Ecological Planning Method - Design with the Desert: Conservation and Sustainable Development - page 234

future generations but must strive to expand them by passing on an environment and
an accumulation of resources that will allow its children to live at least as well as, and
preferably better than, people today. Sustainable development is premised on living
within the Earth's means. 16
Scandurra and Budoni have stated the underlying premise for sustainability especially well
and succinctly. That is, “The planet cannot be considered as a gigantic source of unlimited
raw materials, neither, equally, as a gigantic dump where we can dispose of all waste from
our activities.” 17 The environment is both a source and a sink, but has limited capacities to
provide resources and to assimilate wastes indefinitely.
Beatley and Manning 18 relate sustainable development to ecological planning. They note
that “McHargian-style environmental analysis… [has] become a commonplace method-
ological step in undertaking almost any form of local planning.” 19 They note, however,
that, although such analyses are “extremely important… a more comprehensive and holis-
tic approach is required.” 19 The steps that follow attempt to provide a more comprehensive
approach.
13.2.1 Step 1: Identification of Planning Problems and Opportunities
Human societies face many social, economic, political, and environmental problems
and opportunities. Since a landscape is the interface between social and environmental
processes, landscape planning addresses those issues that concern the interrelationship
between people and nature. The planet presents many opportunities for people, and there
is no shortage of environmental problems.
Problems and opportunities lead to specific planning issues. For instance, suburban
development occurs on prime agricultural land, which local officials consider a problem.
A number of issues arise, involving land-use conflicts between new suburban residents
and farmers such as who will pay the costs of public services for the newly developed
areas. Another example is an area with the opportunity for new development because
of its scenic beauty and recreational amenities, like an ocean beach or mountain town.
A challenge would be how to accommodate the new growth while protecting the natural
resources that are attracting people to the place.
13.2.2 Step 2: Establishment of Planning Goals
In a democracy, the people of a region establish goals through the political process. Elected
representatives will identify a particular issue affecting their region—a steel plant is
closing, suburban sprawl threatens agricultural land, or a new power plant is creating a
housing boom. After issues have been identified, then goals are established to address the
problem. Such goals should provide the basis for the planning process.
Goals articulate an idealized future situation. In the context of this method, it is assumed
that once goals have been established, there is a commitment by some group to address
the problem or opportunity identified in step 1. Problems and opportunities can be identi-
fied at various levels. Local people can recognize a problem or opportunity and then set a
goal to address it. As well, issues can be national, international, or global in scope. Problem
solving, of which goal setting is a part, may occur at many levels or combinations of levels.
Although goal setting is obviously dependent on the cultural-political system, the people
affected by a goal should be involved in its establishment.