The Living Landscape concept focuses on managing land at the ecosystem-scale to benefit people, wildlife and the economy.
Living Landscapes aim to deliver environmental, social and economic improvements to an area, rebuilding our natural environment on a larger scale than ever before.
Our approach to creating a Living Landscape depends on both the natural habitats, and the social and economic needs of an area. However, there are common factors that are necessary for success:
- Action needs to be taken on multiple scales and must link conservation with land use planning.
- Projects of this size need deep-rooted support and must be driven by the aspirations of local people.
- There needs to be the will to change and serious investment in rebuilding natural assets on a landscape scale.
A successful Living Landscape is one with a network of healthy, resilient ecosystems supporting all forms of life. Ecosystem health is restored and society benefits fully from the vital services that ecosystems provide.
Why do we need Living Landscapes?
To combat a changing global climate, a growing human population and an increasing level of biodiversity loss, it is time to think and act big.
Towns and cities need more green spaces and less grey infrastructure in order to reduce heat retention and flooding whilst improving health and well-being. Natural habitats such as woodlands, wetlands and heaths need to expand in order to support sustainable rural development and provide space for wildlife. Habitats also need to be connected so that native animals can move up and down the country without being restricted.
Without space for nature, ecosystems will collapse with inevitable negative consequences. Protecting small oases of wildlife as an emergency measure has slowed the decline in biodiversity, but it is now time to think beyond these boundaries and integrate the wildlife and natural processes at every scale.