The Value of a Backward Glance
September 30, 2013
To provide observations and information on the emerging fields of landscape scale conservation, heritage preservation, and sustainable community development.
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The end of 2014 and the early months of 2015 marked a period of growth for the National Park system, with 9 new units designated by either Congressional action or Presidential Proclamation. However, the additions were not without controversy, with some commentators lamenting that new additions would invariably mean less funding for existing units. In this piece, guest observer Rolf Diamant examines the perennially-vexing question of whether the park system will ever be “complete.”
The major land and water conservation challenges facing the nation require action on a scale that is large and multi-jurisdictional.The benefits of landscape connectivity are resilient habitats, essential ecosystem services and stronger cultural connections. Yet, generating and sustaining funding for efforts that seek to work on a landscape scale remain daunting. Why is this case and what might be done about it?
Political economy has long shaped park policy in the United States. Beginning in the late 19th century when the booming railroad business drove the designation of new National Parks to more recent shifts towards privately-funded public spaces, protected areas have always reflected the dominant economic ethos of an era. What can we learn about post World War II park-making by looking at the changing role of the state and the increasing mobility of capital during that time period?
Some great twitter tips to consider when utilizing your social media accounts from the manager of the @landscapeobserv twitter account.
Biosphere reserves serve as special places for testing interdisciplinary approaches to understanding and managing changes and interactions between social and ecological systems, including conflict prevention and management of biodiversity.
However, for many years now the biosphere reserve program in the US has been dormant. Learn about new efforts to re-invigorate the initiative.
The end of 2014 and the early months of 2015 marked a period of growth for the National Park system, with 9 new units designated by either Congressional action or Presidential Proclamation. However, the additions were not without controversy, with some commentators lamenting that new additions would invariably mean less funding for existing units. In this piece, guest observer Rolf Diamant examines the perennially-vexing question of whether the park system will ever be “complete.”
The major land and water conservation challenges facing the nation require action on a scale that is large and multi-jurisdictional.The benefits of landscape connectivity are resilient habitats, essential ecosystem services and stronger cultural connections. Yet, generating and sustaining funding for efforts that seek to work on a landscape scale remain daunting. Why is this case and what might be done about it?
Political economy has long shaped park policy in the United States. Beginning in the late 19th century when the booming railroad business drove the designation of new National Parks to more recent shifts towards privately-funded public spaces, protected areas have always reflected the dominant economic ethos of an era. What can we learn about post World War II park-making by looking at the changing role of the state and the increasing mobility of capital during that time period?
Some great twitter tips to consider when utilizing your social media accounts from the manager of the @landscapeobserv twitter account.
Biosphere reserves serve as special places for testing interdisciplinary approaches to understanding and managing changes and interactions between social and ecological systems, including conflict prevention and management of biodiversity.
However, for many years now the biosphere reserve program in the US has been dormant. Learn about new efforts to re-invigorate the initiative.