and our place in God’s wondrous creation Examine important words and concepts, from different habitats around the world to our stewardship of the world’s resources Gain insight into influential scientists and their work More fully understand practical aspects of stewardship Investigate ecological interactions and connections in creation The Ecology Book encourages an understanding of a world designed, not as a series of random evolutionary accidents, but instead as a wondrous, well-designed system of life around the globe created to enrich and support its different features. Activities provide additional ways to make the learning experience practical.

The aim of Ecosystem Services and Global Ecology is to give an overview and report from the frontiers of research of this important and interesting multidisciplinary area. Ecosystem services as a concept plays a key role in solving global environmental and human ecological crises and associated other problems, especially today when the sixth major extinction event of the history of the biosphere is in progress, and humanity can easily become a victim of it. Human activity is rapidly transforming the surface of the Earth, its biosphere, atmosphere, soil, and water resources. Ecological processes happen over a long time scale, thus damage caused by human activity will be perceptible after decades or even centuries. We hope that our book will be interesting and useful for researchers, lecturers, students, and anyone interested in this field.

The Handbook provides a supporting guide to key aspects and applications of landscape ecology to underpin its research and teaching. A wide range of contributions written by expert researchers in the field summarize the latest knowledge on landscape ecology theory and concepts, landscape processes, methods and tools, and emerging frontiers. Landscape ecology is an interdisciplinary and holistic discipline, and this is reflected in the chapters contained in this Handbook. Authors from varying disciplinary backgrounds tackle key concepts such as landscape structure and function, scale and connectivity; landscape processes such as disturbance, flows, and fragmentation; methods such as remote sensing and mapping, fieldwork, pattern analysis, modelling, and participation and engagement in landscape planning; and emerging frontiers such as ecosystem services, landscape approaches to biodiversity conservation, and climate change. Each chapter provides a blend of the latest scientific understanding of its focal topics along with considerations and examples of their application from around the world. An invaluable guide to the concepts, methods, and applications of landscape ecology, this book will be an important reference text for a wide range of students and academics in ecology, geography, biology, and interdisciplinary environmental studies.

The school of thought surrounding the urban ecosystem has increasingly become in vogue among researchers worldwide. Since half of the world’s population lives in cities, urban ecosystem services have become essential to human health and wellbeing. Rapid urban growth has forced sustainable urban developers to rethink important steps by updating and, to some degree, recreating the human–ecosystem service linkage. Assessing, as well as estimating the losses of ecosystem services can denote the essential effects of urbanization and increasingly indicate where cities fall short. This book contains 13 thoroughly refereed contributions published within the Special Issue “Urban Ecosystem Services”. The book addresses topics such as nature-based solutions, green space planning, green infrastructure, rain gardens, climate change, and more. The contributions highlight new findings for landscape architects, urban planners, and policymakers. Important future cities research is considered by looking at the system connectivity between the social and ecological sphere—via varying forms of urban planning, management, and governance. The book is supported by methods and models that utilize an urban sustainability and ecosystem service-centric focus by adding knowledge-base and real-world solutions into the urbanization phenomenon.

The International Handbook of Political Ecology features chapters by leading scholars from around the world in a unique collection exploring the multi-disciplinary field of political ecology. This landmark volume canvasses key developments, topics, iss

This book offers in-depth ethnographic analyses of key informants’ interviews on the ecological urbanism and ecosystem services (ES) of selected green infrastructure (GI) in Yoruba cities of Ile-Ife, Ibadan, Osogbo, Lagos, Abeokuta, Akure, Ondo, among others in Southwest Nigeria. It examines the Indigenous Knowledge System (IKS) demonstrated for wellbeing through home gardens by this largest ethno-linguistic group in Nigeria. This is in addition to the ES of Osun Grove UNESCO World Heritage Site, Osogbo; Biological Garden and Park, Akure; Lekki Conservation Centre, Lagos; Adekunle Fajuyi Park, Ado-Ekiti; Muri Okunola Park, Lagos; and some institutional GI including University of Ibadan Botanical Gardens, Ibadan; Federal University of Agriculture Abeokuta Botanical Garden, Abeokuta; and University of Lagos Lagoon Front Resort, Lagos, Nigeria. The study draws on theoretical praxis of Western biophilic ideologies, spirit ontologies of the Global South, and largely, Millennium Ecosystem Assessment (2005) to examine eco-cultural green spaces, home gardens, and English-types of parks and gardens as archetypes of GI in Yoruba traditional urbanism, colonial and post-colonial city planning. The book provides methods of achieving a form of modernized traditionalism as means of translating the IKS into design strategies for eco-cultural cities. The strategies are framework, model, and ethnographic design algorithms that are syntheses of the lived experiences of the key informants.