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This book completes Robert G. Bailey's celebrated study of ecoregions, begun in the landmark Ecosystem Geography (1996) and further articulated in Ecoregions (1998). In this volume he expands his system for defining large-scale ecological zones to encompass principles of land management, regional planning, and design and he shows how larger patterns and processes that characterize a region - its climate, topography, soils, vegetation, fauna, and human culture - provide essential keys to the sustainability of ecosystems.
Introduction.- Nature's Geometry.- Regional Scale Ecosystem Units, Ecoregions.- An Ecoregional Approach to Sustaining Ecosystems.- Significance to Ecosystem Management.- How Land Management Agencies, Conservation Organizations, and Others Use Ecoregion Maps.- Summary and Conclusions.
We are increasingly concerned, even alarmed, at the impact humans have on the Earth. With the geometric increase in population, concerns of sustainability are paramount. Yet many designers, land-use planners, hydrologists, developers and others involved in this human impact, continue to look at the environment piecemeal by focusing on the impact of a small area. Design for sustainability requires us to look at the larger environment. Although we cannot correct many past mistakes, we can modify some and strive to design better. - From the Preface
