Why We Should Plan According to Ecosystem, Rather Than Artificial Boundaries

Chambers describes how the natural, or ecological, functionality of a place gets lost as man-made decisions dividing land into counties, cities, blocks, and individual properties determines how the land is occupied and used. He argues this way of seeing the world mustn't and needn't endure.

"Until we stop building along politically defined limits and start designing in line with ecologically determined borders," says Chambers, "we will be doing very little to improve the condition of our society.  More importantly, we won't be getting any closer to a more sustainable, just world. The future of green design is dependent on how well industry professionals understand and adhere to the factors that govern ecological function."