Landscape planning is a natural resource problem solving and management process. The process integrates economic, social, and ecological considerations to meet private and public needs. This approach, which emphasizes desired future conditions, helps improve natural resource management, minimize conflict, and address problems and opportunities.

The success of landscape planning and implementation depends on the voluntary participation of communities, groups, individual clients, and others. The process is based on the premise that clients will make and implement sound decisions if they understand their resources, natural resource problems and opportunities, and the effects of their decisions. It enables them to analyze and work with complex natural processes in definable and measurable terms.

The planning process considers people and the resources they use or manage. Landscape planning is based on a desired future condition that is developed by the client for an individual conservation plan, or by the client and stakeholders, in the case of an areawide conservation plan or assessment encompassing a watershed or other defined area.