Designing Nature’s Half:
The Blog
News and education about landscape conservation and design.
International Day for Biological Diversity: From Land Protection to System Design
Biological diversity depends on connected social-ecological systems, yet many decisions affecting those systems remain fragmented across landscapes, jurisdictions, and time. This International Day for Biological Diversity, the deeper question is not only what conservation protects, but how conservation must be organized to sustain life across the systems it depends on. From protection to system design, biodiversity increasingly reveals the need for more integrated conservation at ecological scale.
🌎The Art and Science of Landscape Conservation Design Using Models – Insights from Dr. Ronald J. McCormick
Dr. Ronald J. McCormick, a field naturalist and systems ecologist, shares insights on complex systems theory, including its application in landscape conservation design (LCD). The discussion provides practical advice for stakeholders interested in LCD—highlighting conceptual modeling as a valuable step and stressing the importance of boundaries within any model used for decision-making processes. The episode serves as a reminder that successful landscape conservation hinges not only on scientific rigor but also on integrating holistic perspectives—including economic realities and cultural values—to resonate with diverse stakeholder groups involved in LCD truly.