Community Essay: Planning for landscape multifunctionality

Abstract

The term “multifunctional landscapes” has been greeted with suspicion in some quarters as unnecessary jargon for which there are simpler and better-known alternatives, such as multiple use. This community essay explores the meanings associated with landscape multifunctionality and concludes that it is, in fact, a useful term that reflects important new ideas. In particular, it can help to promote landscapes that cross urban-rural divides, are more sustainable, and are planned and implemented in an integrated way.

Keywords

• multiple resource management
• landscape planning
• environmental design
• land use
• socioeconomic aspects
• sustainability
• multifunctionality
• green infrastructure