ABSTRACT
Landscapes can be seen from many views depending on the phenomenon under consideration. For landscape ecology, focused on the understanding of the interactions between spatial heterogeneity and ecological processes, 'a landscape is an area that is spatially heterogeneous in at least one factor of interest'. This chapter analyses the key questions: what are the ecological impacts of landscape fragmentation; and what are the impacts of urban sprawl on cultural services of landscape degradation. The main challenges for landscape management are to integrate landscape ecological needs and to supply ecosystems services. Understanding the different aspects of services provision, and what features of landscape structure, fragmentation and heterogeneity control those services, can significantly improve the ability to manage landscapes for ecosystem services. Finally, urban sprawl is recognised as a major issue in several countries and strategies limiting land take in order to mitigate the negative effects of market-led development have been developed.
