Traditional Landscape Management Research Articles

Creative management: a framework for designing multifunctional play biotopes - lessons from a Scandinavian landscape laboratory

AbstractMost children grow up in urbanised settings with a low possibility to experience biodiversity and nature. However, experiencing nature and other species increases children’s wellbeing, health, learning abilities and their understanding of nature values. Play biotopes is one solution for supporting a co-existence between children and different species in nature-based play settings. Play biotopes are based on ecological theories, where structures in the morphology of landscapes at different scales and the content of flora and fauna can support children’s interplay with a part of the landscape. However, traditional landscape management is not adapted to support the dynamic nature of play biotopes, especially when considering multiple scales. This makes it interesting to explore more dynamic management concepts arching over multiple scales. Accordingly, we here explore creative management as a scale-based framework for design by management to further develop the concept of play biotopes. Using examples from a landscape laboratory in southern Sweden, we propose that a creative management framework combining the scales of landscape, biotope, place, and object together with play connectivity can support the creation and management of multifunctional play biotopes.

Intelligent Construction and Management of Landscapes through Building Information Modeling and Mixed Reality

Intelligent construction and management processes are essential to ensure the efficiency of planting and maintenance of landscapes in large-scale projects. Unfortunately, various challenges still exist for achieving such a vision. For instance, creating detailed models of various plants to precisely capture the spatiotemporal changes is challenging. Moreover, transmitting massive plant-related data in time for project coordination and remote maintenance is also difficult through traditional landscape management practices. Integrated use of building information modeling (BIM) and mixed reality (MR) techniques could help establish digital representations of various plants with semantic information. Such integration of BIM and MR offers instinctual interactions by blending the physical and digital worlds. This study proposed an intelligent construction and management framework through BIM and MR to (1) establish detailed models of various plants, (2) capture spatiotemporal changes of plants across four seasons for model updating, and (3) establish a real-time data transmission method for effective project coordination and remote maintenance of various plants. The authors used the Jinhu Park project in the Xiong’an New District of China as a case study to validate the proposed method. Results show that the proposed method could support the sustainable development of landscapes in real practice.

Emergence of and Learning Processes in a Civic Group Resuming Prescribed Burning in Norway

Background: Coastal Norwegian heathlands have been regularly managed by burning for about 5000 years. This practice, supporting sustainable herbivore production, did, however, seize in the 1950s and was virtually absent for 60–70 years. Loss of biodiversity, increased fire hazard due to biomass accumulation and loss of visual landscape qualities recently propelled new interest in traditional landscape management. Loss of know-how makes this a dangerous activity. The present study focuses on the emergence and learning processes of a civic group established for resuming prescribed burning in Northern Rogaland in order to possibly assist similar initiatives elsewhere. Methods: Study of written information, interviews with core prescribed burners and participant observation have been undertaken. The topics at four annual prescribed burning seminars, arranged by the studied civic group, have been analyzed. Participant observation at civic group winter meetings, debriefing sessions and field work has also been undertaken. Results: Pioneers who, without guidance, resumed prescribed burning relied on experience gained as part-time firefighters and relations to farming, in particular sheep grazing. Building good relations with local fire brigades and support by local and regional environmental authorities (especially the local agricultural advisory office) enhanced the practice. Short weather window, assembling a big enough burner group on the working days, as well as possible liability issues were identified as challenges. They were self-taught through “learning by doing” and open to new technologies/artifacts, i.e., leaf blowers for fire control. Their use of artifacts, together with supporting the fire brigades during a wildfire, strengthened their group identity. A connection to academia improved the focus on safe and effective prescribed burning through deeper insight into the physical parameters that govern burning in the terrain. Conclusions: The study provides valuable insight into favorable preconditions and possible key personnel for resuming prescribed burning in other areas in Norway and elsewhere. Content and teaching methods for a possible future standardized prescribed heathland burning course are suggested.

“Fire Ecology Across Boundaries”: il Congresso Internazionale di Firenze dedicato agli incendi

Abstract: The current operating model based only on the approach of fire suppression has generated what experts call the “fire-paradox”: the control of all wildfires in the seasons with mild weather generates a fuel load which increases the probability of catastrophic wildfires in the years with extreme climate. Even though the fire has been present on earth long before man, and for at least 440 million years it has been an essential component of many land ecosystems, today wildfires are a recurrent social emergency that modern human and financial resources cannot manage. The present challenges stress the need to enhance the debate on potential solutions according to fire ecology: efficient alternatives to the wildfire suppression at all cost, the use of more traditional landscape management for adaptation of ecosystems under a changing climate, the benefits of prescribing fire to maintain long-term ecosystem services and finally the need to establish a wildfire risk culture through transdisciplinary science and enhance effective societal engagement. The “Fire Ecology Across Boundaries” Congress to be held in Florence from 20 to 23 October 2020 (http://fireacrossboundaries.org/) will be the opportunity to discuss the ecology and management of fire together with top international experts.

The Importance of CaringCaring for Place: Ecology, Ideology, and Emotion in Traditional Landscape Management. By E. N. Anderson. Walnut Creek, CA: Left Coast, 2014.

Previous article No AccessBook and Film ReviewsThe Importance of Caring Caring for Place: Ecology, Ideology, and Emotion in Traditional Landscape Management. By E. N. Anderson. Walnut Creek, CA: Left Coast, 2014.Marianne SchminkMarianne SchminkCenter for Latin American Studies, University of Florida, PO Box 115530, Gainesville, Florida 32603, USA ([email protected]). Search for more articles by this author PDFPDF PLUSFull Text Add to favoritesDownload CitationTrack CitationsPermissionsReprints Share onFacebookTwitterLinkedInRedditEmail SectionsMoreDetailsFiguresReferencesCited by Current Anthropology Volume 57, Number 4August 2016 Sponsored by the Wenner-Gren Foundation for Anthropological Research Article DOIhttps://doi.org/10.1086/687562 Views: 113Total views on this site HistoryAccepted February 14, 2016 For permission to reuse, please contact [email protected]PDF download Crossref reports no articles citing this article.

E. N. Anderson: Caring for place: ecology, ideology, and emotion in traditional landscape management

E. N. Anderson: Caring for place: ecology, ideology, and emotion in traditional landscape management

Book Reviews

ANDERSON, E. N., Caring for Place: Ecology, Ideology, and Emotion in Traditional Landscape Management ÁRNASON, Arnar, Nicolas ELLISON, Jo VERHUNST, and Andrew WHITEHOUSE, eds., Landscapes Beyond Land: Routes, Aesthetics, Narratives BARNARD, Timothy P., ed., Nature Contained: Environmental Histories of Singapore BARTHEL-BOUCHIER, Diane, Cultural Heritage and the Challenge of Sustainability FOOTE, Stephanie and Elizabeth MAZZOLINI, eds., Histories of the Dustheap: Waste, Material Cultures, Social Justice HAKANSSON, Thomas N. and Mats WIDGREN, eds., Landesque Capital: The Historical Ecology of Enduring Landscape Modifications PERLMUTTER, David and Robert ROTHSTEIN, The Challenge of Climate Change: Which Way Now? RUPP, Stephanie, Forests of Belonging: Identities, Ethnicities, and Stereotypes in the Congo River Basin SODIKOFF, Genese Marie, ed., The Anthropology of Extinction: Essays on Culture and Species Death SWANSON, Drew A., A Golden Weed: Tobacco and Environment in the Piedmont South WILBER, Tom, Under the Surface: Fracking, Fortunes, and the Fate of the Marcellus Shale

Caring for place: ecology, ideology, and emotion in traditional landscape management

Preface Part I. Representations Chapter 1. Environment and Cultural Representations Chapter 2. Traditional Management: Basics Chapter 3. Culture Areas and Ecology Part II. Areas Chapter 4. The Yucatec Maya Chapter 5. Medieval Ireland Chapter 6. China Part III. Broader Regions Chapter 7. Southeast Asia Chapter 8. The Western World Chapter 9. By Way of Conclusion References Index About the Author

THE GROUND VEGETATION MANAGEMENT OF WOOD - PASTURES IN ROMANIA – IN SIGHTS IN THE PAST FOR CONSERVATION MANAGEMENT IN THE FUTURE

Wood-pastures are important elements of the European natural and cultural heritage, fulfilling several ecological functions at local and landscape scale (e.g. providing a valuable habitat for a wide range of species, as well as a link to traditional landscape management practices), but are nowadays in decline especially due to land-use changes begun in the 20th century and lack of legal recognition. Wood- pastures are relatively common in Southern Transylvania (Romania), and, contrary to the majority of similar habitats from Europe, are not threatened mainly by abandonment and subsequent secondary succession, but by modifications in the traditional management regime. Using a wide range of historical documents, this paper presents an overview of the traditional and the current management of the ground vegetation in wood-pastures. These habitats were traditionally grazed mainly by cattle and pigs, sheep being often subject to regulations. Regular mowing was also practiced. Nowadays sheep are the main grazers and mowing has practically disappeared, while the incidences of burning are increasing. Analyzing the differences between the present situation and those described in old publications provides valuable information for conservation management and potential restoration of similar, degraded habitats throughout Europe.

GRASSLAND FIRES IN HUNGARY – EXPERIENCES OF NATURE CONSERVATIONISTS ON THE EFFECTS OF FIRE ON BIODIVERSITY

Fire as a natural disturbance has been present in most European grasslands. Controlled burning was also an important component of the traditional landscape management for millennia. It was mainly used to reduce litter and woody vegetation and to maintain open landscapes suitable for farming. Due to socio-economical changes traditional and sustainable use of fire was ceased and replaced by arsons and technical fires in Europe. Despite its wide application in the past and the considerable extension and frequency of current grassland fires, the impact of fire on the grassland biodiversity is still scarcely documented in Europe. The aim of this study is to offer a perspective on the issue of fire impact on grasslands, by overviewing published information and practical experiences from Hungary. Our results suggest that fire can be detrimental for several taxa (e.g. insects or ground-dwelling birds), but can also promote population growth of several endangered species by reducing litter or by creating and maintaining open habitats. We also found that fire may be effective in controlling invasive plant species. The effect of fire on grassland biodiversity may be rather context-dependent. There is a critical need for developing robust evidences on the context-dependence of fire effect on biodiversity. For this, well designed prescribed burning experiments are crucial.

Synoptic circulation control on wild fire occurrence

Wild fires have gained increasing interest during the last decade worldwide. Millions of hectares are burned out every year in various countries in all continents. Most of them are burned by the villagers to increase the areas which are available to cultivation but many fires also start by natural causes. Especially in the Mediterranean regions the demise of the traditional landscape management practices along the last decades is another relevant cause of wild fires, since large amounts of fuels are accumulated in the forests, increasing the risk of forest fires. The continuous drought, the rarity of precipitation and the intensity of the winds play a significant role in the onset and evolution of a wild fire. In this work we are trying to link synoptic weather types with events of forest fires that took place in Greece during the 20-year period 1985–2004. To find possible associations with the weather systems prevailing in an area we used the synoptic classification proposed by the ESF’s COST 733 action-release 1.2 and the classification software v.17-01. Since the onset of a wild fire is a rather complex phenomenon and is largely determined by the combination of high air temperatures and absence (or rareness) of precipitation during a certain period before the event, we used the sequential option of the classifications. Specifically we applied 3, 7 and 15 days sequences, for 9 and 18 classes, and for KMEANS, DKMEANS, KHC, LUND, HCl and SANDRAS synoptic catalogues in Domain 10 of the COST 733 scheme, in which Greece is located. The analysis shows that if we use KMEANS and HCl for both the 9 and 18 classes and for all sequences the number of synoptic types that are associated with wild fires is reduced to 2–3. These 2–3 categories are associated with almost 70–90% of the total wild fires events in Greece. On the other hand the KHC and LUND catalogues are not very successful since wild fire events are almost evenly dispersed among the categories.

白川村荻町の伝統的景観管理とその変遷 : 歴史的集落における景観管理能力の発展条件に関する研究 その1

The purpose of this paper is to clarify the traditional landscape management and its transformation in Ogimachi, Shirakawa villege. As a result,we found that the landscape had been managed traditionally until 1950's. In traditionally.they did easy management themselves, and the else difficult part,they left it to the specialist of carpenter etc., and did the help by mutual aid or manpower offer. And the material had been obtained from a more familiar range. But the following, the traditional one has changed by the depopulation, a modernization, and the spread of public service. Afterwards, the local society is working on the landscape management while substituting or reviving the management method because it aimed at the preservation of traditional landscape.

伝統的景観管理とその変遷 : 竹富島集落における景観管理能力の発展条件に関する研究 その1

伝統的景観管理とその変遷 : 竹富島集落における景観管理能力の発展条件に関する研究 その1