University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign

Sustainable agriculture in central Illinois: Visioning the future

Baumgartner, Susan J.

Content Files
Baumgartner_Susan.pdf

Permalink

https://hdl.handle.net/2142/18220

Description

Title
Sustainable agriculture in central Illinois: Visioning the future
Author(s)
Baumgartner, Susan J.
Issue Date
2011-01-14T22:40:20Z
Director of Research (if dissertation) or Advisor (if thesis)
Lawson, Laura J.
Department of Study
Landscape Architecture
Discipline
Landscape Architecture
Degree Granting Institution
University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign
Degree Name
M.L.A.
Degree Level
Thesis
Date of Ingest
2011-01-14T22:40:20Z
Keyword(s)
  • landscape design
  • sustainable agriculture
  • central Illinois
  • biodiversity
  • ecosystem services
  • regional planning
  • landscape architecture
  • native species
  • habitat
  • ecology
Abstract
Agricultural regions are under increasing pressure to provide more food for increasing populations while global biodiversity is at risk imperiling the future health of people, wildlife and native species. Integration of the two promotes agricultural sustainability as well as provides vital ecosystem services that sustain human and wild species populations. This paper explores current research in biodiversity, ecosystem services, agricultural sustainability and landscape ecology and applies the information to a predominantly agricultural region in Central Illinois. This paper also examines the role landscape designers and planners can play in working with planning agencies and local communities to develop future scenarios to promote conservation of biodiversity and agricultural sustainability throughout the region. Through a series of vignettes, I have attempted to illustrate how native species can be incorporated into an agricultural region in Tazewell County, Illinois. Relating these vignettes to seasonal food web diagrams illustrates complex ecological relationships and the importance of plant species diversity to support biodiversity in space and time. Though much research exists regarding these topics there is little information specific to Illinois, and would be a valuable area for future research.
Graduation Semester
2010-12
Permalink
http://hdl.handle.net/2142/18220
Copyright and License Information
Copyright 2010 Susan J. Baumgartner

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