Date of Award

2018

Document Type

Thesis

Degree Name

Bachelors

Department

Natural Sciences

First Advisor

Oberle, Brad

Area of Concentration

Environmental Studies

Abstract

This thesis draws upon previous research in ecological sustainability and social sustainability to implement a framework that incorporates both aspects when determining the long-term viability of a green space; specifically food forests. Principles of civic ecology and agroecology were drawn upon to develop this framework. Ecological sustainability was quantified using data collected from inventorying the foundational species of local food forests, which for this research was fruiting trees. For the purpose of this research, the term “tree” was broadened to include woody, fruiting plants. The trees were measured in terms of their health, productivity, and abundance within the established boundaries of a food forest. The health of these species has implications for the health of the overall ecosystem, which is a key factor in determining its sustainability long-term. Social sustainability was quantified through interviews of individuals directly involved with each food forest. Each participant was asked a standardized set of questions that were developed to gauge community perceptions of local food forests, their thoughts on what makes a space sustainable, and the goals that they would like to see accomplished for the long-term persistence of these spaces. Three locations were analyzed for the purpose of this study: Elling Eide Center, New College of Florida, and Bay Haven School of Basics Plus. These institutions have established food forests using varying levels of external input and for accomplishing different goals and missions that mirror those of the larger institution of which these forests are a part of. I found that the food forests varied in terms of ecological and social sustainability. I found that the Elling Eide Center food forest is well-established but sparse and has a low level of community input. It was determined that this would be the least sustainable as a “food forest” long term. The Bay Haven School of Basics Plus food forest is moderately established and has high levels of diversity, abundance, and community support. I determined that this would be the most sustainable of the three food forests, in terms of both ecological and social sustainability. Lastly, the New College of Florida food forest was found to be moderately high in abundance, low in diversity, and a moderate level of community input. It was determined that the food forest is ecologically sustainable but without an increase in social sustainability it will likely not persist long term. Overall, this thesis looks to present local applicability of a sustainability framework that incorporates both ecological and social sustainability to determine the long-term viability of food forests in Sarasota County. The intent of this thesis is to identify sustainable practices that have the potential to both mitigate environmental degradation and facilitate community interactions and organization in green spaces.

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