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Books > Earth & environment > The environment > Environmental economics > Sustainability
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The Planner's Guide to Natural Resource Conservation: - The Science of Land Development Beyond the Metropolitan Fringe (Paperback, 2009 ed.)
Loot Price: R2,957
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The Planner's Guide to Natural Resource Conservation: - The Science of Land Development Beyond the Metropolitan Fringe (Paperback, 2009 ed.)
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Much of the country's recent population growth is situated in
exurban areas. By many accounts exurbanization has become the
dominant pattern of land development in the country and there is no
indication it will slow in the foreseeable future (Theobald 2005;
Brown et al. 2005; Glennon and Kretser 2005). By definition,
exurban development takes place beyond the metropolitan fringe,
often in rural and remote areas. The development of new exurban
communities is a growing trend, especially in the West. In this
case, developers and homebuilders seek large tracts of land, up to
thousands of acres, in rural areas (typically within 50 miles of a
large city) where they plan entire communities consisting of
commercial, retail and residential land uses. Recreational
amenities such as golf courses and hiking/biking trails are often
included in these master-planned developments. Our philosophy is
reflected in the book's two objectives. First, we seek to document
the extent and impacts of exurban development across the country.
At issue is demonstrating why planners and the public-at-large
should be concerned about exurbanization. We will demonstrate that
even though exurbanization favors amenity rich regions, it affects
all areas of the country through the loss of agricultural and
grazing lands, impacts to watersheds and land modification. A
summary of environmental impacts is presented, including the loss
of wildlands and agricultural productivity, land modification, soil
erosion, impacts to terrestrial hydrologic systems, the loss of
biodiversity, nonnative and endangered species and other topics.
Our second aim is to provide readers from diverse (nonscientific)
backgrounds with a working knowledge of how and why exurbanization
impacts environmental systems. This is accomplished by working
closely to ensure contributors follow a specific outline for each
chapter. First, contributors will spell out fundamental concepts,
principles and processes that apply to their area of expertise
(e.g., riparian areas). Contributors will move beyond a cursory
understanding of ecological processes without overwhelming readers
with the dense material found typically in specialized texts. For
this reason, visuals and other support materials will be integral
to each chapter. We have chosen contributors carefully based on
their record as research scientists and acumen as educators.
Second, once the mechanics have been laid out, authors will explain
how and why land development in nearby areas influences ecosystems.
Issues of interdependency, modification and adaptation, spatial
scale and varying time horizons will be featured. Third,
contributors will weigh in on the pros and cons of various
land-development schemes. Fourth, authors will share their thinking
on the merits of conservation devices such as wildlife corridors,
open-space requirements and watershed management districts.
Finally, each chapter will conclude by identifying pitfalls to
avoid and highlighting "best practices" that will mitigate
environmental problems or avoid them altogether. In sum, after
completing each chapter, readers should have a firm grasp of
relevant concepts and processes, an understanding of current
research and know how to apply science to land-use decisions.
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