DOI
https://doi.org/10.1016/j.progress.2008.05.001

Summary
Thinking ecologically means recognizing that reality is rarely unique and that multiple things always happen at the same time. With a view to integrative regional planning, it is necessary to know hierarchical ecosystem ecology on a nested scale to solid foundation from which to understand how to plan ecologically. This view is based on (a) complex systems organized in nested levels, which derive from subsystems and, in turn, originate suprasystems; (b) the description of these systems is propositional and perspective, so where we stand to make it significantly influences what we will be able to see; (c) these systems can only be known that are considered to have multiple boundaries and representable through multiple spatial and temporal scales, which influence their functions. To summarize a description of what it is to think and plan in an ecologically integrative way, historical cases intertwined with ecological science and social theory are given, from habitat planning and conservation, heat island mitigation, urban forestry, and impervious surface management.

Relevance for Complex Systems Knowledge
Considering that regional planning, taken as social science, is deeply connected with ecology, this paper uses a scale-hierarchic ecosystem approach to describe regional planning complexity. The paper explains concepts of nested levels, systems with different speed, emerging properties, perspective bias, multi-process-driven boundaries, multi-solutions, multi-spatial, and multi-temporal scales. Cities are indeed best viewed from within an ecological perspective because planning is coming to value the significance of telling context richly, from diverse perspectives, using multiple criteria, and is recognizing that consequences often extend across administrative or jurisdictional boundaries.

Point of Strength
This paper offers an interesting theoretical framework regarding an ecosystem approach to regional planning. It explains what it means, practically, to take a system thinking approach to urban and regional planning, representing a milestone in organizing a landscape and urban planning course using a system thinking approach. It traces a history of urban planning and the Chicago school of sociology. Authors use this background to explains the linkage between planning and ecology. It explains the main concepts relating to regional planning (sustainability, carrying capacity, nature-rich cities) using a system thinking approach. Furthermore, the paper presents complex systems' properties using examples usable in courses regarding "Landscape and urban planning."