Research work · 2021
The Science of Cities
Urban Ecology for Citizens and Planners
Abstract
Urban ecology is about the coupled relationship between humans and nature in cities. Three interconnected systems create a city, including the natural environment, such as soils, water, and vegetation, the built environment, including roads and buildings, and the social environment, including people and their activities. In addition to natural ecology considerations, the social side of urban ecology considers people’s beliefs and behaviors, how we value nature, and how we create and care for the natural urban environment. Urban ecology began as the study of ecology in cities, which focused on wildlife and remanent forest patches; progressed to ecology of cites, which views the entire city as an ecosystem, including green infrastructure; and finally, to ecology for cities, which links ecological science with civic policy and human well-being.