Landscapes

The Delta as Changing Landscapes

John Wiens, Letitia Grenier, Robin Grossinger, Michael Healey

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Key points:

  • Landscapes can be viewed in multiple ways and different perspectives can lead to different perceptions of how the same landscape is structured.
  • The science of landscape ecology offers a perspective on management and restoration that integrates the spatial relationships of ecological processes and the functional interconnections of land and water in the Delta.
  • The historical ecology perspective (using the knowledge of past landscape functions) can contribute to the restoration and management of contemporary landscapes.
  • The concepts and tools of landscape ecology are well developed, but they need to be applied as part of an approach that enhances the effectiveness of management, conservation, and restoration. Building on this awareness in the Delta will require a greater depth of understanding of landscape structure, function, change, and scale as they apply to the Delta.