and off farms, even at the level of microbial diversity in soils. Opportunities exist to invest in ecological performance, particularly within landscapes of conflicting uses, such as agricultural matrices. Landscape itself serves as a kind of infrastructure, equally as valuable as the crops it produces. An optimised landscape infrastructure has the potential to remediate and restore values, particularly in rural farm communities; to promote the tree canopy, to manage waste water from agricultural run-off and enhance the ability for wildlife to move within the landscape. This map offers a means of communication to illustrate and grapple with current conditions that must be interpreted in a way that promotes a renewed ecological responsibility within the landscape. For example, recognising landscape patterns such as habitat fragmentation, could initiate a monitoring program or programs to support farmers to enhance biodiversification. The map serves as a graphic tool to represent landscape analysis and inventory data.
Nathan Perkins
Hay Field, Guelph
This map dissects features within the agricultural matrix to distinguish between agricultural plots and forested strips for wildlife habitat and refuge. Such patches and corridors allow passage across the agricultural landscape. Agricultural plot sizes in relation to the size of forested areas, tree species, rows of crops arranged to optimise sun exposure – all are noted. The contrast between crop areas of high sun exposure and the inner shaded rows are illustrated by the black and hatched linework in the centre of
the map. Various textures show the different stages of wheat: grain, hay and straw. N-P-K notation indicates the nutrients required to support soil vitality. Agricultural landscapes exist not as an agglomeration of contrived landscape plots for human benefit, rather they offer ecological performance values that, if we invest in them, will give back to us. The map indicates existing conditions of fragmented habitats, emphasising the importance of maintaining a biodiversity of species on
Emily Bowerman
18
on site review 36: our material future
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