Disturbed, restored and novel ecosystems – Concepts and practices challenging landscape planning, design and management in the 21st century
Abstract
Since the industrial revolution of the 18th century the human population has been quickly expanding (aprox. 7.5 billion people in 2017 according to Worldmeters.info), deeply changing all the ecosystems of the Earth and increasingly concentrating in cities (54% in 2014 according to World Health Organization) generating vast metropolitan areas. Such huge numbers impose a fast change on the metabolism of the biosphere, resulting in deforestation, natural resource depletion, pollution, global warming, desertification, urban sprawl and biodiversity loss. The results show large tracts of bare, dull and poor landscapes, incapable of nourishing their populations, forcing them to migrate, into starvation or to warfare. Conservation measures have focused on remote or less populated areas, particularly those with remaining natural quality, high scenic beauty, high profile wildlife species, or a pre-industrial rural character. Few restoration strategies have also been implemented, particularly in developed countries, to rescue degraded landscapes, resulting in a variety of multi-scale green structures such as nature reserves, green belts, green corridors, greenways, blue and green infrastructures, heritage cultural sites and landscapes and urban green spaces. Modern human fluxes have moved species across the oceans and continents, increasing sudden colonisations and an immediate change of local ecosystems that have evolved during long periods of time. Recently some of these new assemblages of species acquired the designation of novel ecosystems: human induced, selfsustainable assemblages of “exotic” and autochthonous species in particular biophysical contexts, with the tendency for the “exotics” to dominate and override the indigenous. These new ecosystems apparently have no parallel in the natural environment and are becoming the dominant habitats on the face of the Earth. These overwhelming issues require a fresh look to develop combined and systematic approaches to resolve the conservation of long term evolving natural ecosystems, the sustainability of human dependent ecosystems and the integration novel ecosystems with old ecosystems. Everyone’s commitment is valuable to share ideas and actions, integrating change and guaranteeing high levels of biodiversity, natural resource availability and natural space accessibility for the future. Our global awareness must activate local pl nning, design and management programmes and practices to exercise knowledge, tackle poverty and enhance the quality and dignity of life. This is a matter of life and death and…
LIFE MATTERS!
Keywords
overpopulation; new ecosystems; new landscapes; global awareness; local action
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Faculty of Sciences, University of Porto Portugal
https://orcid.org/0000-0003-4454-7553
Faculty of Sciences, University of Porto Portugal
https://orcid.org/0000-0001-6012-2729
Faculty of Sciences, University of Porto Portugal
https://orcid.org/0000-0003-3842-7133
