Social Sustainability
Urban Ecology
Definition
Urban ecology has two meanings, both active: ecology in cities — the study of organisms, populations and communities in urban environments, which has overturned assumptions (cities as biological deserts) by documenting rich and distinctive urban ecosystems — and ecology of cities — treating the entire city as an ecosystem of interacting human and natural components, flows and feedbacks. Long-term research programmes (Baltimore and Phoenix LTER sites) established the field's empirical base.
References
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This reference provides supporting context for how “Urban Ecology” is defined and used.
Overview
How it is used
The discipline structures urban research programmes, green infrastructure science, the urban chapters of IPBES and IPCC assessments, and landscape architecture education.
Why it matters
Urban ecology taught conservation that nature never left the city — and taught cities that they are ecosystems whether they plan to be or not.