Timothy Beatley

Preserving Biodiversity: Challenges for Planners

Abstract Lyn Sedlak-Forďs The Great Return reflects both the beauty of salmon and their plight in finding it increasingly difficult to return to their spawning grounds each year (represented by their swimming in opposing directions). Several species of salmon throughout the Pacific Northwest are threatened or endangered. Timothy Beat-leys article proposes a new approach to helping these and other endangered species survive. The artist, who holds degrees in psychology and art therapy, has been creating works in clay since 1989 after working 9 years as an art therapist. She resides on Lacamas Lake in Camas, Washington, and her works can be seen in galleries throughout Washington and Oregon and in private collections across North and South America. Thanks to the Riversea Gallery in Astoria, Oregon, for their help in putting us in touch with this artist. Preserving biodiversity represents a major challenge for American planners, as threats to biodiversity are increasingly the result of urbanization and land use change. Present and past conservation strategies, including the federal Endangered Species Act, have not been successful; new, bolder strategies are needed. Long-range land use planning, aimed at creating large-scale integrated ecological systems of connected greenspace and habitat, is the key. Nested approaches in which regional systems of protected green-space connect with and link to larger statewide and continental systems are necessary. Habitat conservation goals must be more ambitious and wasteful development patterns must be checked if biodiversity is to be preserved. Other elements of the conservation strategy must include new approaches to funding acquisition, creative incentives for conservation on private lands, envisioning new roles for cities in restoring and conserving biodiversity, and giving greater attention to biodiversity conservation in planning curricula.

Habitat Conservation Planning: Endangered Species and Urban Growth

Preface Chapter 1. Land Development and Endangered Species: Emerging Conflicts Chapter 2. The Federal Endangered Species Act: Key Provisions and Implications for Land Development Chapter 3. Overview of Past and Ongoing Habitat Conservation Plans and Processes Chapter 4. The Politics of Habitat Conservation Planning: Key Actors and Perspectives Chapter 5. Habitat Conservation Plans to Protect Butterflies and Other Invertebrate Species: San Bruno Mountain and Beyond Chapter 6. Conserving Habitat for a Threatened Desert Lizard: The Coachella Valley Habitat Conservation Plan Chapter 7. Habitat Conservation in the Florida Keys: The North Key Largo Habitat Conservation Plan Chapter 8. Protecting Migratory Songbirds: The Least Bells Vireo Habitat Conservation Plan Chapter 9. Endangered Rats and Endangered Homeowners: The Affordable Housing/Species Clash in Riverside County Chapter 10. Preserving the Desert Tortoise: The Clark County Habitat Conservation Plan Chapter 11. Preserving the Kit Fox and Other Flora and Fauna of the San Joaquin Valley: The Bakersfield and Kern County Habitat Conservation Plans Chapter 12. The Promise of Regional, Multi-species Approaches: The Balcones Canyonlands Conservation Plan Chapter 13. Evaluating the Success of Habitat Conservation Efforts: Lessons Learned and Recommendations for the Future Notes Index

Protecting biodiversity in coastal environments: Introduction and overview

Abstract Much less attention has been paid in recent years to the threats to coastal and marine biodiversity, compared to biodiversity in more terrestrial habitats. The tremendous biodiversity at risk and the severity and magnitude of the pressures being exerted on coastal habitats suggest the need for much greater attention to be focused here by both the policy and scientific communities. The threats to coastal biodiversity are numerous and include air and water pollution; over exploitation and harvesting; the introduction of exotic species; the dramatic loss of habitat due to urbanization, agricultural expansion, and other land use changes; and the potentially serious effects of global climate change. These threats suggest the need for swift action at a number of jurisdictional and governmental levels. Major components of such an effort are identified and described. These include the need for comprehensive management approaches, the expansion of parks and protected areas, restoration and mitigation, mul...

Envisioning Solar Cities: Urban Futures Powered By Sustainable Energy

IN our increasingly urbanized world, cities must begin to play ever more important roles in addressing long-term environmental problems such as global climate change and dependence on fossil fuels. Cities are now profoundly reliant on fossil fuels, and the venues where much consumption of energy occur and from which large amounts of greenhouse gases are emitted. Yet cities offer dramatic opportunities to address these problems through good design and planning while at the same time substantially improving the quality of life, strengthening local and regional economies and helping to solidify unique and special place characteristics and qualities. Cities are beginning to understand this and have shown especially strong interest in addressing climate change and fossil-fuel dependence. In June 2006, the U.S. Conference of Mayors adopted the so-called “2030 Challenge.” This represents a commitment to reduce the greenhouse gas emissions from all new city building immediately by 50 percent and by 2030 to ensure that all new buildings are carbon neutral. Under Seattle mayor, Greg Nickels, almost 600 American cities (as of July 2007) have endorsed the “U.S. Mayors Climate Protection Agreement,” which commits them to strive to meet the Kyoto Protocol targets. And in May 2007, New York’s mayor, Michael Bloomberg, convened an international conference of big-city mayors (C40 City of Seattle

Environmental Ethics and Planning Theory

Environmental ethics addresses the basic questions of how we ought to use and manage the natural environment and the extent to which man must exercise certain moral and ethical constraints in his relations to the natural environment. More specifically, the subject of environmental ethics asks questions such as the following: Based upon what ethical criteria or principles should individuals and society make decisions about the use of the environment? What are acceptable levels of environmental risk or degradadation, and does society have an obligation to protect individuals from such risks? How should conflicts between social justice and environmental protection be resolved? Do we have moral obligations to non-human forms of life? Do we have environmental obligations to future generations? Do we have obligations to maintain the stability and integrity of natural systems? It is argued here that environmental ethics should be a legitimate and necessary component of planning theory. This article provides a cursory taxonomy of the primary substantive topics addressed by the literature, and the various perspective and theories presented within each.

Representation in Comprehensive Planning: An Analysis of the Austinplan Process

Abstract This article examines the representativeness of the process, known as Austinplan, by which the City of Austin involved over 1,000 citizens in preparing a new comprehensive plan. The participants were more affluent and better-educated than most Austin citizens; their views, however, were similar to those of the general public on problems, urban conditions, and values. On the other hand, significant differences occurred between these groups on some important public policy positions, perhaps resulting from knowledge gained from prior participation in civic affairs, or participation in Austinplan itself. Differences on policy between participants and the general public could lead to conflict about specific plans and strategies. This may be an instance of a classic issue: should representatives act as delegates of a citizenry less informed than they are about the subjects at hand, or should they act as trustees on behalf of the civic good as they perceive it to emerge from the process of deliberation?

A set of ethical principles to guide land use policy

Abstract Decisions about land use raise fundamental and complex moral and ethical issues. Yet the existing normative framework traditionally used to guide such decisions is narrowly economic and utilitarian. This article seeks to expand the ethical foundation for land use decisions by proposing a set of tentative principles for ethical land use. These principles are admittedly broad and open to considerable discretion in their specific application. They are presented as ethical starting points, as an initial set of principles for discussion by the land use community.

Hurricane Gilbert strikes Jamaica : Linking disaster recovery to development

Abstract This study evaluates long‐term housing recovery in Jamaica following Hurricane Gilbert of 1988. Particular emphasis is placed on the impacts of a large scale housing aid program initiated by international donor agencies and the Jamaican government. Data were obtained through a survey of 240 households in disaster‐stricken areas and through in‐depth open‐ended interviews of key informants. Householders and informants were asked to respond to questions on disaster impacts and recovery strategies used in rebuilding. Implications of the Hurricane Gilbert experience for improving disaster recovery and development efforts are then discussed. Finally, a proposed strategy for developing recovery planning programs, which emphasizes local participation and initiative, is presented.

Balancing urban development and endangered species: the Coachella Valley habitat conservation plan

Habitat conservation plans (HCPs) permitted under Section 10(A) of the federal Endangered Species Act, have been increasingly used to overcome conflicts between urban development and species conservation. This article profiles one such HCP, the Coachella Valley (CA) Fringe-Toed Lizard Habitat Conservation Plan. The second HCP officially approved by the US Fish and Wildlife Service, the Coachella Valley case is frequently cited as a model for resolving conservation and development conflicts. The article begins with a discussion of the use of HCPs, and then provides a detailed discussion of Coachella Valley experience, its history, specific provisions, and success to date. A final section examines whether Coachella Valley does in fact represent a positive model. It is argued that the HCP has been less than fully successful and leaves unresolved a series of fundamental ethical and policy questions concerning the protection of endangered species.

A National Assessment of Local Earthquake Mitigation: Implications for Planning and Public Policy

This paper presents conclusions and their implications for planning and public policy from a comprehensive study of local seismic hazard mitigation programs throughout the United States. Data from the study were obtained from a mail survey and three case communities. A key study conclusion is that while earthquake mitigation activity is higher among California communities than in communities of other states, it is considerably lower than for other types of hazards. Other key conclusions are that local officials can undertake a variety of activities to effectively advance planning for earthquakes, and that the more effective activities occurred through an interactive learning process where creative compromises among differing community perspectives were more likely. These conclusions imply that while there is a substantial need to better integrate earthquake mitigation into development and land use decision making, local government efforts to advance mitigation programs have a substantial potential for success. They also imply that achieving effective local response requires substantial changes in current practices of federal, state and local governments.