Elizabeth Bowie, "The 'Spatial Solution' to Conserving Biodiversity in Landscapes and Regions"

Spatial Solution:

In an era when human population is at a constant rise, we need to be more conscience of biodiversity in landscapes and regions. Our “spatial solution” needs to conserve key environmental and land use issues. To do this, we must determine what species are important to conserve and protect. In turn, we must also determine what bears the least and what may be allowed to “disappear.”
There are several patterns in the landscape that hold considerable weight. You must have large patches of natural vegetation to “protect species richness.” Vegetated corridors along streams and rivers provide erosion control, protective migration to water, food to the bottom of the food pyramid, shade, and mineral nutrients. Species must be free to move from space to space so “connectivity between large patches” is needed. Smaller “patches” are needed to serve as a “hedge of resistance” for species disturbance and land use control (erosion). Aggregates are also used to help “mesh a space” for human and woodland blending. We need to enforce this thinking now on a more global level. We have a fixed amount of land on this planet and “making do” with what we have has never been our strong suit. A spatial solution should be on all of our minds when developing and designing for today and the future.