BEST MANAGEMENT PRACTICES
BENEFITS OF SUSTAINABLE AREAS An ecosystem with a healthy variety of plants fosters a robust biodiversity of animal and insect species . Plants provide a primary food source and habitat , yield nutrients , improve soil health and produce oxygen . Properties can provide a critical link that connects wildlife corridors by increasing naturally vegetated habitat , including unmown grass and native wildflower meadow areas . Benefits of increasing the sustainability of native areas include :
Attracting beneficial wildlife , supporting pollinator habitat , enhancing biodiversity and creating aesthetic interest that provides year-round visual pleasure for sports enthusiasts using sports fields and users of recreational fields or trails .
Providing an option for native areas that requires fewer non-renewable inputs ( fertilizer , water and gasoline ) to maintain .
Protecting soils , natural vegetative cover , water resources and water quality .
Increasing plant biomass production than what is found in high-maintenance areas ( Wissman , 2016 ).
SUSTAINABLE LANDSCAPING CONCEPTS According to the American Society of Landscape Architects , “ Sustainable landscapes sequester carbon , clean the air and water , increase energy efficiency , restore habitats , and create value through significant economic , social , and environmental benefits .”
As land becomes developed , the importance of sustainable landscapes providing these ecosystem services in open , managed tracts of land cannot be overstated . In addition , naturalized areas can offset the higher carbon demands for maintenance activities ( such as mowing ) as compared with more intensively managed sports fields .
When designing a sustainable landscape , plants should be selected for much more than simple aesthetic value . Native plants should be selected whenever possible as they are already adapted to the existing soil conditions , available water and the microclimate , reducing or eliminating additional inputs of irrigation , fertilizer and soil amendments . Native plants have also evolved in concert with native wildlife and pollinators , providing the foundation of local food webs that enable butterflies , birds and other wildlife to survive . Furthermore , most native herbivorous insects and pollinators are specialists that cannot survive on introduced or exotic plant species .
SUSTAINABLE LANDSCAPE DESIGN APPROACHES Two distinct approaches to sustainable landscape design are as follows :
Traditional Design : Uses native plants as an alternative for introduced or exotic ornamental species in a formal garden , often including mulched landscape beds and lawn areas . Required maintenance is the same as any typical garden area , with possibly reduced irrigation if droughttolerant plants are used . This type of design is best suited for high-visibility areas , such as around buildings and other areas that provide aesthetic focal points .
Naturalized Design : Uses maturing and evolving native plant communities , such as tall grass , meadow and forested areas . This style is a more viable and cost-effective option in the long term for large tracts of land . Required maintenance is consistent with meadows and periphery areas .
Facility managers seeking to conserve water and protect ecosystems on their properties can incorporate sustainable landscaping GI systems . Green infrastructure is effective , economical , and improves the safety and quality of life through the intentional use of the ecosystem services provided by plants in the managed landscape ( EPA , 2017 ). Green infrastructure conserves , restores , or replicates the natural water cycle by reducing and treating stormwater runoff , thus turning a potential pollutant into an environmental and economic benefit . Green roofs , rain gardens , bioswales , cisterns and permeable pavements are examples of GI landscaping .
Sustainable landscaping is part of the required protocol when seeking Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design ( LEED ) certification . LEED is an internationally recognized green building certification system . Developed by the U . S . Green Building Council , LEED provides facility owners and operators a concise framework for identifying and implementing practical and measurable green building design , construction , operations and maintenance solutions .
SUSTAINABLE HIGH-VISIBILITY AREAS Landscaping in high-visibility areas around buildings makes a lasting impression on players , sporting event attendees , and the community at large . Sustainable landscaping concepts can be incorporated into these landscaped areas to fulfill both the facility ’ s environmental commitment and its aesthetic goals in focal areas . Sound design includes the selection of site-appropriate plant cultivars that permit reduced maintenance to remain sportsfieldmanagementonline . com June 2023 | SportsField Management
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