Most of the time, when landscape architects work, they think about how their design will affect human experience, community dynamics, and–of course–ecological impact. We think about types of native plants, how certain plants mitigate flood damage or erosion, and how the plant palette can enhance human experience of the place. However, what is often overlooked is the loss of habitat and community space for animals. This is essential because, well, animals are a large part of the ecosystem! This concept is highlighted by a goal to incorporate accommodations for animals in urban landscape designs.
One example of this is wildlife bridges, predominantly situated in national parks. In North America particularly, the number of collisions involving animals (i.e. deer, moose, etc.) in national parks is especially high. These wildlife bridges and/or tunnels provide safe crossings for animals through the redirection of animal traffic away from busy highways. Not only are they nice to look at (if one does not get too distracted from driving); they are beneficial to both animals and humans. From our perspective, the subsequent reduction of collisions decreases the amount of money we spend on repairs, replacements, insurance, etc. For animals, this is beneficial for mainly two reasons. Firstly, there won’t be as many fatalities. Secondly, the easy access to other patches of forest allows migration and mingling of species. This is essential in the maintenance of the ecosystem because there needs to be genetic variability in order for a species to healthily sustain its population. Clearly, the implementation of animal crossings is valuable to both the human and animal population.
Another example of creating places for animals is the Schöningen Spears Research and Experience Centre. The designers of this space created an environment that hosts a small herd of horses resembling a native species that was hunted in the area a long time ago through the incorporation of a large airy meadow. Their strategic placement of the field along with the choice of native vegetation provide an inviting atmosphere for horses to graze. In addition to this, visitors are invited to interact with the animals in an observational way with the integration of a bridge that overlooks the pasture, but does not come too close. This gives animals a home and also has educational value to humans.
Many people are opposed to the idea of designing with animals in mind. After all, who would want more waste and mess created by the wildlife invited into their residence? The concept of creating organized chaos is wild to many (pun intended), but is essential to the maintenance of local ecosystems. Many examples of animal-aided design prove to have positive impacts for both animals and humans. Therefore, it is important to embrace the idea that the conservation of nature and human activity can co-exist…but only through thoughtful and creative design.
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