The Best of Both Worlds

Problem: 

The ‘holy grail’ of the modern conservationist is undoubtably to achieve some kind of sustainable relationship whereby the human population can develop and prosper alongside nature with minimal compromise on either side. The key to this objective is efficiency, which some might argue is against our programming. As we continue to develop new technologies, this once impossible goal is increasingly within our reach.

Context: 

At the heart of achieving a mutually beneficial relationship between man and nature is the principle of multiple land use. ‘Exploitation’ can be defined as any implementation of a design that perpetuates the singularity in value. Communities should therefore objectify value in multiple-use and develop means of benefitting from this, as opposed to getting carried away with the deceptive benefits of singular use. We should promote the importance of vertical settlement and aim to preserve as much land area as possible for multiple use benefits.

Discussion: 

Economic benefit is derived cumulatively across a landscape, with distributed pockets of sustainable and environmentally-ameliorative activity, rather than highly-intensified activities in larger-scale concentrations. Sources and forms of contribution are diverse and aim to develop financial potential with a minimal footprint.

The ideal is therefore a landscape in which settlement is concentrated in efficient, strategically positioned pockets, linked by good infrastructure designed against principles that preserve and improve the environment. Areas of concentrated settlement should be designed and developed with the objective to improve the environment, for example through water conservation and re- forestation, as well as to limit the need for transport of essential goods, in that as much as possi- ble should be produced locally. As new technologies are developed and become more affordable, it becomes easier for individuals or families to become more self-sufficient, particularly given the great availability of information that the modern world allows us. Instead of focusing on big industry, we should focus on strengthening our own capabilities and limiting what we need from elsewhere.