Landscape ecology is a rapidly advancing field of study which uses many of the principles and theories of traditional ecology to investigate ecological structure and function in the context of the physical, biological, and societal forces that affect whole landscapes. The International Association of Landscape Ecology (IALE), portrays the field as comprising several core themes:

• The spatial pattern or structure of landscapes, ranging from wilderness to cities
• The relationship between pattern and process in landscapes
• The relationship of human activity to landscape pattern, process and change
• The effect of scale and disturbance on the landscape

The strengths of landscape ecology lie in the field's interdisciplinary, holistic approach, as well as its applicability at any spatial scale: from local to regional to continental. Landscape ecology also makes extensive use of modern technologies such as remote sensing and geographic information systems (GIS), which allow a large amount of information to be presented in easily understood, highly powerful visual formats.

The concepts and tools of landscape ecology are highly relevant to many facets of environmental management, including:

• Land use planning
• Watershed management
• Legislation and policy (for example: Maryland's Smart Growth Initiatives)
• Protection of natural resources, wildlife habitats, and biological diversity