Here are the key aspects that a project like Califia might consider in its land plan:

A major shift is to embrace the postive impact that humans can have on the ecology rather than seeking to preserve completely pristine environments. What's important is that biodiverity and natural flows remain to sustain a vibrant and diverse natural system that can be harnessed for human proserity without sacrificing its integrity or viability. Jeff Buderer

1. Daylighting creeks and complementing this with urban flood control practices that use swales and gavones to control flooding without the use of: pipes, concrete channels or artifical embankments.
2. Landscaping can include Edible agriculture
3. Design for consideration of natural flows including wind and water as well as corridors for species migration between ecosystems.
4. Pavement alternatives that reduce flooding and recharge aquifers
5. Inegrated Farming Systems that efficiently and effective reprocess waste converting it into value added products.

Page modified by Jeff Buderer http://califia.pbwiki.com/Jeff%20Buderer%20Bio

Doing A Site Inventory Analysis

The ecological resources of the property should be fully inventoried as a first step. Then a planning process should develop that carefully looks at existing problems with the conventional approach to designing built environments. Jeff Buderer

Ecomapping as Part of the Design Process

In permaculture design ecomapping includes the assignment of ecosystem gradients or isobars. This includes the proper selection of various uses of the site for agricultural production, industrial production, housing, roads, community centres, other infrastructure, parks, wilderness corridors, etc. This gradient goes from total or near pristine wild areas to completely modified building spaces and everthing in between. Key to the process is considering natural flows so that the building or site activity is best match with the natural features and flows of the land. Jeff buderer