All Posts

Foundations of Natural Area Tourism and Recreation Management - Title Slide It was a distinct pleasure to recently join a group of landscape architecture students at King Mongkut's University of Technology Thonburi (KMUTT) for a guest lecture. Standing before the next generation of designers and planners is always a reaffirming experience, offering a chance to share insights from the field and, more importantly, to witness the passion and thoughtful consideration they bring t

Introduction: The Hidden Language of Landscapes Have you ever walked through a public park or a botanical garden and felt that it was truly alive—vibrant, dynamic, and humming with energy? Then, perhaps you've visited another that, while beautiful, felt static and disconnected. The difference often lies in a hidden language, a set of principles guiding how the most successful modern landscapes are created. This approach is a sophisticated blend of art, science, and "systems t

We see them every day, standing silently on sidewalks, in parks, and along busy avenues. Urban trees are such a familiar part of the city landscape that it’s easy to view them as little more than green decoration. We might appreciate their shade on a hot day or the splash of color they bring in the fall, but we rarely consider the complex life they lead or the immense challenges they overcome. Behind this quiet facade is the science of arboriculture—the study, cultivation, an

Map of the Kafue Flats and Surrounding Parks Introduction: The Conservation Conundrum When we think about “conservation,” a common image comes to mind: vast, untouched wilderness, perhaps a national park, where nature is protected by keeping people out. It's a simple, powerful idea—creating pristine sanctuaries where ecosystems can thrive, walled off from human interference. But what if this approach, born from a desire to protect, sometimes causes the very harm it seeks to p

The Hidden Story of the Swamp When most people think of the Florida Everglades, they picture a vast, untamable wilderness—a place settlers once dismissed as "one big, soggy, malaria-infested impediment to prosperity." This perception of a worthless swamp, however, obscures a deeper, more profound story of survival, resistance, and the reclamation of power. For the Seminole and Miccosukee Tribes, this very landscape became a fortress. Pushed into the swamps by relentless Ameri

The term "slash-and-burn" conjures powerful images of smoke-choked skies and scarred landscapes. It's often portrayed as a purely destructive practice, a relic of the past that has no place in a sustainable world. This perception, however, misses a much more complex and nuanced story that has unfolded over centuries in the tropical regions where this method is a cornerstone of life. This traditional land-use system, more formally known as shifting cultivation, involves cleari

Introduction: The Promise vs. The Reality In 1970, the United States passed the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA), a landmark law built on a powerful promise: to "assure for all Americans safe, healthful, productive, and aesthetically and culturally pleasing surroundings." This was meant to be a foundational guarantee, ensuring that the federal government's actions would not come at the cost of the public's well-being or the environment we all share. Yet, for more than