18 Regions and land mosaics
matrix (Forman 1979a, Forman and Godron 1981). These universal elements are
thehandle for comparing highly dissimilar landscapes and developing basic
principles. Thispatch--corridor--matrix modelis also the handle for land-use plan-
ning, since spatial pattern strongly controls movements, flows, and changes of
both natural systems and people.
The simple spatial language is further highlighted when considering how
patches, corridors, and the matrix combine to form the variety of land mosaics
on Earth, either existing or planned (Forman and Godron 1981, Forman1995,
Lindenmayer and Franklin2002,Ingegnoli2002,Hiltyet al.2006). What are the
keyattributes ofpatches?Theyarelargeorsmall,smooth or convoluted, round or
elongated, few or numerous, dispersed or clustered, and so on (Figure1.3). What
are the properties ofcorridors?Narrow or wide, straight or curvy, continuous
or disconnected, etc. Thematrixis single or subdivided, variegated or relatively
homogeneous, perforated or dissected, and so forth. These spatial descriptors
are close to dictionary definitions and familiar to all.
Adding a housing development, a nature reserve, or a highway, for example,
changes the mosaic pattern. Consequently the diverse flows and movements -- of
water, materials, species, and people -- are altered in generally predictable ways.
Basic form-and-function principles help (e.g., why rabbit ears are short in the arc-
tic and long in the tropics). Round patches protect internal resources, whereas
convoluted patches enhance flows across the boundary. Negative environmen-
tal impacts often emerge from unplanned human alterations, or from changes
designed overwhelmingly for people. On the other hand, beneficial results, espe-
cially for the long term, often follow planned changes that highlight both nat-
ural systems and people.
In short, landscape ecology brings to the table simplicity and clarity, a focus
on spatial arrangement, a broad-scale perspective, easy communication among
users, a meshing of natural systems and people, and application to any land-
scape. It becomes increasingly central as society begins to seriously address the
question of creating sustainable environments. Enlightened, sustainable, vision-
ary, economically and ecologically viable, or glorious land mosaics are a worthy
target for planning and society. As a vision or product of planning, a land mosaic
is effectively a spatial arrangement so nature and people both thrive long term.
In urban regions built spaces are meshed with green spaces.Spatial scales and their attributes
Ecological studies and planning projects overwhelmingly focus on
spaces smaller than a region. Although these fine-scale areas and sites are not
thefocus of this book, they are important here from three perspectives. First,