Urban ecology, stakeholders and the future of ecology

Abstract

The goal of our work is fourfold: to describe the diversity of scientific questions in urban ecology, show how these questions are organized, to assess how these questions can be built in close interactions with stakeholders, to better understand the role urban ecology can play within ecological sciences. A workshop with scientists from all relevant fields (from ecology to sociology) and stakeholders was organized by the Foundation for Research on Biodiversity (FRB). Three types of scientific issues were outlined about (1) the biodiversity of organisms living in urban areas, (2) the functioning of urban organisms and ecosystems, (3) interactions between human societies and urban ecological systems. For all types of issues we outlined it was possible to distinguish both fundamental and applied scientific questions. Overall, the human population is more and more urban. Cities have a strong impact on the biosphere and increasing the share of Nature within towns is more and more viewed as crucial for the well-being of town dwellers. Moreover, as all types of ecological and evolutionary questions can be asked in urban areas, urban ecology will likely be more and more influential in the development of ecology. The future of towns, their biodiversity and the life of city dwellers is at stake. Depending on research and the way its results are taken into account, very different towns could emerge. Urban areas can be viewed as a test and a laboratory for the future of the interactions between human and ecological systems.

Unexpected Nitrogen Sources in a Tropical Urban Estuary

“…Overall, there is a lack of resilience among the urban poor worldwide (World Bank Group, ). The field of urban ecology has grown rapidly in the past 20 years (Barot et al, ), but most of this research has taken place in temperate areas. Much less is known about tropical, urban dynamics.…”

Ecologia Urbana: histórico, definições e abordagens interdisciplinares

“…Os estudos de Ecologia Urbana desenvolvidos na Europa durante o século XIX visavam a compreensão da vida de organismos vegetais presentes em habitats urbanos e em áreas impactadas por ações antrópicas, sendo pioneiros na descoberta da diferença entre espécies nativas e introduzidas (Adler e Tanner, 2015). Barot et al (2019) retratam que, considerando a evolução histórica de pesquisas da área, os estudos de Ecologia Urbana têm se elevado em termos quantitativos, compreendendo cerca de 14% de todos os estudos e publicações da Ecologia geral. De acordo com os autores, esses dados reportam o aumento da representatividade da Ecologia Urbana ao longo do tempo nas publicações mais recentes, principalmente quando comparados as primeiras pesquisas realizadas no ambiente urbano na década de 1990, no qual as publicações em periódicos de Ecologia somavam menos de 100 artigos publicados anualmente sobre a temática da Ecologia Urbana.…”

Urban Social Sustainability - Case Study; Gellerupparken–Denmark

“…It is required to envision an environment where companies, educational institutions, business associations, and housing associations work together to create several exciting educational and internships across all nationalities and utilize the many contacts it will provide to the world. Much can be done to create more favorable conditions for businesses and educators in the area, including various kinds of modern facilities such as suitable cheap premises, IT, and quick access to the highway [34]. Additionally, companies could assume a particular form of the social contract, where, for example, the housing association provides premises, parking, canteen arrangement, and other features for the company to create new jobs or internships for citizens of the local area (see Figure 8).…”