Human Dimensions: Vegetation Ecology

Abstract

Vegetation ecology is an important component of the human dimensions of the Ecological Society of America (ESA) because it is concerned with ecosystem services and ecosystems as potential natural hazards, which are important for the management of natural and modified landscapes. Moreover, its elements respond to the five major drivers of global change: land (and sea)-use change, climate change, invasive species, pollution, and direct exploitation (IPBES 2019). These anthropogenic changes in the structure of plant communities can change their functions and thus their services and potential threats (Clark et al. 2017). The significance of vegetation ecology to different stakeholders is often interwoven into vegetation research. Among the many stakeholders are Native Americans on tribal lands and urban minority communities. Native American cultural and economic activities are often vegetation-dependent, and urban populations benefit from the ecosystem services of plants but often lack equitable access to green space. Thus, vegetation ecology has great potential for bringing new perspectives into ecology because of its diverse stakeholders. We will discuss these groups after examining the most salient activities in vegetation ecology. Activity in Vegetation Ecology Classification Classification is a core component of vegetation ecology, and its role in ESA is driven by its relevance to stakeholders (Franklin et al. 2015). Vegetation classes are identifiable, can be mapped, and meet the needs of land managers who must work on the basis of defined units. Classification is especially important for standardizing the terms and concepts that allow managers to collaborate across agencies. The need for classification led to the US National Vegetation Classification (USNVC), which is the focus of activity by ESA's Vegetation Classification Panel (more information available online). 1 The application of the USNVC continues to grow and is the national standard for all government organizations (FGDC 2008). The USNVC has been used for all national parks (Muldavin et al. 2012), has been linked to forest inventory data (Costanza et al. 2018), and is used as the existing vegetation classification for LANDFIRE (description of LANDFIRE available online). 2 These baseline data are a basis for linking multiple perspectives in ecology and creating collaborations across ESA (Peet et al. 2012), and especially important for monitoring change. Research related to global change Of the five major drivers of global change, three are more frequently studied by vegetation ecologists: climate change, land-use change, and invasive species. Each has potential for connections of interests across ESA and with diverse stakeholders.

Urban park visitor preferences for vegetation – An on‐site qualitative research study

“…These resources should be accessible in multiple languages and have multi-sensory components for both adults and children who may have physical and/ or mental health conditions, as well as members of Deaf and/or Blind communities, through the use of sound recordings, braille, and sensory gardens for touch, smell, and taste (Franco et al, 2017;Hussein, 2012;Zajadacz & Lubarska, 2019. Urban park managers and planners may also improve visitor experiences by creating participatory programs and partnerships with local communities, including underrepresented racial-ethnic groups, non-users, women, and others, which will aid in the selection, layout, and maintenance of vegetation for safety and enjoyment (Byrne, 2012;Gobster et al, 2007;Jones et al, 2020;Kaplan & Kaplan, 1989;Malanson et al, 2020). The innovative integration of urban park visitor vegetation preferences into management and planning may ultimately contribute toward enhancing visitor experiences and maximizing the many benefits of urban parks for both society and the environment.…”

Vegetation ecology with anthropic drivers and consequences

“…The future effects of climate change on fire regimes will be mediated by continued land-use change, with directions dependent upon current regimes and actions (Fonseca et al, 2019). Malanson et al (2020) noted that Native Americans, First Nations, and other indigenous communities integrate traditional ecological knowledge and vegetation ecology to improve habitat restoration, and wildfire and climate change management. This type of management advances understanding of fire and fuels ecology (e.g.…”

“…Malanson et al (2020) noted that Native Americans, First Nations, and other indigenous communities integrate traditional ecological knowledge and vegetation ecology to improve habitat restoration, and wildfire and climate change management. This type of management advances understanding of fire and fuels ecology (e.g.…”

“…In addition to the review by Franklin et al (2016), this Progress Report expands on topics covered by Malanson et al (2020), who discussed the ties of vegetation ecology to stakeholder concerns and opportunities to diversify its human dimensions. We focus on the science behind the latter.…”

Urban nature visitation, accessibility, and impact of travel distance for sustainable cities

“…Distance to urban nature is an important sustainability consideration in SDG 11’s aim of providing universal access to safe, inclusive and accessible, green and public spaces 1 . In addition, access to nearby urban nature can be helpful for meeting a range of other SDGs, such as SDG 4 for quality education (e.g., by reducing stress and improving cognitive development), SDG 7 for affordable and clean energy (e.g., by reducing nearby urban temperatures, energy bills, and use of carbon-emitted transportation methods), SDG 9 for industry, innovation, and infrastructure (e.g., by protecting local properties with stormwater management), and SDG 12 for responsible consumption and production (e.g., by providing nearby free and healthy food resources, such as fruit) 1 – 3 , 18 , 40 – 45 . Moreover, travel distance is likely to have become more influential for urban nature visitation during the COVID-19 pandemic due to various lockdown restrictions and/or concerns about virus transmission 17 , 36 , 46 , 47 .…”