Towns, Ecology, and the Land

A pioneering book highlighting the dynamic environmental dimensions of towns and villages and spatial connections with surrounding land.

Richard T. T. Forman (Author)

9781316648605, Cambridge University Press

Paperback / softback, published 7 February 2019

598 pages, 228 b/w illus.
24.7 x 17.5 x 2.9 cm, 1.29 kg

'The volume is attentive to ecological dimensions, microhabitats, and scales for flora … Researchers and environmental planners investigating town-based ecological dynamics will find the extensive conceptual review valuable for designing projects and writing grant proposals.' Susan Power Bratton, The Quarterly Review of Biology

Towns and villages are sometimes viewed as minor, even quaint, spots, whereas this book 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.

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
Part IV. Town Ecology Principles and Solutions: 13. Toward better towns, better land.

Subject Areas: Sustainable agriculture [TVF], Agricultural science [TVB], Environmental management [RNF], Applied ecology [RNC], Soil science, sedimentology [RBGB], Plant ecology [PSTS]