Salinas Chávez, Eduardo; Middleton, John. 1998. La ecología del paisaje como base para el desarrollo sustentable en América Latina / Landscape ecology as a tool for sustainable development in Latin America. http://www.brocku.ca/epi/lebk/lebk.html

Introduction

OVERVIEW

The aim of this electronic publication is to show, using examples from a variety of Latin American countries, that landscape ecology can be a valuable tool for practical problems of sustainable development. The case studies will all include clear statements on the issues of spatial and temporal scale, interdisciplinary perspective, and the practical linkages between theory and application. The cases will use a consistent framework, to encourage comparisons of one to another. The volume will end with a critical summary and analysis of successes, failures, and opportunities for using Landscape Ecology as a tool for Sustainable Development.

Landscape ecology is a scientific framework for studying human impacts on ecosystems. It concentrates on the spatial and temporal scales that planners and managers need to know about. It is an interdisciplinary approach that encourages natural scientists, social scientists, and other professionals to escape their disciplinary walls and to work with each other on complex real-world problems of direct human significance.

This publication will be distributed electronically through a variety of channels, including Internet, e-mail, and computer discs via conventional mail. The information will be distributed free of charge, with charges only for incidental expenses (such as postage) if necessary.

WHY AN ELECTRONIC PUBLICATION?

Electronic communication is rapidly becoming an everyday reality. It offers many advantages over conventional printing on paper, although it is far from being a substitute.

Two of the barriers to electronic publishing are how to protect copyright, and how to collect money. In this case, both are easily dealt with: we will allow ( and even encourage) wide distribution, and forego payment (except perhaps for expenses e.g. to mail a disc if no other route is available). In other words, this is intended to be a non-profit project.

Even a moderately priced book in print ($50 for example) represents a significant barrier in most parts of the world. The problem is even larger where hard currency is not easily available. Although some universities and research institutions have central libraries others do not. Faculty-based collections may be widely dispersed across a city, with no central cataloguing. That is, accessibility to a information is more complex that arranging one copy per institution.

Clearly some other distribution system is needed. An electronic publication is particularly appropriate for improving two-way communication between North and South, especially if multiple formats are used (Internet, e-mail on request, disc by regular mail, etc).

Providing information in more than one language is easier in electronic than in print form. Availability in a language other than English is a major step towards wide distribution of ideas. Multiple-language communication also works against north-south asymmetries of power. For application of ideas (not just academic discussion) English-language texts are particularly weak, since technical English is uncommon outside universities in many countries.

It is inevitable that most professionals will need to master electronic communication within a very few years. There are great advantages in moving immediately to practical applications now, rather than waiting for others to lead the way.

TECHNICAL CHARACTERISTICS

• Each paper must be read and accepted by both editors and at least one referee.
• Authors will agree to be accessible to the editors by electronic mail or by fax, with a routine turn-around time for all correspondence of one week or less.
• Papers will be written in English or Spanish or both, with abstracts in both English and Spanish; translation of abstracts or full papers into other languages (e.g. Portuguese, French) will be encouraged.
• Each paper will use the same outline (including section headings), to ensure that the volume has a clear internal structure, and is not just a collection of vaguely-related papers.

CRITERIA FOR INCLUSION OF CHAPTERS

• The senior author for each paper should be a national and resident of the country.
• Papers must show the value of the use of landscape ecology and its concepts. Each paper must show explicitly how use of the concepts of Landscape Ecology has made a significant difference to the work and its application.
• Papers must show equal sophistication in understanding both theoretical principles of landscape ecology and practical realities (administrative and political) of governments or other users. Papers with conclusions along the lines of "a green corridor should be established by moving the city from the coast to the central plains" will be rejected.
• Papers must comment explicitly on both successes and failures of their cases, and make concrete suggestions for overcoming the failures.
• Papers must draw explicit and critical conclusions that would help with implementation of similar applications elsewhere, especially in other countries of the South.

CHAPTER OUTLINE

This outline, including the section headings, will be compulsory for all case studies. Chapters will be approximately 5000 words each. The editors' summary chapter will focus on sections 5, 6, and 7 of the various cases.

1. Brief introduction (may include brief, general comments on the relationship between Landscape Ecology and sustainable development, etc.)
2. Brief description of the country (as context)
3. Brief background on Landscape Ecology in the country and in this study (as context). For how long, in what form, has Landscape Ecology been an active force in the country? How wide-spread is the approach? What are the major peculiarities or foci of interest? What is the profile or reputation of Landscape Ecology in the country? (In some cases the answer may be nil to all of above, i.e. that Landscape Ecology by name is a new concept in the country.)
4. Details of the case study (largest section of the chapter). This section should:

• state explicitly the spatial scale of interest;
• state explicitly the temporal scale of interest (including both historical context and policy objective for the future);
• be clearly and explicitly interdisciplinary (e.g. not just biological, not just geographical, not just planning, etc.);
• show a clear and explicit link between theory and practice (i.e. should be more that just design or cartography);
• take sustainable development of human society as the primary goal and focus.

5. Major successes of the use of Landscape Ecology in this case.
6. Major shortcomings of the use of Landscape Ecology in this case, with practical policy suggestions for better results in the future. (The conclusion that concepts of Landscape Ecology cannot or should not be used in the future is acceptable, if well-supported.)
7. Practical lessons for the application of Landscape Ecology in other countries, particularly elsewhere in the South.
8. Brief concluding comments on the utility of Landscape Ecology for Sustainable Development.