An Introduction to Urban Ecology

What is urban ecology? It is not altogether new, but it is a relatively recent and refreshing change in perception of the relationship between human landscapes and natural ecosystems. It can be defined as the study of ecosystems that include humans living in cities and urbanizing landscapes aiming to understand how human and ecological processes can coexist in human-dominated systems and help societies with their efforts to become more sustainable (Marzluff et al., 2008)

Previously, studies in ecology and in social sciences have been separated, analyzed as individual components. But clearly, humans live within and are dependent on the natural systems of the earth. Therefore, we need to view society and ecosystems as interrelated. We must ask the question of how human and ecological patterns emerge from the interactions between socioeconomic and biophysical processes (Alberti et al., 2008). Practitioners of urban ecology propose this form of paradigm shift, to break free from what is called a reductionist approach, or studying only the individual components of systems, and shift into a more integrative approach to understanding the complexity of human relationships with nature.

December 11, 2007

[Editor's note: When most people think of sustainability, they often limit themselves to the environmental and corporate concepts, neglecting the social and personal aspects of such an important idea. Josh Newman is a very thoughtful counselor in Northwest Arkansas that has done a good job of articulating the relationship between our mental health and the sustainability of our society.]

The earth is a beehive; we all enter by the same door.
African Proverb

It was the redwood trees of Northern California in concert with my fellow pilgrim who helped me to realize that my purpose in life is to be a mental health counselor.