The following thesis project explores the design of a nature center and planetarium within Rock Creek Park, in Washington, DC. The project evolved from a desire to re-imagine a relationship with nature in a way that allows conversation, reflective thinking, and allows one's sense of wonder to enter a place which is between science and myth. The design of the nature center and planetarium was developed by investigating the dualities which exist within and around the site, such as earth and air, day and night,and winter and summer. The goal was to create a building which is fully embedded in the site around it, to create a unique environment for exploration and conversation, and a place to contemplate one's relationship with nature. / Master of Architecture

This paper explores the intersection of healing, movement, and landscape architecture, focusing on the concept of therapeutic movement. Drawing from the author's background in both landscape architecture and dance, the research investigates how outdoor environments can be designed to facilitate healing through mindful movement practices. By examining existing outdoor spaces designed for various purposes such as recreation, yoga, tai chi, and other forms of mindful movement, the study seeks to understand how landscape architects can integrate therapeutic movement into their designs. The research is centered on a design project situated in Blacksburg, VA, proposing the seamless transformation of unused areas to a nature park tailored for therapeutic movement, adjacent to actively used recreational areas. Throughout the paper, the author engages with topics including the human experience of landscapes, the therapeutic value of movement, and the design considerations for creating healing landscapes. By analyzing practices such as Dance/Movement Therapy, Yoga Therapy, and Tai Chi, the paper offers insights into how landscapes can enhance healing benefits and foster a deeper connection to oneself, community, and the landscape. The proposed design guidelines aim to inform future landscape architecture projects, contributing to the field's understanding of designing spaces for therapeutic movement and promoting holistic well-being. / Master of Landscape Architecture / This paper dives into how nature, movement, and designing outdoor spaces intersect to promote healing. The author, a student of landscape architecture and a dancer, looks at how being mindful about movement outdoors can help people heal. They study existing outdoor areas used for things like yoga and tai chi to see how landscape architects can create spaces that encourage healing through other types of movement, like dance. The research focuses on a project in Blacksburg, VA, where they suggest turning unused areas into a nature park specifically for therapeutic movement, next to places where people already go for recreation. The goal is to give guidelines for future projects in landscape architecture that promote well-being through movement and nature.

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Desert mule deer (Odocoileus hemionus crooki) abundance and distribution, deer activity and diet, fawn survival, and predation were studied in Big Bend National Park, Texas from 15 January 1980 to 9 December 1981. Deer abundance was correlated with total plant, forage, and succulent densities but was also related to perennial water abundance and bed site availability. Fawn production and survival were related to spring rainfall. Diurnal and annual deer activity were influenced by temperature where spring and winter had longer daily activity compared to summer. Daily activity by deer was highest during the morning and evening. Forage use varied seasonally with browse use decreasing from spring to winter with a corresponding increase in use of forbs. Diets of two deer herds were compared and during drought periods forb use decreased until summer rains occurred. Prior to the rains, deer relied on evergreen browse species. Additionally, deer within mesic areas had a higher use of forb species contrasted with deer within xeric areas. Predator diet significantly changed with a decline in the deer population determined from pellet-group transects. Mountain lions (Felis concolor) used smaller prey including javelina and lagomorphs. Coyotes (Canis latrans) fed opportunistically by increasing use of insects, birds, reptiles, and lagomorphs. Bobcats (Lynx rufus) increased use of lagomorphs with little change in other prey species. Given alternate prey species, predator populations remained relatively constant given the deer decline.

The diploma thesis deals with a legal regulation of National Parks in the Czech Republic. The National parks are declared within territorial nature conservation in places with unaffected ecosystems or ecosystems little influenced by people. The thesis is composed of ten chapters dealing with declaring of National Parks, protective conditions, visitor rules, management plans, zoning systems and buffer zones. The separate parts focus on the possibility of establishing fees in National Park areas and reaching a compromise between nature conservation and tourism. The closing part looks at the imperfections of institutions of National Parks. The aim of the thesis is to analyze an effective legal regulation and then to propose its modification in order to protect nature more efficiently in the area of National Parks.

The thesis is focused on use of the geological science park as a mean of acquiring and developing knowledge in the field of geoscience disciplines in the teaching of natural science, biology and geography at primary schools and secondary grammar schools. This thesis consists of a general retrieval of teaching geoscientific disciplines at basic schools and secondary grammar schools based on the national curriculum standarts including description of actual situation in a selected school where my teaching praxis took place. Worksheets for pupils and methodical materials for teachers will be created as means to support teaching in the geological park. Finally, the potential of the created materials will be evaluated from the attractiveness and better remembering of knowledge in geoscience disciplines point of view. Key words: geological park, worksheets, teaching geology

1 Abstract The thesis whose subject is Comparation of legislation of National Parks in the Czech Republic and the Republic of South Africa deals In detail with the legislation of national parks, especially in comparison of the Czech legal system and the legal system of South Africa, but also with the international law and European Union law. The aim is mainly to analyze in detail the individual instruments and institutions that govern the environmental law in relation to national parks and to acquaint the readers with scope of nature conversation in Europe and Africa. The thesis also serves and explains the basic terms related to the territorial regulation of national parks and protected areas (prior to national parks) on both continents. National parks are the most important type of protected area; they are declare by the state and in the scope of nature conversation national parks are the most crucial mean of conversation. The regulation of national parks is embodied in the laws of individual states; in the Czech Republic it is the Act on the protection of nature and landscape of 1992 while in South Africa it is the Protected Areas Act of 2003. In general, however, the national legislation is very influenced by international treaties and by the international organizations whose influence is still growing....

Master of Regional and Community Planning / Department of Landscape Architecture/Regional and Community Planning / Jason Brody / Kessler’s 1893 parks and boulevards system was established to spur investment. The 1893 Report shaped the present city pattern and form of Downtown Kansas City by encouraging decentralized city and metropolitan growth. Today’s system discourages pedestrian mobility and accessibility through the design and context of the public spaces. Since walkability contributes to successful public spaces, walking for transportation to encourage active use could improve today’s open-space system. To address the present condition facing the system, the report analyzes the morphology of Kessler’s parks and boulevards system within the 2010 Greater Downtown Area Plan boundary. For methods, stakeholder notes and professional interviews explain the planning process behind the 2011-2012 KCDC project to revitalize public space. The stakeholder notes and professional interviews assess the context of the Kansas City Design Center’s vision to revitalize Kessler’s parks and boulevards system. Using the StreetSmartTM walkability model, the design and context of public space can help revitalize Kessler’s 1893 system and today’s park system. The model can be used to measure and prioritize investment by assessesing the pedestrian mobility and accessibility of public spaces. The implication of the report is that if the design and context of public spaces addresses the public interest and walkability, public spaces will become connected, diverse, market-competitive, and actively used. Short-term pedestrian amenities and long-term infrastructure improvements provide different ways to prioritize pedestrian mobility and accessibility to create a walkable downtown, one of the goals of the Greater Downtown Area Plan.

The emergence of Progressivism at the beginning of the twentieth century influenced many aspects of American society. One of those aspects was urban parks. In the latter half of the nineteenth century Frederick Law Olmsted led a nationwide implementation of "Victorian" parks. These parks featured broad expanses of turf, waterways, and trees. Olmsted and the other Victorian park leaders designed the parks to cultivate Victorian values of self-restraint and independence among the citizenry. With the rise of Progressivism the ideals of the middle class changed. Led by Theodore Roosevelt, millions of Americans embraced the "strenuous life" and its emphasis on strength and leadership. Consequently, parks changed. The new Progressive park design favored athletic facilities over places for repose. Audubon Park in New Orleans was built just as this change was occurring, and therefore provides us an opportunity to study this moment in American history in detail.

Legal regulation of nature protection in national parks Abstract The purpose of the thesis is to provide an overview of legal instruments used to protect nature in national parks after the amendment of the Act No. 114/1992 Coll., On Nature and Landscape Protection ("NLP") and evaluate their functionality. Although Act No. 123/2017 Coll., which amended the NPL, has been in effect since June 1, 2017, changes are being reflected in practice gradually. The thesis is elaborated by a descriptive method connected with the analysis of effective legislation and it is formally divided into six chapters. The first chapter deals with sources of legal regulation, the second one deals with the term of national park itself, including a short historical excursion and the international concept of IUCN. This chapter also includes the issue of the protection zone and the process of proclaiming national parks. The third chapter is devoted to the new concept of management zoning and also contains the current information on the zoning discussion in individual national parks. The fourth chapter contains an overview of the tools that lead to the limitation of various activities in the territory of the national park, whether they are basic or closer protective conditions, restrictions and prohibition of activities according to § 66...