Cultural landscapes, as the products of long-term interaction between human and nature, have been increasingly recognized by different international bodies for their importance in heritage conservation. However, cultural landscapes usually do not enjoy specific protection and are subject to most dynamic landscape changes in modern society that impair the significance. The traditional agricultural areas in the New Territories, display unique features of organically evolved cultural landscape in Hong Kong, have disappeared in drastic rate in recent decades. Long Valley, as one of the remarkable local example of traditional agricultural landscape, was studied to illustrate the spatial and landownership transformation connected with socio-economical transition over the last century. Aerial photos comparison and Geographic Information System (GIS) were employed, and stakeholders’ interviews were conducted to aid landscape analysis. 　　 　　The significance of Long Valley is embodied in the setting, natural features, resources of land and cultural context associated with the indigenous settlement and farming tradition in Hong Kong. The long history of agriculture by indigenous clans and more recently by tenant farmers defines the major landscape features of Long Valley. The aerial photographs comparison revealed that road widening, river training works, urbanization, industrialization and infrastructure development during 1960s – 1990s caused drastic environmental change and direct loss of farmland area in and surrounding Long Valley. 　　 　　Combining current cadastral map with historic land plot records shows that the past lots boundaries are still influencing on today’s fieldscape of Long Valley. On the other hand, the landownership pattern of Long Valley is fragmented and complicated, and has changed continuously over the century. Indigenous clans have dominant ownership control of Long Valley but their influence is diminishing. Certain portion of lands has been transferred to developers’ and outsiders’ hands. The complicated and fragmented landownership, however, protects the site from being developed yet. 　　 　　Although conservation efforts have been paid by local NGOs and the Government, Long Valley is still under threats of illegal dumping and unauthorized land-use change initiated by some indigenous landowners as well as development pressure. Traditional agricultural landscapes represent part of local natural and cultural heritage and are key component of local indigenous identity which should receive proper attention and protection. Therefore, adequate conservation and agricultural policy, effective legislation enforcement and planning control, development of adaptive conservation strategies and engagement of local stakeholders are in urge to safeguard and sustain local traditional agricultural landscapes, as well as other significant rural landscapes in Hong Kong. / published_or_final_version / Conservation / Master / Master of Science in Conservation

Landscape modification, especially those human-dominated changes, has been widely considered as one of the key drivers inducing the degradation of environment and ecosystem. The consequent habitat loss and fragmentation, which are closely related to ecological process, have attracted much scholarly attention. However, very few studies have systematically examined their causes and consequences at the landscape level. Integrating human activities into consideration in a holistic way remains poorly understood in particular. This thesis reports a systematic study of habitat loss and fragmentation under urbanization. This research distinguishes itself from previous works in its investigation of the spatio-temporal dynamics of causes and consequences of habitat loss and fragmentation, and its endeavor to disentangle habitat fragmentation from simple habitat loss in terms of their processes and effects. The Shenzhen River cross-border watershed, shared by Hong Kong Special Administrative Region and Shenzhen, is used as a case to illustrate how these ideas can work in practice. The study period spans from 1988 to 2008.The main contents of the study include analysis of the processes and causes of habitat loss and fragmentation, and dynamic consequences on water quality and ecosystem services for biodiversity conservation at spatial and temporal scales. Various methods are employed, mainly including conventional and newly developed landscape metrics (such as the Urbanization Isolation Effect (UIE) and Habitat Isolation Degree (HID)), a spatial statistical approach based on the Geographically Weighted Regression (GWR) model, spatio-temporal analyses and cross-border comparison. Major findings of the research are highlighted as follows. First, habitat loss and fragmentation show great spatial heterogeneity as well as temporal variation due to extensive and rapid urban sprawl in the study area. Second, by adopting the GWR model, it is found that human-related factors have played a significant role in determining not only the “amount” but also the “location” of habitat loss. Third, by using two new landscape metrics, namely the UIE and HID, both the extent (urban sprawl) and intensity (population density) of urbanization are suggested to have significant influences in habitat isolation. Fourth, water quality in the watershed is recognized to be closely correlated with habitat loss and fragmentation, and the correlations show major discrepancies between the Hong Kong and the Shenzhen sides. Moreover, by proposing a compound indicator (NP/MPS) for measuring habitat fragmentation (independent of simple habitat loss), it is found that habitat loss has exerted a bigger influence on water quality degradation than habitat fragmentation. Fifth, by integrating habitat connectivity into the evaluation of ecosystem services for biodiversity conservation, both the habitat size and connectivity are recognized to be important in explaining the degradation of ecosystem services value. Habitat size has played a dominant role in the overall change of ecosystem services value, whereas the role of connectivity (fragmentation) is more critical when the “stepping stones” sites are lost. The study provides a new framework to examine the habitat loss and fragmentation under urbanization at the landscape level. The efforts show great effectiveness in providing sound and useful information for future landscape planning, biodiversity conservation and watershed management. / published_or_final_version / Geography / Doctoral / Doctor of Philosophy

This presentation is a summary of research findings that was prepared for both the Bureau of Land Management and the participating tribes.

This presentation was prepared and given during a meeting in 2004 between the United States Forest Service, Southern Paiute tribal members, and the BARA research team. The power point presents the summary of key findings from the report entitled Puha Flows from It: The Spring Mountains Cultural Landscape Study.

The purpose of this study is document traditional plant use of the Dakota and Lakota Sioux as it pertains to Pipestone National Monument. Included in this report are discussions of three periods of cultural landscapes, traditional and contemporary plant use, management recommendations, a bibliography, and resource and legislative appendices. These findings are submitted to NPS as a basis for additional research, consultation, and management of the natural and cultural resources at the monument.

This is a slide show of selected photographs from the Big Springs Ethnographic Assessment US-95 Corridor Study.

This presentation highlights the changing cultural landscape of Pipestone National Monument as well as important findings from the Pipestone National Monument Cultural Affiliation Study.

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In this thesis, historic Hopi ethnographic data are employed to model ancestral Hopi agricultural land use through the lens of archaeological landscape theory. Emphasizing the interconnectedness of landmarks--loci of discrete interactions between humans and the land--within networked cultural landscapes, archaeological landscape theory provides a unique perspective from which to examine overlapping planes of historic and prehistoric land use.Drawing on ethnographic accounts, a model is constructed that integrates the physical, social organizational, ritual/ceremonial, and traditional history dimensions of historic Hopi agricultural land use. Durable material correlates of agricultural land use are proposed on the basis of ethnographic documentation. This holistic model is applied to archaeological data from the Homol'ovi Ruins State Park (HRSP), northeastern Arizona. The integrative model produced herein allows for the interpretation of relationships between archaeological features representing different land use behaviors and the conceptualization of linkages between landmarks in the ancestral Hopi agricultural landscape.

This project explores a reinterpretation process of a deindustrial site through landscape architecture. By using the industrial process to guide the formation of the landscape, spaces, and experiences, a semi-abandoned industrial site is transformed into a cultural park. The purpose of the project is to articulate the intriguing qualities of a deindustrial site and respond to them through a design process that is sensitive to the history and character of the site, while allowing contemporary uses and experiences to evolve.