This project explores the potential for integrating an ecosystem service approach with the Central Texas Greenprint for Growth process, a continuing and active stakeholder supported voluntary conservation effort The report provides an overview of the Greenprint process, ecosystem services, and the participatory stakeholder method of social network analysis or mapping. Each of these methods may be used to explore opportunities to enhance the collaborative land conservation planning activity in Central Texas. Conservation goals identified in the Greenprint process are evaluated in terms of ecosystem service and methods for measuring more complete environmental value can be identified. This evaluation focuses on three out of the six goals that the stakeholders have identified as having importance: protect water quality and quantity, preserve farms and ranchlands, and protect cultural resources. Community-based environmental planning or adaptive management processes such as the Greenprint process requires effective communication methods to address complex issues among diverse stakeholders. Social network mapping and analysis are illustrated as a method to evaluate how stakeholders communicate information about ecosystem services. A limited social network analysis is conducted as a pilot study with a stakeholder group in Bastrop, Texas. Natural resource professionals have used social network analysis to understand the structure of relationships and the pathways of communication in community planning processes. I will review this method and its potential for application. Through questionnaires, data gathered at a stakeholder meeting and is used to develop a preliminary social network matrix to demonstrate the method. It is envisioned that the report would advance understanding of how an ecosystem service approach can enhance an active ecological planning process and landscape scale conservation. / text

This is a class project that analyzes and critically engages the UBC south campus plan and makes recommendations based on research of exemplary approaches to systems integration.

The natural characteristics of protected areas have changed for a variety of reasons through time. Changes in protected area landscapes can occur because of natural and/or cultural processes. Natural processes such as geomorphological disturbance and climatic condition can permanently and/or temporarily change the characteristics of the environment. In addition, changes in human needs, knowledge and activities are the cultural driving forces behind changing characteristics of landscape through time. These changes can be studied both spatially and temporally. Spatially, protected area landscape structures such as shape, size and location with respect to their neighbourhood context can be studied to describe landscape configuration. Temporally, landscape functions such as different geographical locations and land characteristics can be studied to determine the rate of temporal variability in landscape. Any changes in temporal characteristics may lead to changes in spatial characteristics of protected areas and vice versa. This thesis has developed a framework to enhance the landscape ecological planning approach with attention to changes in landscapes of protected areas. Considering landscape ecological concepts, this framework draws upon spatial and temporal characteristics of protected areas. Initially, a basic model of the landscape ecological approach to protected area planning and data requirements for landscape ecological planning was developed according to the concept of landscape ecological planning. In order to examine the model in the real world, the data requirements for landscape ecological planning were implemented using a case study method. The basic list of data required for landscape ecological planning was further developed through the case study approach by highlighting the importance of road metrics in the process of planning. In addition, the case study approach proved that spatial and temporal metrics can be used in the interpretation of spatial configuration and temporal variability of protected areas th rough a quantitative method. The framework was developed for three case studies in Iran and three case studies in Australia. A number of metrics were applied in order to quantify spatial and temporal aspects of the protected areas. A list of spatial and temporal criteria was developed to assist interpretation of area compaction, spatial fragmentation and temporal variability of protected areas. Using the criteria list, a new framework for spatial and temporal evaluation of protected areas has been developed. This can be used to determine spatial and temporal management issues of protected areas at the landscape scale. Then planning scenarios for spatial and temporal issues of protected areas at the landscape scale can be suggested. The developed framework has the potential to be applied to all protected areas even where detailed ecological data and information are not available. In addition, when all data required are available, the developed framework using spatial and temporal metrics has the potential to suggest a flexible zoning plan for protected areas.

The Woodlands, Texas, is a 27,000-acre new town created with Ian McHarg's ecohydrological planning approach. The Woodlands is the best example of ecologically based new town planning in the United States during the 1970s. The Woodlands survived storms in excess of one-hundred-year levels in 1979 and 1994 with little property damage, while Houston, 31 miles away, was severely flooded in both events. For the past three decades, very few studies have been conducted to assess the effectiveness of McHarg's planning approach. The objective of this study is three fold: (1) To document McHarg's ecohydrological planning concepts, implementation and unveil the barriers to continue his approach; (2) To compare flood mitigation effectiveness of different drainage systems used in The Woodlands development; and (3) To simulate "what if" land-use scenarios using different planning approaches. Original development information is collected from published monographs, journal articles, newspapers and designers' collections. Geographic Information System (GIS) parcel data are obtained from Montgomery County Appraisal District. Streamflow data are acquired from the USGS website. Weather data are downloaded from the NOAA website. Land use and land cover data are collected from various national datasets. Two GIS hydrologic models--the Soil and Water Assessment Tool (SWAT) and the Kinematic Runoff and Erosion model (KINEROS)--are used for watershed simulation. The statistic analysis tool SPSS is used for correlation analysis. Results show that McHarg's planning approach was followed in the early phases of development (1974-1996) but was largely abandoned in the later phases when its ownership was changed in 1997. McHarg's approach ceased to be implemented because of the low public acceptance of ecohydrological planning strategies and the conflicts between short-term investment return and long-term environmental stewardship. In addition, comparative study shows that the early phases of development responded to rainfall similarly to its pre-development forest conditions. However, the later phases generated runoff volumes three times greater than the early phases. Therefore, McHarg's ecohydrological planning approach demonstrates flood mitigation effectiveness that is superior to the conventional approach. Finally, using soil permeability to coordinate development density and land use presents a viable solution for mitigating environmental impacts from a stormwater perspective.

The students of PLAN 587B Introductory Urban Design Studio, under the instruction of Dr. Maged Senbel, worked in collaboration with developer Wayne Allen to create 3 sustainable designs for the redevelopment of an amalgamated site in the Big Bend area of Burnaby BC adjacent to Willard Park. Concurrently, through a research-based directed study project Jeca Glor-Bell conducted research on green design principles and technologies to aid the design students in achieving a high level of sustainability in design. This book brings together the research on green design principles and application of green technologies with the final designs. The purpose of this effort is to offer a resource for the developer, other urban planning students as well as interested practitioners seeking to apply green design principles and technologies to future sites. The book begins by explaining the green principles and features which have informed and influenced these designs and then presents the three completed site designs. The first site design, Fenwick Village, was created by Jennifer Fix, Bronwyn Jarvis and Chani Joseph. The second design, Willard’s Eco-Village, was created by Brian Gregg, Lang Lang and Sawngjai Manityakul, and finally the Sprout: The City is the Country Design which was created by Kaitlin Kazmierowski, Jeff Deby and Andrew Merrill. Each of these designs sought to combine three elements: the client’s vision, ecological development principles, and green design features. Finally the book includes several appendices with greater detail on the application of green energy technologies, including calculations for the capacity of different green technologies.

This thesis explores the potential contribution that could be made to core area revitalization through the integration of outdoor recreation planning, ecological planning, and urban planning. The revitalization of urban centres, and especially those of mid-size cities, has typically been explored through policy planning, economic vitality, and urban design. An area, which often has been neglected, is that of urban outdoor recreation, specifically recreation that is carried out in an ecologically compatible fashion. The thesis examines theoretical and practical approaches in outdoor recreation planning, ecological planning, and urban planning, addressing any gaps and insufficiencies that seem to hinder the integration of the three disciplines in terms of devising practical solutions to identified issues. The core area in the city of Waterloo serves as a case study to examine the feasibility of integrating ecological planning, outdoor recreation planning, and urban planning. This research indicates that ecological planning is a versatile and responsive planning approach whereas outdoor recreation planning and urban planning seem disconnected from each other. Planning for outdoor recreation needs to be more inclusive and coordinated with other disciplines, such as urban planning and ecological planning. The thesis applies these findings in recommendations for the City of Waterloo to consider when planning its core area.

This thesis explores the potential contribution that could be made to core area revitalization through the integration of outdoor recreation planning, ecological planning, and urban planning. The revitalization of urban centres, and especially those of mid-size cities, has typically been explored through policy planning, economic vitality, and urban design. An area, which often has been neglected, is that of urban outdoor recreation, specifically recreation that is carried out in an ecologically compatible fashion. The thesis examines theoretical and practical approaches in outdoor recreation planning, ecological planning, and urban planning, addressing any gaps and insufficiencies that seem to hinder the integration of the three disciplines in terms of devising practical solutions to identified issues. The core area in the city of Waterloo serves as a case study to examine the feasibility of integrating ecological planning, outdoor recreation planning, and urban planning. This research indicates that ecological planning is a versatile and responsive planning approach whereas outdoor recreation planning and urban planning seem disconnected from each other. Planning for outdoor recreation needs to be more inclusive and coordinated with other disciplines, such as urban planning and ecological planning. The thesis applies these findings in recommendations for the City of Waterloo to consider when planning its core area.

An ecological approach to land-use planning is essential to maintain the long-term sustainability of ecosystem benefits, services, and resources. Concern about environmental quality and the long-term livability of urban areas is now a driving force in urban planning and design. The interrelated issues of growth management, smart growth, sustainable development, and new urbanism are topics in the most vibrant discussions at all levels of planning and landscape architecture. Within this context, this study starts from the interest in the ecological planning and management in urban areas, especially related to the issue of local development regulation and guidelines. Landscape regulations have come into existence recently in communities across the nation and these regulations vary from one region to another and from one community to another. The aims of this study were to investigate the relationship between ecological landscape structure and local development regulations over time. Comparison analysis was conducted between two areas that had similar pre-development ecological conditions but were developed under vastly different regulatory environments. The Woodlands (regulated to protect ecological condition) and the North Houston area (which followed traditional subdivision regulations) were examined at three different developmental time periods: predevelopment, early development (after 10 years), and matured development (after 30 years). Aerial photos of each site from the three time periods were classified into forested and non-forested classes and the landscape structure was quantified with a number of landscape metrics related to fragmentation??an indicator of habitat degradation. Two factors, the ecological approach to landscape planning and the adoption of more restrictive landscape regulations and guidelines, are discussed on the premise that they exert influence in developing and maintaining the long-term sustainability of ecosystems. In conclusion, this study provides the quantified landscape configuration and composition of the effects of development regulations on landscape structure. The ecologically planned community shows a less fragmented forest pattern and more restrictive development guidelines result in more ecologically structured environments. Understanding how elements of local development regulations affect ecological landscape patterns is important for landscape architects, planners, and administrators because it can lead to better strategies for planning and designing sustainable communities.

This study explores the non-monetary values assigned by designers, planners, developers, and policy makers in integrating ecosystem services into the design and development of urban transit-oriented development (TOD). This thesis also investigates the theoretical and practical design strategies that incorporate ecosystem services into Urban TODs. Methods used for research and data collection included reviewing existing literature relevant to the subject matter, conducting interviews with policy makers, academics, and design professionals, and exploring two specific examples of progressive, urban, “green,” TODs in the Pacific Northwest. This study concludes with ideas for future research into the integration of ecosystem services into urban TOD planning, and potential urban environmental policies that can be adopted by municipalities to maintain and strengthen the ecosystem services of the growing metropolis. / text

A zona costeira paulista alterna extensas zonas de grande diversidade de biótopos, com outras de intensa degradação ambiental. Essas características são observadas no município de Bertioga e seus maciços florestais, localizados entre as bacias hidrográficas dos rios Itaguaré e Guaratuba. Por suas características especiais, essas bacias em conjunto receberam a denominação de Sistema Bertioga. Este trabalho pretendeu mapear o panorama da região sob a perspectiva do planejamento ecológico, com a finalidade de dar elementos teóricos e práticos para proteger, reparar e/o desenvolver a natureza e a paisagem cênica desse território. Nesse contexto foi avaliada a sustentabilidade ambiental desse sistema, a partir da análise de risco ecológico e a sensibilidade às mudanças ambientais dos diferentes ecótopos presentes. Para atingir essa meta, foi elaborado um inventário dos recursos naturais do território (biológicos, climáticos, hídricos, edáficos) para todo o sistema, e, com esses elementos, estabelecer um zoneamento ambiental do território, segundo critérios de proteção, reparação e desenvolvimento (manejo) para as diferentes formações vegetais. Foi realizado um refinamento espacial tanto dos ambientes sedimentares como dos ecótopos estudados, e foi quantificado o grau de artificialização do sistema. Um cruzamento dessa informação permitiu propor um sistema de classificação da cobertura vegetal baseado nos grupos funcionais observados. Com base nessa classificação, foi feito um agrupamento das geoformas que ajudasse a entender sua incidência sobre a disposição espacial dos ecótopos. Foi possível realizar uma primeira aproximação sobre o funcionamento hidráulico do sistema, e sugerir as características do pulso hidrossedimentológico que rege o mesmo. Por outra parte, foram confeccionados mapas probabilísticos das características físico-químicas v das águas subsuperficiais do sistema, com base na medição do lençol freático em uma série temporal. Foram definidas as características das águas superficiais e sua incidência no sistema. Foram confeccionados mapas probabilísticos dos diferentes tipos de solos, com os quais foram definidas algumas linhas gerais de sua evolução e os elementos críticos que afetariam sua conservação, tanto do ponto de vista da estabilidade da sua estrutura superficial como de suas características físico-químicas. Por fim, com base em toda a informação compilada foi possível propor uma mapa de objetivos ambientais zonificados, classificados em Zonas Prioritárias para a preservação do Meio Ambiente e em Zonas Preferenciais para o desenvolvimento equilibrado do Meio Ambiente. / The São Paulo coastal zone alternates extensive zones of great diversity of biotopes with others intensively degradated. These characteristics are observed in the municipality of Bertioga and its forest regions localized among Itaguaré and Guaratuba river basins. Due to their special characteristics these basins are denominated Bertioga System. The aim of this work was to map the region scenario under the perspective of ecological planning in order to give the theoretical and practical elements to protect, repair and/or develop the nature and the landscape of this territory. In this context, the environmental sustainability of the system was evaluated using the ecological risk analysis and the sensibility to environmental changes to the different ecotopes. An inventory of the territory natural resources for all the system was performed (biologic, climatic, hydric, edaphic), from which an environmental zone division of the territory following criteria of protection, reparation and development (management) for all the vegetal formations. A spatial refinement of both sedimentary environment and ecotopes was performed, as well as the quantification of the artificialization grade of the system. An exchange of that information was the base to propose a classification system of the vegetation cover based on observed functional groups. A geoshape clustering was performed to help in the understanding of its incidence on the ecotopes spatial disposition. It was possible to perform a first approach about the hydraulic functioning of the system and to suggest the hidrosedimentological pulse characteristics that rule the system. On the other hand, probabilistic maps of the physical and chemical characteristics of the subsuperficial waters of the system were made, on the basis of the freatic level in a temporal vii series. The characteristics of the superficial waters and their incidence on the system were also defined. Probabilistc maps of soil types were made, which were used to define some general lineaments about their evolution and the critical elements that could affect its conservation from two points of view: superficial structure stability, and physical and chemical characteristics. Finally, a zone division map of ambient objectives was proposed. Those ambient objectives were classified in Prioritary Zones for the preservation of the environment and Preferential Zones for the balanced development of the environment.