Importance of Ecology in Landscape Design

Landscape ecology
&
landscape architecture
What is ecology , its importance and how it helps In nature ,
landscape design and architecture
WHAT IS ECOLOGY
ECOLOGY IS THE STUDY OF THE INTERELATIONSHIPS BETWEEN THE
ORGANISMS AND THEIR RESPECTIVE ENVIRONMENT.
LANDSCAPE DESIGN COMBINES ELEMENTS OF ART AND SCIENCE TO CREATE
A FUNCTIONAL, AESTHETICALLY PLEASING EXTENSION OF INDOOR LIVING
TO THE OUTDOORS. ONE INITIAL PURPOSE OF LANDSCAPE DESIGN IS TO
BLEND MAN'S TECHNOLOGY INTO THE NATURAL SURROUNDINGS.
LANDSCAPE ECOLOGY, A SUB DISCIPLINE OF ECOLOGY, IS THE STUDY OF
HOW LANDSCAPE STRUCTURE AFFECTS THE ABUNDANCE AND DISTRIBUTION
OF ORGANISMS.
LANDSCAPE ECOLOGY HAS ALSO BEEN DEFINED AS THE STUDY OF THE
EFFECT OF PATTERN ON PROCESS WHERE "PATTERN" REFERS
SPECIFICALLY TO LANDSCAPE STRUCTURE.
THE FULL DEFINITION OF LANDSCAPE ECOLOGY IS THEN: THE STUDY OF
HOW LANDSCAPE STRUCTURE AFFECTS THE PROCESSES THAT DETERMINE
THE ABUNDANCE AND DISTRIBUTION OF ORGANISMS.
IT IS THE DEVELOPMENT ON VERY LARGE SCALE.
LANDSCAPE ECOLOGY IS THE STUDY

OF LARGE LAND AREAS, SUCH AS
LANDSCAPES OR REGIONS
A GOOD ANALOGY IS WHEN YOU ARE

LOOKING OUT THE WINDOW OF AN
AIRPLANE
LAND ALMOST ALWAYS APPEARS AS

A MOSAIC MADE UP OF DISTINCT
PATCHES.
PROPERTIES OF PATCHES
SIZE
SHAPE
CONNECTIVITY
BOUNDARIES
CONFIGURATION
INTRODUCTION
Ecosystem, a self-contained, dynamic system composed of a natural

community along with its physical environment, showing the complex
interactions between the organismsplants, animals.
Ecology is study of the relationship

of plants and animals to their physical
and biological Environment.
The physical environment includes
light and heat or solar radiation, moisture,
wind, Oxygen, carbon dioxide, nutrients in
soil, water, and atmosphere.
The biological environment includes
organisms of the same kind as well as other plants and animals.
This illustration presents a simplified ecosystem, or a community of interacting

living and non-living organisms
Importance Of Ecology To Landscape Designers
Landscape Architecture shall mean all aspects of the science, planning,

design, implementation and management of landscapes and their
environment in urban and rural areas and the assessment, conservation,
development, creation and sustainability of landscapes with a view to
promoting landscapes which are aesthetically pleasing, functional and
ecologically and biologically healthy and which when required are able to
accommodate the built environment in all its forms, and without prejudice to
the generality of the foregoing shall include :
The application of intellectual and analytical skills to the assessment
evaluation of the landscape and its character and the resolution of existing
potential conflicts through the organization of landscape elements, spaces
activities based on sound principles of ecology, horticulture, design,
planning,
construction and management. The planning and design of all types of
outdoor and enclosed spaces.
The determination of policies and planning for existing and future landscapes.
The appraisal and harmonious integration of development and the built
environment into landscapes.
The conservation, modification and continuing management of the landscapes of
town and countryside and sustaining their characteristic features and habitats.
The promotion of a greater knowledge and understanding of materials and
technology to enhance the appreciation of and resolution of practical
landscape issues and problems; and
The promotion of a better understanding of the principles and purposes of
natural, biological and physical systems affecting or relating to the landscape.
ECOLOGICAL APPROACH TO LANDSCAPE DESIGN

RETENTION OF EXISTING VEGETATION
UTILIZING AVAILABLE OPPURTUNITIES,SUCH AS
ASPECT AND GRADIENT
PROVISION OF VARIETY AND INTREST THROUGH
LANDSCAPE DESIGN, VEGETATION STRUCTURE
AND COLOUR
SEPRATION OF SENTURIES AND SENSITIVE
WILD LIFE AREAS FROM THOSE WITH
GREATEST ACTIVITY
CONSIDERATION OF PHYSICAL
CHARACTERISTICS AND UNDERGROUND
SERVICES
PROMOTING LINKS TO OTHER OPEN SPACES
AND PROVIDING FOR A VARIETY OF USES
CONSIDERATION OF MANAGEMENT AND

FINANCIAL IMPLICATIONS OF THE DESIGN
ONE OF THE MAJOR DISADVANTAGES OF THE

MANMADE SITES RATHER THAN EXISTING AREAS
IS THAT THE OPPURTUNITIES FOR EXPLOITING
HUMAN CONTACT WITH NATURE CAN BE
MAXIMISED.
PLANTING SHOULD BE A FUNCTIONAL
STRUCTURAL ELEMENT IN THE EXTERNAL
ENVIRONMENT
PLANTING SHOULD BECOME WOODLAND IN THE
SHORTEST POSSIBLE TIME
THIS APPROACH WILL LOWER MAINTENANCE

COSTS AND RAISE SOCIAL BENEFITS
LANDSCAPE USERS DETERMINE ITS FORM
THIS APPROACH WILL TEND TOWARDS
ECOLOGICAL STABILITY
DECREASED COSTS AND INCREASED PLANT
RELIABILITY
SIGNIFICANT WILDLIFE GAIN AND A NATURALLY

BEAUTIFUL LANDSCAPE WITH A RICHER LIVING
ENVIRONMENT
LANDSCAPE STRUCTURES CAN BE USED TO INFORM LANDSCAPE PLANNING

AND MANAGEMENT DECISIONS.
IF, FOR EXAMPLE, AN ECOLOGICAL CORRIDOR IS TO CONTAIN A
LANDSCAPE PATCH, IT IS NECESSARY TO ASSESS THE INTERACTIONS
BETWEEN THE PROPOSED NEW PATCH AND ITS SURROUNDINGS.
IS THE CORRIDOR A ROUTE FOR WILDLIFE MOVEMENT?
DOES IT DETAIN FLOOD WATER AND PROTECT DOWNSTREAM AREAS?
WILL THE NEW PATCH CAUSE A DISCHARGE OF POLLUTANTS INTO
ADJOINING PATCHES?
LANDSCAPE ECOLOGICAL PATTERNS HELP IN ANSWERING THESE
QUESTIONS.
FIRST SEEK A DEEP UNDERSTANDING OF THE SITE AND THE PROCESSES

AT WORK THERE HOW SOIL, LIGHT, WATER, AND AIR INTERACT WITH
PLANTS AND ANIMALS.
ALSO DETERMINE HOW PEOPLE ARE AFFECTING THE AREA AND WHAT
THEY DESIRE FROM IT.
SUCCESSFUL PROJECTS OCCUR WHEN THIS UNDERSTANDING IS

INCORPORATED WITH AN INTIMATE KNOWLEDGE OF THE SITES
ECOLOGICAL IDENTITY.
Benefits:
CLEAN LAKES AND STABLE
SHORELINES.
LUSH RAINWATER GARDENS
INSTEAD OF EXPENSIVE STORM
SEWER SYSTEMS.
SOOTHING, GREEN URBAN
ENVIRONMENTS WITH SHADED
PARKING LOTS AND BLOOMING
WORKPLACES.
PRACTICES FOR ECOLOGICAL DESIGN

WET LANDS:
WETLANDS ARE AREAS WHERE WATER COVERS THE SOIL, OR IS PRESENT

EITHER AT OR NEAR THE SURFACE OF THE SOIL ALL YEAR OR FOR VARYING
PERIODS OF TIME DURING THE YEAR, INCLUDING DURING THE GROWING
SEASON.
WATER SATURATION
(HYDROLOGY) LARGELY
DETERMINES HOW THE SOIL
DEVELOPS AND THE TYPES OF
PLANT AND ANIMAL
COMMUNITIES LIVING IN AND ON
THE SOIL.
WETLANDS WILL SUPPORT

BOTH AQUATIC AND
TERRESTRIAL SPECIES.
types of wetlands
STORMWATER IS DESIGNED TO FLOW INTO

MEADOWS THAT MIMIC The NATURAL
DEPRESSION AND SWALE SYSTEMS OF THE
REGION AND THE NATURALLY OCCURRING
WETLAND
PROVIDES BOLD RIBBONS OF BEAUTIFUL

NATIVE VEGETATION AS A RECURRING
THEME, FRAMING OPEN LAWNS AND HELPING
UNIFYING
WETLAND HABITAT CAN CREATE PLAY SPACE,

AND PROVIDE A TRANSITION TO THE
SURROUNDING URBAN NEIGHBORHOOD.
PLANTING AND SEEDING

VARIOUS VARIETIES
PROMOTES BIODIVERSITY
WALK THROUGH PATH FOR EXPLORATION
AND EXPERIMENTATION IN A GREEN SPACE
W
O
O
L
A
N
D
FOREST RESTORATION
DEVELOPMENT OF THICK VEGETATION BELTS

AS FOREST IS HELPFUL IN ECOLOGICAL
PROCESSES IN A LANDSCAPE PLAN.
THIS SUCCESSIONAL APPROACH ENCOURAGES

THE RETENTION OF VALUABLE LOCAL
GENOTYPES AS WELL.
E
D
G
E
A
L
O
N
G
T
H
E
BEFORE
AFTER
R
O
A
D
S
I
D
E
RAINWATER GARDENS
STORM WATER CAN BECOME A RESOURCE

TO BE ENJOYED RATHER THAN A NUISANCE
TO DISPOSE OF.
CONSTRUCTED RAINWATER GARDENS ARE

STRATEGICALLY PLACED TO CATCH
RUNOFF FROM ROADS, PARKING LOTS,
DRIVEWAYS, AND ROOFS.
DEEP ROOTED PLANTS ARE USED TO

FACILITATE INFILTRATION, ABSORB
MATERIALS, AND CREATE BIRD AND
BUTTERFLY HABITAT.
RAINWATER GARDENS CAN BE USED ON
SMALL SITES OR AS THE MAIN TECHNIQUE
IN A LARGER SYSTEM, ALLOWING A
NEIGHBORHOOD, SAY, TO FOREGO
EXPENSIVE CURB AND GUTTER.
THE GARDENS ARE EXCELLENT FOR USE IN

HIGHLY VISIBLE AREAS, WHERE THEY NOT ONLY
MANAGE RUNOFF EFFECTIVELY, BUT ADD VISUAL
AMENITY.
THE DESIGN NOT ONLY MANAGES STORMWATER,
BUT RECREATES LOST WILDLIFE HABITAT AND
PROVIDES RESIDENTS WITH BEAUTIFUL NATURAL
AMENITIES.
TYPICAL LAKESHORE SITES TRANSFORMED BY LAKESCAPING. THIS 3STAGE DESIGN SHOWS HOW A TYPICAL LAKESHORE PROPERTY CAN BE
TRANSFORMED FROM AN OPEN LAWN TO A SITE WITH AN ABUNDANCE
OF NATIVE VEGETATION THAT PROVIDES HABITAT IN THE FORM OF A
BUFFER ZONE BETWEEN THE LAKE AND THE LAWN .
PREVENTING SOIL EROSION

EROSION CONTROL IS THE PRACTICE OF PREVENTING OR CONTROLLING WIND
OR WATER EROSION IN AGRICULTURE AND CONSTRUCTION LANDS.
THIS USUALLY INVOLVES THE CREATION OF SOME SORT OF PHYSICAL BARRIER,
SUCH AS VEGETATION OR ROCK, TO ABSORB SOME OF THE ENERGY OF THE
WIND OR WATER THAT IS CAUSING THE EROSION.
IT HELPS IN THE RETENTION OF TOP SOIL AND THE EXISTING TOPOGRAPHY
ESSENTIAL FOR NATIVE PLANT AND ANIMAL LIFE
EXAMPLES OF SOME EROSION CONTROL METHODS INCLUDE:
1.CONTOUR PLOUGHING
CONTOUR PLOUGHING OR CONTOUR FARMING IS
THE FARMING PRACTICE OF PLOUGHING ACROSS
A SLOPE FOLLOWING ITS CONTOURS.
THE ROWS FORMED HAVE THE EFFECT OF

SLOWING WATER RUN-OFF DURING RAINSTORMS
SO THAT THE SOIL IS NOT WASHED AWAY AND
ALLOWS THE WATER TO PERCOLATE INTO THE
EARTH.
COVER CROPS:
A COVER CROP IS ANY ANNUAL,
BIENNIAL, OR PERENNIAL PLANT
GROWN AS A MONOCULTURE
MODERN DEFINITIONS INCLUDE ANY

CAGED RIPRAP FOR EROSION CONTROL,
OR CYLINDRICAL METAL STRUCTURES
USED TO BUILD DAMS OR
FOUNDATIONS.
THE MOST COMMON CIVIL

ENGINEERING USE IS TO STABILIZE
SHORE AGAINST EROSION. OTHER
USES INCLUDE RETAINING WALLS,
TEMPORARY FLOODWALLS, TO FILTER
SILT FROM RUNOFF, AND FOR SMALL
OR TEMPORARY DAMS.
REFORESTATION
REFORESTATION IS THE PROCESS OF
RESTORING AND RECREATING
AREAS OF WOODLANDS OR FOREST
THAT ONCE EXISTED BUT WAS
DEFORESTED OR OTHERWISE
REMOVED OR DESTROYED AT SOME
POINT IN THE PAST.
RIPRAP
RIPRAP IS ROCK OR OTHER

MATERIAL USED TO STABILIZE
SHORE.
RIPRAP REDUCES WATER

EROSION BY RESISTING THE
HYDRAULIC ATTACK AND
DISSIPATING THE ENERGY OF
FLOWING WATER.
THE SHAPE OF ROCK IS
IMPORTANT AND CAN BE
COARSE, ANGULAR ROCK,
USUALLY MADE BY CRUSHING OR
BLASTING
Biodiversity on a 15-year-old reforested

plot of land.
TERRACING
A TERRACE IS A LEVELED
SECTION OF A HILLY
CULTIVATED AREA, DESIGNED
AS A METHOD OF SOIL
CONSERVATION TO SLOW OR
PREVENT THE RAPID RUN-OFF
OF RAIN AND IRRIGATION
WATER.
OFTEN SUCH LAND IS

FORMED INTO MULTIPLE
TERRACES, GIVING A
STEPPED APPEARANCE.
WINDBREAKS
A WINDBREAK, OR SHELTERBELT, IS
USUALLY MADE UP OF ONE OR MORE ROWS
OF TREES PLANTED IN SUCH A MANNER AS
TO PROVIDE SHELTER FROM THE WIND AND
TO PREVENT SOIL EROSION. THEY ARE
COMMONLY PLANTED AROUND THE EDGES
OF FIELDS ON FARMS. IF DESIGNED
PROPERLY, WINDBREAKS AROUND A HOME
CAN REDUCE THE COST OF HEATING AND
COOLING AND SAVE ENERGY.
OTHER BENEFITS INCLUDE PROVIDING

HABITAT FOR WILDLIFE AND IN SOME
REGIONS THE TREES ARE HARVESTED FOR
LUMBER.
A FURTHER USE FOR A SHELTERBELT IS TO

SCREEN A AREA FROM A MAIN ROAD OR
MOTORWAY. THIS IMPROVES THE REGION
LANDSCAPE BY REDUCING THE VISUAL
INCURSION OF THE MOTORWAY, REDUCING
NOISE FROM THE TRAFFIC AND PROVIDING A
SAFE BARRIER BETWEEN REGION ANIMALS
AND THE ROAD.
Riparian zone
RIPARIAN ZONE IS THE

INTERFACE BETWEEN LAND AND
A FLOWING SURFACE WATER
BODY.
RIPARIAN ZONES OCCUR IN

MANY FORMS INCLUDING
GRASSLAND, WOODLAND,
WETLAND OR EVEN NONVEGETATIVE.
PROVIDE WILDLIFE HABITAT,
INCREASE BIODIVERSITY AND

FORAGE FOR WILDLIFE AND
LIVESTOCK.
FILTER POLLUTANTS FROM

SURFACE RUNOFF AND ENHANCE
WATER QUALITY.
Thank You!

Importance of Ecology in Landscape Design

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Importance of Ecology in Landscape Design

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Landscape ecology

LANDSCAPE ECOLOGY IS THE STUDY

A GOOD ANALOGY IS WHEN YOU ARE

LAND ALMOST ALWAYS APPEARS AS

Ecosystem, a self-contained, dynamic system composed of a natural

Ecology is study of the relationship

This illustration presents a simplified ecosystem, or a community of interacting

Importance Of Ecology To Landscape Designers

Landscape Architecture shall mean all aspects of the science, planning,

ECOLOGICAL APPROACH TO LANDSCAPE DESIGN

CONSIDERATION OF MANAGEMENT AND

ONE OF THE MAJOR DISADVANTAGES OF THE

THIS APPROACH WILL LOWER MAINTENANCE

SIGNIFICANT WILDLIFE GAIN AND A NATURALLY

LANDSCAPE STRUCTURES CAN BE USED TO INFORM LANDSCAPE PLANNING

FIRST SEEK A DEEP UNDERSTANDING OF THE SITE AND THE PROCESSES

SUCCESSFUL PROJECTS OCCUR WHEN THIS UNDERSTANDING IS

PRACTICES FOR ECOLOGICAL DESIGN

WETLANDS ARE AREAS WHERE WATER COVERS THE SOIL, OR IS PRESENT

WETLANDS WILL SUPPORT

STORMWATER IS DESIGNED TO FLOW INTO

PROVIDES BOLD RIBBONS OF BEAUTIFUL

WETLAND HABITAT CAN CREATE PLAY SPACE,

PLANTING AND SEEDING

DEVELOPMENT OF THICK VEGETATION BELTS

THIS SUCCESSIONAL APPROACH ENCOURAGES

STORM WATER CAN BECOME A RESOURCE

CONSTRUCTED RAINWATER GARDENS ARE

DEEP ROOTED PLANTS ARE USED TO

THE GARDENS ARE EXCELLENT FOR USE IN

PREVENTING SOIL EROSION

EXAMPLES OF SOME EROSION CONTROL METHODS INCLUDE:

THE ROWS FORMED HAVE THE EFFECT OF

MODERN DEFINITIONS INCLUDE ANY

THE MOST COMMON CIVIL

RIPRAP IS ROCK OR OTHER

RIPRAP REDUCES WATER

Biodiversity on a 15-year-old reforested

OFTEN SUCH LAND IS

OTHER BENEFITS INCLUDE PROVIDING

A FURTHER USE FOR A SHELTERBELT IS TO

RIPARIAN ZONE IS THE

RIPARIAN ZONES OCCUR IN

PROVIDE WILDLIFE HABITAT,

INCREASE BIODIVERSITY AND

FILTER POLLUTANTS FROM

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