The Earth Stewardship Initiative (ESI) creates more livable and sustainable cities through transdisciplinary collaborations that integrate ecological research into city design and management. To meet sustainability goals we must change the way science intersects with society. To that end, ESI has collaborated with ESA and other organizations to create Demonstration Projects in Portland (2017), Baltimore (2015), and Sacramento (2014). These projects unite ecologists, urban planners, and designers through urban environmental design and management to promote social and ecological resilience and revitalization. ESI solicits Fellows nationally to work with city officials, practitioners, and ESA organizers on large-scale land planning projects using sustainable design strategies and novel research methods, including designed experiments and other adaptive management tools.

This year, ESI is collaborating with the City of Louisville in proposing designed ecological experiments that supplement Louisville’s existing sustainability efforts. Designed experiments demonstrate how ecologists can effectively shift from studying to shaping urban ecosystems. Building upon lessons from past ESI projects, the Initiative in Louisville will “learn from the city.” Louisville has established a city-wide green network utilizing GI design, implementation, monitoring, maintenance, and community engagement. ESI Louisville offers Fellows unique opportunities to learn about current GI design for the City and develop designed experiments with a team of professional ecologists, city managers, and ESA attendants. The program will focus on public works, city parks, planning and landscape architecture, urban forestry and green infrastructure. We will explore issues of demographics and community engagement and will address funding mechanisms, including capital projects and maintenance challenges.