From the Introduction
Managing the whole landscape begins with the recognition that all parts of the landscape are valuable and collectively contribute to the health and resilience of entire ecosystems. The value (e.g., relative value, perceived value) of different landscape components will change over time and space and will differ by stakeholder group. Perhaps the most significant shift in taking a whole landscape approach is welcoming the input of stakeholders who hold different values and perspectives. Creating standardized terminology helps bring together stakeholders under a common understanding. This more inclusive approach is also necessary to achieve the HLP’s definition of EBM that focuses on the health and resilience of entire ecosystems.
To support a whole landscape approach to forest land management, the HLP recognizes the need to develop a standardized, neutral, and universal way of describing and classifying all parts of a landscape. The purpose of this document is to propose:
- A definition of “Whole Landscape”.
- A high-level landbase classification system for use by the HLP.
These two outcomes will introduce a standardized and neutral terminology to describe the landbase. The goal of this is to shift the terminology used, change the focus on how the landscape is viewed, and achieve the HLP’s approach to EBM: to be more inclusive of different perspectives and to capture the full suite of values provided by the entire landscape.
Citation
Ducks Unlimited Canada & fRI Research. (2024). How does the Healthy Landscape Program Define a Landscape? A Whole Landscape Approach to Ecosystem-Based Management: Part 1. Ducks Unlimited Canada.
Acknowledgements
This report was completed with input and writing from Ducks Unlimited Canada staff members including Marissa Green, Jessie Lavallee-Whiffen, Kristyn Mayner, Carrie Mana, and Kylie McLeod. Thank you to the HLP Whole Landscape Project Team, including David Andison, Paul LeBlanc, Courtney Miller, and Christopher Watson. Thank you to the HLP Partners for providing funding to complete this review, including West Fraser Mills, Weyerhaeuser, Tolko Industries, Alberta Newsprint Company, Mercer, Alberta Pacific, and the Government of Manitoba.
