Samenvatting
Context
In today’s world, rapid environmental and economic developments and changes pose major threats to ecosystems and economic systems.
Objective
In this context we explore if resilience can be increased by the spatial configuration of the rural landscape in an integrated ecological-genetic-economic way.
Methods
We study the concept of landscape diversity from genetic, ecological and economic perspectives.
Results
We show that small-scale landscapes are potentially more resilient than large-scale landscapes, provided that ecosystem patch sizes are sufficiently large to support genetic diversity and ecosystem and economic functions. The basic premise underlying this finding is that more variation in a landscape generally leads to greater genetic and species diversity. This, in turn, stabilizes populations and strengthens the different ecosystem elements in the landscape. Greater variation in ecosystem elements provides for more varied ecosystem services, which may enhance the resilience of the local economy.
Conclusion
We conclude that a resilient landscape is shaped within the context of economic and ecological possibilities and constraints, and is determined by landscape diversity and spatial organisation.
In today’s world, rapid environmental and economic developments and changes pose major threats to ecosystems and economic systems.
Objective
In this context we explore if resilience can be increased by the spatial configuration of the rural landscape in an integrated ecological-genetic-economic way.
Methods
We study the concept of landscape diversity from genetic, ecological and economic perspectives.
Results
We show that small-scale landscapes are potentially more resilient than large-scale landscapes, provided that ecosystem patch sizes are sufficiently large to support genetic diversity and ecosystem and economic functions. The basic premise underlying this finding is that more variation in a landscape generally leads to greater genetic and species diversity. This, in turn, stabilizes populations and strengthens the different ecosystem elements in the landscape. Greater variation in ecosystem elements provides for more varied ecosystem services, which may enhance the resilience of the local economy.
Conclusion
We conclude that a resilient landscape is shaped within the context of economic and ecological possibilities and constraints, and is determined by landscape diversity and spatial organisation.
| Originele taal-2 | Engels |
|---|---|
| Pagina's (van-tot) | 193-202 |
| Tijdschrift | Landscape Ecology |
| Volume | 30 |
| Nummer van het tijdschrift | 2 |
| DOI's | |
| Status | Gepubliceerd - 2015 |