Fostering Sustainable Landscapes at the Urban-Rural Interface

Training in the woodsConnecticut is home to diverse landscapes, from vibrant urban centers to rural farms and miles of beautiful coastline. With this diversity comes the need for collaborative, cohesive, and strategic planning and an informed, environmentally aware residential population to protect these priceless resources. With CAHNR’s expertise in natural resource studies as well as landscape architecture and close ties to the community through UConn Extension, we are working towards holistic, sustainable landscapes that both preserve and enhance our ecosystems and meet society’s needs. Our focus in the sustainable landscapes area includes:

  • Improve the quality of the state’s waters, including the Long Island Sound
  • Develop environmentally aware residents who participate in sustainable, healthy lifestyles
  • Optimize the sustainability of interconnected food, waste, housing, transport, and energy systems
  • Sustain and enhance ecosystem services
  • Promote informed community development, landscape planning, and land use management
  • Advance small acreage, and intensive agriculture to increase food production near consumers.

Examples

The town of Simsbury acquired Meadowood, an abandoned farm, and needed to create a sustainable future for it as an open space. The farm has rich historical ties, as Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. spent a few summers working there. For their Landscape Architecture capstone project, students developed potential plans the town of Simsbury is using for the space.

UConn Extension’s Land Use Academy is an educational program for municipal employees through the Center for Land Use Education and Research (CLEAR). Unprecedented housing pressures and climate change are among the biggest issues municipalities currently face, and the training, now in its 20th year, helps municipal officials gain skills and knowledge in planning, implementing, and regulating.

The 2,100-acre UConn Forest serves as a research laboratory, classroom, and resource through extension and outreach services. The Urban Forestry and Arboriculture academic programs recently expanded to provide students with additional training to meet growing industry and community demand.

The landscape sector of the Connecticut green industry contributes much to our state economy. These businesses purchase and utilize Connecticut grown nursery and greenhouse crops, while also providing landscape services for homeowners and commercial businesses both in and out of Connecticut. UConn Extension supports sustainable landscapes, native plants, and pollinators through a variety of programs and services.

Integrated research and extension programs on turfgrass science and management focus on low maintenance turfgrasses and the evaluation and efficacy of minimum-risk weed management products. Complementary initiatives address pesticide-free athletic fields and sustainable landscape management in residential and municipal settings.

Native plants are being established along Connecticut’s roadsides, and those throughout New England, to support pollinators and biodiverse ecosystems. The roadsides can serve as migration paths for the pollinators. Plant choices along roadsides can also support the landscape ecologically, from helping to eliminate contamination to supporting more biodiversity.