Resilience planning through an urban ecology framework

Background/Question/Methods

The concept of the ecological commons reframes our landscapes as fundamentally interconnected ecosystems accessible to all members of our global community – regardless of wealth or perceived ownership. All humans should have the right to benefit from access to healthy environs and we in turn have a responsibility to steward the natural world and support its long-term resilience. It is a cooperative, less-consumptive framework for society. Cities around the world are beginning to use ecology as a starting point for rethinking urban expansion and contraction with this in mind. This session focuses on how communities use urban green networks as a catalyst for reestablishing wildlife corridors and habitat nodes while prioritizing community vitality at the city and regional scale. We will explore 2 case studies where ecological principles are used as an underlying framework for urban planning efforts that support multiple goals. In Atlanta, GA and Baltimore, MD community members’ relationships to nature are used as a catalyst in development of urban ecological frameworks as foundations for more sustainable development. Our interdisciplinary planning teams use a combination of storytelling and geospatial data analysis to guide an equitable planning approach integrated with community-based design and informed by ecosystem services.

Results/Conclusions

In both examples, a network of nodes and corridors are developed to address ecosystem and habitat function, including streams, forest patches, and riparian corridors, exploring species, biodiversity, and ecosystem goals. Concurrently, redevelopment, restoration, and community amenities are integrated into the plan in a holistic manner. Alternative scenarios of future change are tested against community needs. These examples concurrently highlight the importance of balancing issues of displacement and a need to meet community needs like jobs with ecosystem function and connectivity on the city scale. This is then applied to implementation potential at the site scale within the neighborhood context. Pilot projects are developed and designed with the residents, providing the potential for cascading benefits to both wildlife and human habitation. The commons are revealed as spaces of nature and nurture for all. These examples reflect a socio-ecological approach applicable for all urban areas experiencing growth pressures, climate change impacts, and the legacy of environmental injustices.We’ve learned: Networks of socio-ecological nodes and corridors can provide the foundation for urban resilience.Interdisciplinary teams working with the community from the project kickoff leads to holistic and inclusive planning.Equitable access to healthy functional ecosystems should be a priority.