Greenways as strategic landscape planning

186 Pages·2011·9.02 MB·English

Greenways as Strategic Landscape Planning:
Theory and Application
Promotor: Prof. ir. K. Kerkstra
hoogleraar Landschapsarchitectuur
Wageningen Universiteit
Samenstelling promotiecommissie:
Dr. R.H.G. Jongman (Wageningen Universiteit)
Dr. F. Steiner (University of Texas, USA)
Prof.dr. A. van der Valk (Wageningen Universiteit)
Prof. ir. M.J. Vroom (Wageningen Universiteit)
Greenways as Strategic Landscape Planning:
Theory and Application
John F. Ahern
Proefschrift
ter verkrijging van de graad van doctor
op gezag van de rector magnificus
van Wageningen Universiteit
prof. dr.ir. L. Speelman
in het openbaar te verdedigen
op dinsdag 19 maart 2002
des namiddags te half twee in de Aula.
Ahern, John F.
Greenways as Strategic Landscape Planning: Theory and Application
Wageningen 2002
Ill. Fig., tab., 156 pp.
Wageningen University, The Netherlands
ISBN 90-5808-605-4
Abstract
Ahern, J.F. 2002. Greenways as Strategic Landscape Planning: Theory and Application.
Doctoral thesis. ISBN 90-5808-605-4. Wageningen University, The Netherlands.
This thesis investigates greenways as an emerging strategy for landscape planning. In the
thesis, greenways are researched through case studies in the Netherlands and the USA
and through published literature. Application of the greenway concept is made to several
landscape planning projects in the USA. An original greenway typology is proposed based
on: scale, goals, spatial context, and planning strategy. Using the typology, greenway
planning is compared with other contemporary landscape planning concepts and activities
including: ecological networks, wildlife corridors, and habitat networks. The thesis
discusses three fundamental benefits of greenways: the hypothesis of co-occurrence of
resources; the inherent benefits of landscape connectivity; and the concept of compatible,
or synergistic multiple use in greenways. A “framework method” for landscape/greenway
planning is proposed based on an alternative future scenario approach. The method
provides a framework for applying landscape ecological principles to landscape planning
(i.e. landscape ecological planning). The integration of cultural resources and issues is
identified as a challenge in greenway planning and is integral with the framework method.
Landscape aesthetics is considered as fundamental in greenway and is incorporated in the
case applications and reviewed in the literature. A survey of greenway planning in the
USA was conducted which found that: greenways are increasingly integrated with
comprehensive landscape planning in the USA, and greenways are often initiated to provide
trail and recreational use, but evolve to support multipurpose/multi-functional planning
goals and objectives. Finally, the thesis addresses the issue of uncertainty in data and
knowledge for planning and proposes an interactive and adaptive approach through which
greenway planning may be conducted with imperfect knowledge.
Key Words: greenways, spatial concepts, landscape planning, landscape ecology
for Linda
my love and best friend
Contents
1 Introduction 1
2 Spatial concepts, planning strategies and future scenarios: 11
a framework method for integrating landscape ecology
and landscape planning
3 Greenways as a planning strategy 37
4 Greenways as ecological networks in rural areas 71
5 Time, space, ecology and design: landscape aesthetics in 89
an ecological framework in The Netherlands
6 Greenways in the USA: theory, trends and prospects 107
7 Conclusion 129
Glossary 145
Summary 151
Samenvatting 155
References 159
Acknowledgements 177
Curriculum Vitae 181

1 Introduction