Towns, Ecology, and the Land

About this book

Towns and villages are sometimes viewed as minor, even quaint, spots, whereas Towns, Ecology, and the Land boldly reconceptualizes these places as important dynamic environmental 'hotspots'. Multitudes of towns and villages with nearly half the world's population characterize perhaps half the global land surface. The book's pages feature ecological patterns, processes, and change, as well as human dimensions, both within towns and in strong connections and effects on surrounding agricultural land, forest land, and arid land. Towns, small to large, and villages are examined with spatial and cultural lenses. Ecological dimensions – water, soil and air systems, together with habitats, plants, wildlife and biodiversity – are highlighted. A concluding section presents concepts for making better towns and better land. From a pioneer in both landscape ecology and urban ecology, this highly international town ecology book opens an important frontier for researchers, students, professors, and professionals including environmental, town, and conservation planners.

Contents

Part I. Town Patterns, Processes, Change
1. Town, Village, and Land Spatial Patterns
2. Flows and Movements
3. Change
4. Human Dimensions

Part II. Ecological Dimensions of Towns
5. Soil, Chemicals, Air
6. Water Systems and Waterbodies
7. Plants, Habitats, Greenspaces
8. Diverse Animals and Town Pattern

Part III. Town and Land Interactions
9. Commercial, Industrial, and Residential Areas
10. Cropland, Pastureland, and Towns
11. Forestland, Aridland, and Towns
12. Tying Transportation, Towns, and Land Together
13. Toward Better Towns, Better Land

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Biography

Richard T. T. Forman is Research Professor in Landscape Ecology at Harvard University, where he teaches Urban and Town Ecology. Often considered a 'father' of Landscape Ecology and Road Ecology, he helped spearhead Urban Ecology, and has received honours, awards, medals and honorary doctorates from universities across the world. His books include Landscape Ecology (1986), award-winning Land Mosaics (1995), Urban Regions (2008) and award-finalist Urban Ecology (2014). He received an award for excellence in teaching, and has served for many years on boards for town planning and land-protection non-profit organizations.