How systems shape landscapes

 Ecological systems
Vegetation, soil, water cycles, fire regimes, biodiversity

Built environment systems
Housing density, transportation, infrastructure, utilities

Human health systems
Heat exposure, pollution, stress load, recovery capacity

Economic systems
Labor patterns, land use pressures, resource distribution

Governance systems
Policy decisions, planning frameworks, funding structures

These layers are not separate. They operate simultaneously and continuously influence one another.

From a systems perspective, landscape stability depends on three core capacities:

• Ability to detect stress early
• Ability to recover after disturbance
• Coordination across interacting systems
   

When these capacities weaken, landscapes shift toward chronic strain, repeated crisis, and escalating costs.

When they are supported, landscapes maintain function and recover more quickly from disruption.