With the acceleration of urbanization, how to establish a harmonious balance between cities and nature has become an important issue. Landscape planning, a branch of landscape architecture, focuses on developing landscapes amid competing land uses while protecting natural processes and significant cultural and natural resources.
"Landscape planning is not only a design technique, but also a process of deep understanding of the ecological system."
For example, renowned landscape architect Frederick Law Olmsted designed Boston’s “Emerald Necklace,” a prime example of integrating urban space with natural beauty. This way of thinking is becoming the norm around the world, prompting more urban planners and designers to seek to incorporate natural elements into urban design.
In Europe, Alberti mentioned that the market needed town squares, and the Nordic design concept was further developed into residential squares that should be planned around green spaces. This idea led to the creation of parks and public open spaces in many cities.
"Every green space in a city is a breathing space that improves residents' mental health and social interaction in the community."
In the United States, landscape architects and urban planners work together to provide landscape planning services for natural environments. However, the United States does not have a national land use planning system, which makes landscape planning face some challenges. Well-known landscape architects such as Frederick Law Olmsted and Ian McHarg made significant contributions in this regard.
The principles of modern landscape planning have been incorporated into a variety of legislative and policy documents, such as the National Environmental Policy Act in the United States. In Germany, the Federal Nature Conservation Act requires the preparation of landscape plans, and the European Union's European Landscape Convention has far-reaching implications for design and planning.
"Good landscape planning can not only protect the environment, but also promote sustainable economic and social development."
The traditional planning process is linear and includes steps such as identifying problems and opportunities, setting goals, analyzing the environment, and developing concepts. Such a process should not be viewed as fixed; it can be adapted to suit different objectives.
Effective landscape planning not only leads to more functional landscapes, but also has a positive impact on the environment and the community. For example, it can promote habitat for threatened species that are in urgent need of recovery by increasing ecosystem diversity.
"Landscape planning can be a good way to heal damaged ecology and make the relationship between humans and nature more harmonious."
Positive impacts of landscape planning also include improved human health. Studies have shown that exposure to nature can improve a person’s mental state and reduce stress. The use of technological tools such as GIS can more accurately analyze land use and make landscape planning more efficient.