John K. C. Ingram, "When Cities Grow Wild: Natural Landscaping from an Urban Planning Perspective"

This thesis explores the emerging practice of natural landscaping in an urban environment with an emphasis on its planning implications. Specifically, it answers the question: What are the opportunities and barriers for the adoption of a natural landscaping strategy in Halifax Regional Municipality (HRM)?

To answer this question, the thesis first establishes the environmental, societal and fiscal benefits of natural landscaping in relation to the negative associations of conventional landscaping..

Next, in a broad overview of public and private naturalization initiatives across North America, natural landscaping is determined to be a growing pursuit and concern for urban planners.

For HRM itself, research concludes that there is significant enabling legislation and policy to advance natural landscaping, but insufficient public and political awareness of the practice and its benefits. Among other recommendations, the creation of an 'Urban Landscape Task Force' is suggested to facilitate the development of a local natural landscaping strategy.

Atlantic Planners Institute

This page and all contents are produced by the Atlantic Planners Institute, an affiliate of the Canadian Institute of Planners.

This document was last modified on May 9, 2000.