A general agreement of what is meant by the subject landscape ecology is still lacking. Therefore, it is necessary to reach a manifold but unique definition of landscape, to recognise what is important about landscapes and to arrive at a disciplinary model capable of utilising and integrating the existing different points of view on landscape ecology. If that is done, then all the applications related to the land can be set in a correct framework using a consequent effective methodology.
This is the aim of this book. It provides a wide range of theories, of simple useful equations and of tested methods for the analysis and diagnosis of the ecological state of a landscape, including several case studies. Further, the diverse European and North American approaches and perspectives have coalesced for the first time. And, it proposes a new approach to understand landscape pathology and degradation.
This book is written for a broad audience: students of biology and natural sciences, agronomy and forestry, environmental engineering, territorial planning and landscape architecture, as well as for professionals and managers of the environment. It is hoped that it will also aid in the training of new professionals such as environmental physicians too, because the challenge of sustainability is a continuous one.