Permaculture in landscape architecture (thesis)

An Instructional Module on Permaculture Design Theory for Landscape Architecture Students 

Permaculture offers a unique set of design principles that are very implementable into the design process and could be of great interest to landscape architects. The purpose of this study was to develop and implement an instructional module for landscape architecture students at Utah State University for two consecutive years. Project-based learning was implemented in order to help students better understand permaculture design theory. Effectiveness of the module was measured through an evaluation of post-module survey responses and student design projects. Results from the second year of teaching showed an increase from the first year in student interest, understanding, and desire to learn more about permaculture design theory.

Conserving agricultural heritage globally (online)

Conserving Resilient and Multifunctional Sustainable Landscapes

Research has now shown that ecological resilience, cultural values and spirituality play crucial roles in livelihoods and well-being in rural communities. The United Nations University Institute for the Advanced Study of Sustainability (UNU-IAS) leads two initiatives to understand their importance. The Globally Important Agricultural Heritage Systems Partnership Initiative was launched by the FAO in 2002. To date, 36 GIAHS sites have been designated worldwide and have vigorously promoted the understanding and conservation of traditional agricultural systems. The Satoyama Initiative was established in the context of biodiversity and environmental conservation in Japan. Researchers have found that unique and diverse habitats have been created through traditional agricultural practices and natural resource management in the landscape called satoyama .

Why we should conserve carnivores (book)

The Carnivore Way: Coexisting with and Conserving North America's Predators

What would it be like to live in a world with no predators roaming our landscapes? Would their elimination, which humans have sought with ever greater urgency in recent times, bring about a pastoral, peaceful human civilization? Or in fact is their existence critical to our own, and do we need to be doing more to assure their health and the health of the landscapes they need to thrive?

Shelter belt design guide (online)

The Principles of Using Woods for Shelter

This Information Note describes the physical principles that determine the impact of woodlands on shelter provision. The importance of the woodland height, porosity, width, length, orientation and shape on the area and level of shelter are discussed. Three generic shelter wood types are identified (‘windshield’, ‘windbreak’ and ‘hybrid’) together with their most
appropriate applications. The Note points to the crucial need to understand the reasons for creating shelter in order to determine the most effective design.

Want to prevent flooding? Fix your soil (report)

The All Party Parliamentary Group on Agroecology

Briefing Paper 4: February 2014 Land management, soil quality and flood prevention

In the light of recent extreme weather and severe flooding across large parts of the UK, there has been much debate about how to prevent similar problems in the future, how to manage rivers and waterways and discussion on the future of farming in areas such as the Somerset levels, which are prone to flooding.

One way of addressing multiple issues at the same time is to ensure that the type of farming that does take place works to decrease rather than exacerbate flooding. In particular, the health of the soil has a great effect on how much water it can hold, how much water runs off, and how much the soil itself is eroded – silting up rivers and streams. In most rural areas the key determinant of the health of the soil is the way that land is farmed.

Introduction to soil health principles (video)

'The Soil is naked, hungry and running a fever!'

Ray Archuleta, a conservation agronomist with the National Resource Conservation Service, spoke at the National Conference on Soil and Cover Crops in Omaha this year. Ray delivered an authoritative and inspirational address to the conference about agroecology and the importance of holistic design in landscape management. You can watch a 25 minute video of his presentation here.

Trees help farmers manage drought (report)

Managing the drought: A review of the evidence of the benefits of native trees species for shelter on the water regime of pasture and arable crops

This review assesses the benefits of native tree species for shelter on the water regime of pasture and crops. It draws on evidence from the UK, Europe and other temperate zones. Before the evidence is presented overviews are given of evapotranspiration, shelterbelt design and crop micro-climate. The evidence in the review suggests that under the right conditions native tree shelterbelts could enable UK crops to use water more efficiently. Shelterbelts can be viewed as an insurance policy. They may not provide yield increases every year, but they can buffer crop production when extreme weather events strike.