Landscape Of Practice Research Articles

Wildfires as legacies of agropastoral abandonment: Gendered litter raking and managed burning as historic fire prevention practices in the Monte Pisano of Italy

Agropastoral practices that historically reduced the flammability of Mediterranean landscapes are poorly understood due to state prohibitions and lack of scientific interest. Oral histories, analysis of agronomical writings, transect walks, and ethnographic study of fire managers and community members in the Monte Pisano of Italy, find legacies of traditional agropastoral practices in present-day landscapes. Forest leaf litter raking, largely carried out by women, combined with fire wood cutting and burning to greatly reduce fire risk. Historic stigmatization of traditional burning and ignoring gendered peasant labor have reduced contemporary scientists’ and fire managers’ understandings of ecological processes and of options for reducing fire risk. Fire managers in the Mediterranean, and in areas around the world affected by rural depopulation, would benefit from a better understanding of traditional agropastoral and fire management practices. Litter raking has been understudied outside Central Europe, is often gendered, and may have important ecological consequences around the world.

Effects of Climate Change on Horticulture Sector Productivity: A Review

This comprehensive analysis provides a thorough examination of the significant influence of climate change variability on the horticultural yield. The focus is specifically on recent trends and changing patterns within various major sectors of horticulture, namely Pomology, Olericulture, Floriculture, Post-Harvest, and Landscaping. The impact of rising temperatures altered precipitation patterns, and increased occurrences of extreme weather events is profoundly transforming the horticultural landscape. By delving into in-depth analyses of recent studies, this article sheds light on noteworthy changes in flowering and fruiting patterns in Pomology, as well as alterations in phenological stages in Olericulture. Furthermore, it highlights the innovative approaches in controlled-environment agriculture that have been adopted in Floriculture. The effects of climate change on post-harvest processes and the adoption of novel technologies are also explored within the context of post-harvest. Additionally, the integration of horticulture and landscape architecture is emphasized as a crucial strategy in adapting Landscaping practices to the variability brought about by climate change. The review is supported by various facts that illustrate global temperature anomalies, fruiting periods, phonological shifts, impacts on flower quality, adoption rates of post-harvest technologies, and the integration of horticulture and landscape architecture. The main objective of the review is to offer a brief understanding on the impact of climate change on horticultural productivity. Ultimately, the review highlights the urgent need to implement adaptive strategies and sustainable practices across diverse sectors of horticulture to ensure resilience in the face of ongoing climate change. This study suggests that vertical farming, climate resilient landscaping, Genomic Wide Association Studies, and Smart Breeding of crops as well as Controlled Environmental Agricultural methods might be suitable to encounter climate change.

Mapping pedestrian heat stress in current and future heatwaves in Cardiff, Newport, and Wrexham in Wales, UK

The paper describes a study that uses computer simulation to assess the extent of heat stress experienced by pedestrians in three Welsh cities during heatwaves, with a view to identifying implications for urban planning and design practice. The simulation model used localized radiant temperature, wind speed, air temperature, as well as the metabolic rate and clothing insulation of occupants. Simulated results were partially evaluated using field measurement data and from the Land Surface Temperature data obtained from Landsat satellite thermography. Results suggest that peak heat stress is expected to increase by 4.5 °C in Universal Thermal Climate Index equivalent temperature by 2080, especially for urban areas exposed to direct sunlight. The percentage of daytime hours without heat stress are expected to decrease significantly, from 30 to 80% in 2020 to 10–70% by 2080. The study suggests that mitigation measures are essential to reduce future heat stress in Welsh cities and towns; these include interventions such as green and blue infrastructure, choice of trees and artificial shading, choice of both artificial surface materials and vegetation cover, and street layout with proper orientation and aspect ratio. The results have significant implications for local authorities, town planning, and landscape practice.

Phosphate solubilizing microorganisms: a sustainability strategy to improve urban ecosystems.

Intensification of urban construction has gradually destroyed human habitat ecosystems. Plants, which serve as the foundation of ecosystems, require green, low-cost, and effective technologies to sustain their growth in stressful environments. A total of 286 keywords and 10 clusters from the bibliometric analysis of 529 articles (1999-2023) indicate the increasing importance of research on microbial functionality in landscape ecosystems. Phosphate solubilizing microorganisms (PSMs) also improve plant disease resistance, adaptability, and survival. PSMs are widely used to promote plant growth and improve ecological quality. They can increase the availability of phosphorus in the soil and reduce the dependence of plants on chemical fertilizers. Microorganisms regulate phosphorus as key tools in landscape ecosystems. Most importantly, in urban and rural landscape practices, PSMs can be applied to green spaces, residential landscapes, road greening, and nursery planting, which play significant roles in improving vegetation coverage, enhancing plant resistance, improving environmental quality, and mitigating the heat island effect. PSMs are also helpful in restoring the ecological environment and biodiversity of polluted areas, such as brownfields, to provide residents with a more liveable living environment. Therefore, the multiple efficacies of PSM are expected to play increasingly important roles in the construction of urban and rural landscape ecosystems.

Advancing circular economy for the growth, root development and elemental characteristics of bamboo (Bambusa vulgaris) on galamsey-degraded soil

Landscape restoration of degraded mining sites, crucial for agroecology and carbon farming in Ghana, remains poorly understood and underutilized. Bamboo has historically played a role in restoring such sites, but there is a need to integrate circular economy principles fully into harnessing its ecosystem services potential. In this study, we evaluated the impact of biochar and poultry manure amendments on galamsey-degraded mining sites to operationalize circular economy principles in ecosystem restoration, using Bambusa vulgaris as the test crop.Conducted in the Asikasu mining area of the Amansie Central District of Ashanti, a randomized complete block design (RCBD) experiment was used comprising five treatments: 1) 10 tonnes/ha biochar, 2) 10 tonnes/ha poultry manure, 3) Combined biochar and poultry manure at 10 tonnes/ha each, 4) Galamsey-degraded soil control, and 5) Forest topsoil control. Each treatment and control type was replicated three times. The experiment spanned from February 2020 to March 2021.The combined application of biochar and poultry manure resulted in the highest root density and average root diameter, demonstrating the potential for restoring galamsey-degraded sites to support bamboo-based agroecology. The elemental profiles of the bamboo varied in response to different treatments, indicating differing availabilities of micro- and macro-nutrients in the soil solution following soil amendments.This study underscores the viability of circular economy principles in ecosystem restoration, offering a pathway to sustainable land use and agroecological practices in Ghana's mining-impacted landscapes.

Modeling of soil erosion risk in a typical tropical savannah landscape

Tropical savannah landscapes are faced with high soil degradation due to climate change and variability coupled with anthropogenic factors. However, the spatiotemporal dynamics of this is not sufficiently understood particularly, in the tropical savannah contexts. Using the Wa municipality of Ghana as a case, we applied the Revised Universal Soil Loss Equation (RUSLE) model to predict the potential and actual soil erosion risk for 1990 and 2020. Rainfall, soil, topography and land cover data were used as the input parameters. The rate of predicted potential erosion was in the range of 0–111 t ha−1yr−1 and 0–83 t ha−1yr−1 for the years 1990 and 2020, respectively. The prediction for the rate of potential soil erosion risk was generally higher than the actual estimated soil erosion risk which ranges from 0 to 59 t ha−1yr−1 in 1990 and 0 to 58 t ha−1yr−1 in 2020. The open savannah areas accounted for 75.8 % and 73.2 % of the total soil loss in 1990 and 2020, respectively. The validity of the result was tested using in situ data from a 2 km2 each of closed savannah, open savannah and settlement area. By statistical correlation, the predicted soil erosion risk by the model corresponds to the spatial extent of erosion damages measured in the selected area for the validation. Primarily, areas with steep slopes, particularly within settlement, were identified to have the highest erosion risk. These findings underscore the importance of vegetation cover and effective management practices in preventing soil erosion. The results are useful for inferences towards the development and implementation of sustainable soil conservation practice in landscapes with similar attributes.

Determination of Soil Quality Index of agricultural land adjacent to industrial sites of Jamuria C.D.Block, Paschim Bardhaman District, West Bengal.

A healthy soil is crucial for food security, but human activities, particularly industrialization, are degrading the soil's quality. This study aims to assess and compare the Soil Quality Index (SQI) at three industrial sites: the iron and steel industry, the open cast coal mining industry, and the brick kiln industry, along with a control field. To measure the SQI, the weighted additive method was applied to the nine selected physico-chemical properties of soil: soil temperature, soil moisture, Bulk Density, pH, N, P, K, OC, and EC. Principal Component Analysis coupled with multiple correlation methods was used to determine the Minimum Data Set. The most dominant factors near the iron and steel industrial site are soil temperature, N, K, and EC, while N, OC, soil moisture, P, K, and EC are the most significant factors near the open cast coal mine. In the case of the brick kiln industrial site, soil moisture, OC, K, soil temperature, and P have the highest loadings. The calculated SQI indicates that the quality of soil is in better condition in the control field (0.6475), while the soil adjacent to the coal mining industrial site (0.1426) is in the worst state, followed by the iron and steel industrial site (0.1611) and the brick kiln industrial site (0.289). To attain sustainable agricultural practices in industrial landscapes, efficient management of nutrient contents and phytoremediation can be helpful.

Wetland water quality assessment of eco-engineered landscaping practices: a case study of constructed wetland parks in Hangzhou

Abstract Urban constructed water quality treatment (WQT) wetlands are often applied to be integrated with ecological engineered landscaping (EEL) measures for wastewater treatments. This study aims to identify the interrelationships between the hydrological factors and pollutant removal contributions of typical WQT wetlands at each WQT stage, i.e., subsurface flow wetlands (SSF), vertical flow wetlands (VF), free surface flow wetland (FSF), floating wetland island (FWI), aeration ponds (APs), and ornamental ponds (OPs) in four typical wetland parks in Hangzhou, China. Water quality indices (WQIs) of wetland parks have been monitored. Interactive comparisons and correlations between hydrological indicators and WQIs (i.e., pH, DO, NH3-N, CODCr, and TP) are developed, while the removal contribution of each WQI was explained. It is found that each stage had heterogeneous effects on wastewater treatment due to various geo-ecological factors, including hydraulic conditions, plant type, and microbial microenvironment, whereas the temperature of waterbodies affected WQT performances at full sites in all seasons. Three corresponding EEL guiding principles were derived, i.e., optimising the EEL measures, adapting planting methods, and incorporating multifunctional design and adaptive management. The findings will be helpful for improving the efficacy of WQT stages as one of the potential ecosystem services provided by wetland parks.

Student and senior views on sustainable park design and intergenerational connection: A case study of an urban nature park

Sustainable park design is a trend towards efforts to preserve natural resources and support quality of life for people of all ages. The aim of this study was to investigate how a sustainably designed and managed urban nature park in Colorado, USA is viewed and used by younger and older people and therefore understand the potential for intergenerational connection in these settings. Interviews with 21 seniors aged 65 – 85 years from a neighbouring senior living complex and walking tours with 36 students aged 6 – 14 years from the adjoining school investigate views and use of park features, including a lake that is transitioning into a wetland. The study adopts the theory of affordances as a framework to thematically analyse activity and experience opportunities for younger and older park users and investigate how urban nature park design can promote intergenerational connection through understanding the perception of shared affordances. Results reveal three significant themes for students: i) playing; ii) improving ones mood; and iii) learning. Significant themes for seniors were: i) exercising; ii) observing nature; and iii) meeting people. Where affordance themes converged between student and senior responses intergenerational connect opportunities emerged. These insights have implications for optimizing applied design and maintenance of urban nature parks for intergenerational health and wellbeing. The study advocates for city parks departments and landscape practitioners to implement environmentally sustainable landscape design and management strategies that afford and sustain intergenerational cohesion in urban nature parks.

PERCEPTUAL DIFFERENCES OF TREE REMOVAL IN DEVELOPMENT AREAS AMONG LANDSCAPE PROFESSIONALS

Urban areas employ proactive strategies to effectively manage their urban tree population, aiming to enhance the overall coverage of tree canopies. This process involves certified landscape practitioners (ALP) and individuals without formal professional credentials (LP) who collectively contribute to decision-making processes. However, there is limited information on the perception among these LPs. Thus, this study employed a questionnaire survey to obtain empirical observations from the perceptions of landscape professionals in both groups about tree removal by comparing similarities and differences and identifying the factors influencing existing tree removal decisions in development areas. The study used simple random sampling involving 265 respondents, 102 ALPs and 163 LPs. Descriptive and exploratory factor analysis (EFA) were used to analyse the data. Results showed that the tree removal was a common decision in urban development. Both groups of respondents agreed on three factors influencing tree removal in development areas: institutional constraints, resource availability, and cost/benefit, with institutional constraints being the primary determinant of the decision-making process. Additionally, ALPs posited that the physical environment influences tree removal decision-making. On the other hand, The LPs contended that this decision was also motivated by preferences and tree characteristics. This research advances urban tree retention literature and provides pertinent information for tree retention and management planning and strategy. Future studies may consider investigating the perceptions of different landscape professional credentials related to site design and construction to strengthen the research findings.

Navigating tradition and modernity: a study of cultural influences and the contemporary state of Nigerian public spaces

Culture is an essential component of Indigenous public spaces. However, a gap in knowledge exists regarding cultural influences on Indigenous public spaces in Africa. This paper, therefore, explores the impact of cultural worldviews on the landscape and functionality of Hausa, Yoruba and Igbo squares in Nigeria. It also assesses the contemporary state of the Nigerian squares. The paper employs mixed methods, including a systematic review of literature, observations, interviews, and photographic recordings, to shed light on the strengths and deficiencies of the Indigenous squares. Findings revealed that while Indigenous public spaces cater to the socio-cultural needs of different ethnic groups, they do not fully meet modern needs and expectations, especially concerning safety and comfort. This paper advocates for the fusion of Indigenous landscape practices with contemporary approaches to foster harmonious synergy between tradition and modernity and enhance public space utilisation.

How can residents protect and promote pollinators? The diffusion of residential pollinator-friendly gardening

Urbanization and land use change are leading causes of declines in pollinator abundance and diversity. However, researchers in different regions of the world have found that some pollinators can thrive in urban landscapes, depending on land use practices, environmental conditions, and species traits. Residential landscapes constitute a significant portion of urban green space and thus, residents' adoption of landscape practices to promote pollinators can play a central role in addressing the global pollinator challenge. Yet, although residents' willingness and intention appear strong, adoption of pollinator-friendly gardening remains low. The present study – guided by the Diffusion of Innovations theory – aimed to build empirical understanding by surveying 1598 Florida residents on their experiences and perceptions related to pollinator-friendly gardening to determine the most salient barriers and opportunities to engagement. Key findings suggest making the practice more widely observable and reducing perceived complexity in learning to do the practice are critical to promoting adoption. This demonstrates, in practical terms, that: (1) targeted efforts to build residents' actionable knowledge about pollinator-friendly gardening may significantly reduce uncertainty and boost the likelihood of adoption; and (2) examples of active pollinator gardens need to be more widely showcased and popularized (e.g., through experiential or virtual demonstrations). We also found most residents living in homeowner associations (HOAs) believed HOA policies on pollinator-friendly gardening were restrictive or the residents were unsure whether they are allowed to practice pollinator-friendly gardening. Given these perceptions strongly associated with residents’ low intent to engage in pollinator-friendly gardening, a major opportunity exists to diffuse the practice and increase adoption by working with HOAs and community leaders to become promoters of – rather than barriers to – pollinator-friendly gardening.

The Introduction of Tick-Resistant Gardening Practices Whilst Protecting the Environment

Lyme disease is a vector-borne infectious disease from the bacteria Borrelia burgdorferi (B. burgdorferi), which is typically transmitted by ticks. In recent years, Lyme disease has been on the rise in Canada, particularly in Eastern Ontario. As the incidence of Lyme infection is steadily increasing, there is an urgent need for an initiative to help quell the spread by reducing transmission from pathogen-carrying ticks to humans and non-human animals. The challenge lies in implementing an initiative that effectively prevents Lyme transmission without harming the human population, ticks and other non-human animals, or the environment. The proposed solution involves an information booth at a local community market and a gardening initiative that teaches residents the benefits of, as well as how to construct, a tick-repellant backyard in their Kingston, Ontario, neighbourhood, as this region has been identified as a hotspot for Lyme disease. By educating residents with respect to transmission reduction through personal protective strategies and promoting tick-resistant landscaping practices, the hope is that Kingston and the surrounding area will see a reduction in the incidence of Lyme disease.

Expressions of National Identity in the Landscape Architecture Projects in Kazakhstan

One of the important parameters of the quality of the urban environment is its identity. The concept of identity has a broad context. Identity has mainly been studied in the humanities such as psychology, philology, philosophy, sociology and anthropology. The process of globalization, leading to a blurring of the borders between cultures, is bringing to the fore the problem of national and regional identities in the architecture and landscape of the urban environment. This article examines the actualization of the concept of identity in architecture, urban development and landscape architecture. It focuses on sustainability of national and regional identity manifested through place identity. The main positions of research from other countries with the basis of identity have been analyzed according to the landscape philosophies of the XXI century. Through the analysis of scientific research in the field of cultural science, regional roots, signs and symbols have been identified as a basis for landscape practices in the urban environment of Kazakhstan. The study used complex methods of historical, ethnographic, cultural and architectural landscape studies examining the manifestations of identity in the traditional culture of Kazakhs. It produces a comparative analysis of ideas about identity in Kazakh traditional music, decorative and applied art. It also carries out structural and morphological analysis of project materials on landscape architecture of Kazakhstan. Moreover, a comparative analysis of individual objects of landscape architecture of XX and XXI centuries has been conducted. The paper produces new perspectives on nation-building efforts of Kazakhstan through designed landscapes since independence, elucidating the symbolic language of national identity manifested across major public parks and plazas.

A shifting role for the landscape practitioner: bridging the divide between ecology, horticulture and landscape architecture

This article looks at the ecological turn in the landscape professions and argues that such a shift requires a new conception of the role of the landscape practitioner: Drawing on ecology and phenomenology, I am proposing that landscape practitioners adopt the posture of participants within dynamic, evolving milieus. To this end, I offer two examples: Egbert Bodmann, from the landscape park Duisburg-Nord, and Cassian Schmidt, head of the garden Hermannshof. I argue that the way of seeing and working they embody requires capacities that are currently dispersed across different disciplines and roles within the professional field, such as ecology, horticulture, and landscape architecture. Drawing on practice-led research, I specify my proposal using detailed scenes that flesh out an approach that not only bridges, but mingles these disciplines, and is thus receptive to the dynamic development of ecologies.

Does the Perceived Effectiveness of Voluntary Conservation Programs Affect Household Adoption of Sustainable Landscaping Practices?

State and local governments have implemented voluntary and mandatory programs to conserve and protect natural resources in and around urban developments. Even though the long-term environmental benefits are apparent, convincing homeowners to adopt sustainable landscapes with less water and chemical use is challenging. An important consideration from the successful policy implementation point of view is that homeowners have different environmental attitudes, which can be the determining factor that influences their adoption intentions of sustainable landscaping practices. This study assesses whether homeowners’ environmental attitude is a statistically significant predictor of sustainable landscape adoption intention. Moreover, homeowners’ perception of the effectiveness of the voluntary environmental programs may be influenced by their environmental attitudes and impose mediating effects on sustainable landscape adoption intentions. We also examine whether homeowners’ perceived effectiveness of voluntary environmental programs has a mediating effect on the adoption decision. The Value-Belief-Norm hierarchical model framework is utilized to examine both effects. The results revealed that homeowners’ pro-environmental attitudes influence their perceived effectiveness of voluntary programs and their sustainable landscape adoption intentions. The combined influence accounts for 13.6% of homeowners’ adoption intention. Homeowners’ personal norms also affect their perceived effectiveness of voluntary programs (9% variance explained), and the mediating effect of the perceived effectiveness of voluntary programs has an amplifying effect and positively influences the adoption intention. The implications for policymakers in the realm of landscape conservation programs are discussed.

The Influence of Socio-ecological Systems on Sanitation Practices in Slope Settlements of Mwanza City, Tanzania

A socio-ecological system is a multidimensional concept encompassing social relations and society-nature interactions. The concept has been used as a lens to assess various practices, particularly those related to environmental sustainability. However, the use of socio-ecological systems to assess sanitation practices in specific landscapes—such as gentle, sloping, and steep slopes where sanitation practices vary, affecting residents in multidimensional ways—remains unclear. This necessitated the use of socio-ecological systems by this study to examine the social relations and interaction between society and nature that influence sanitation practices. The study employed a cross-sectional explanatory survey design and involved a total of 288 residents who were randomly selected for primary data collection. The methods for data collection included household survey, review of written documents, key informant interviews and focus group discussions. The binary logistic regression was used to determine the association between advocacy and connection to water services, while content analysis was used to analyse qualitative data. Improved sanitation practices showed significant results with reporting inadequate sanitation to representatives, gentle slope and sloping landscape (p< 0.005). The construction of latrines was easier on gentle slopes compared to steep slopes. In a way socio-ecological systems affect communities’ efforts to access improved sanitation and their capacity to access better health services. Further progress could be achieved by improving relations among sanitation actors, empowering lower-income individuals to access planned areas for settlement development, and administering regulations for settlement development.

Excessive Use of Water and Fertilizer by Homeowners: Why It Happens, How It Affects the Environment, and How the Nursery Industry and Extension Outreach Can Help

Abstract Despite global concerns regarding climate change, one thing remains constant: homeowners want gardens and landscapes that serve them functionally and aesthetically. The strong affinity homeowners have for their land can lead to excessive use of water and fertilizer. This literature review explores the relationships between homeowners and their residential landscapes and the efforts that can be made to address misuse and overuse of resources. Governmental organizations should work together with community groups, nursery and landscape associations, and university Extension faculty to understand homeowner desires and behaviors before instituting policies regarding resource use that are unpopular, resented, and ignored. Networking between the nursery industry and university Extension faculty and Master Gardener volunteers can provide educational opportunities for homeowners to understand and implement more sustainable landscape practices as well as showcasing ornamental landscape plants that can help meet both personal aesthetics and resource conservation goals.

Does landscape ecology matter to a country's financial development? Evidence from China

Landscape ecology is vital and significantly contributes to the country's social and economic growth. This concept is directly linked with sustainable development goals, and a growing potential exists that landscape ecology will replace conventional landscaping practices as the authoritative framework for environmentally responsible landscaping. Decentralizing spatial planning policy requires local actors to work together to determine what physical changes must be made to the environment to reflect their respective values. To be applicable in such bottom‐up landscape‐development processes, this study checks the relationship between the landscape ecological perspective and the financial development of China over the period 1995–2021 by using the autoregressive distributed lag model. The findings indicated that green investment, environmental pressure and energy consumption play a significant role in China's financial development. Landscape ecological research should pay more attention to these dilemmas as a unifying common ground to produce a joint knowledge base that can be incorporated into multifunctional, actor‐led landscape development. This research adds value to the modern pattern‐process model in landscape ecology by developing this idea into a knowledgeable framework. Subsequently, this study promotes green investment activities and consumption of energy sources so that landscape ecology aims should be obtained through interdisciplinary research. Future research can be done by taking the emerging economies into account.

Perceptions of organic practices among turfgrass professionals in Louisiana

Landscape contractors are increasingly interested in organic products for Louisiana’s residential and commercial turfgrass areas. However, the use, motivations, and barriers to adopting organic practices in the commercial turfgrass and landscape industry sector are not well documented. This study examined the perceptions of organic landscaping practices among members of the Louisiana Turfgrass Association. The study’s participants were primarily men aged 31 to 60, with six to 25 years of landscaping experience. Most turfgrass professionals were applying organic fertilizers and believed future organic product use would increase due to consumer demands and potential governmental regulation. Turfgrass professionals responded that they understood the USDA definition of organic but were less familiar with Organic Materials Review Institute (OMRI) labeling. Greater efficacy and access to organic products coupled with increased extension and educational efforts may increase Louisiana turfgrass professionals’ choices to adopt organic practices; however, more research is needed to better understand the adoption processes at play.