ABSTRACT
The day starts like any other with one exception, a request to evaluate the effects of a proposed residential development in your management district. Development has occurred in adjacent districts, but not in yours. You realize that the proposal represents more than just one action, it represents the first of a series of actions that can alter the ecological integrity, the management of natural resources, and the aesthetics of the landscape. The simple action of evaluating a development plan confronts you with three questions: (1) How does the current proposal affect the structure and function of the site and adjacent areas? (2) What areas need to be conserved or protected to minimize environmental effects from future development? (3) How will these areas be protected (e.g., legally) from future development?
