Environmental Planning

Environmental planning consists of a set of theoretical tools and management practices that help humans make informed decisions about how to protect and conserve shared environmental resources. Like all types of planning, environmental planning attempts to translate social values and goals into policies aimed toward protecting public health, welfare and safety. Environmental planning adds to these goals an express concern for protecting and conserving the natural environments found in urban, rural, and wild landscapes. These goals, though, are often contested at all levels of government and society. As such, environmental planning is intricately woven into social and political processes.

Environmental planning addresses a broad array of issues that confront contemporary society. For example, the following topics are central to environmental planning practice: protecting air and water ...