Graduation Year

2018

Document Type

Campus Only Senior Thesis

Degree Name

Bachelor of Arts

Department

Environmental Analysis

Reader 1

Lance Neckar

Reader 2

Donald McFarlane

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© 2017 Maia M. Presti

Abstract

This thesis explores the nexus between landscape design processes and the conservation of wildlife diversity. Extinction of earth’s unique and diverse animal species is progressing at unprecedented rates, due to humanity’s profound alteration of the natural landscape. Scientific literature increasingly points towards opportunities in the urban and landscape design fields to this issue. Unfortunately, the science and needs of wildlife are rarely integrated in rigorous ways in the planning and design of human landscapes. This gap in professional practice protocols and regulatory frameworks in much of the western world is explored and raises questions about how design can successfully protect, restore, and even re-create viable habitat and linkages for wildlife that is integrated with human landscape. Australia has modeled new integrated wildlife-centric design approaches and projects there demonstrate accumulated expertise in the specific area of wildlife habitat design. Through a case study of Australia’s Alice Springs Desert Park, I argue that balancing human and wildlife needs at every step of the design and building process is necessary for successful wildlife habitat design. This integrated approach does not view wildlife and humans as independent, but rather as two interdependent habitat participants that must coexist to ensure the future of both.

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