Managing landscapes for environmental sustainability

Abstract

Landscape is a heterogeneous area consisting of a cluster of interactive ecosystems including the soil-scape, water, flora and fauna, micro- and mesoclimate, and terrain or physiography. These components interact among one another, and are strongly influenced by anthropogenic activities. Misuse of landscape and mismanagement of its components can adversely impact biogeochemical cycles of water, carbon and other elements leading to degradation of natural resources and the environment. Thus, a high priority of restoring degraded landscapes includes enhancing soil and ecosystem carbon stock, conserving water and increasing the green water, reducing runoff, maintaining soil chemical fertility (nutrients), improving soil structure, enhancing soil biodiversity, and maintaining a favorable salt balance. Strategies of sustainable intensification must be adopted to restore the landscape. Sequestration of carbon in soil and vegetation within the landscape is important to adaptation and mitigation of climate change.