Common perception holds that there exists a fundamental divide between city and wildlife, but is that true? Let’s talk ways to keep urban ecology sustainable.
Pop quiz: What do you and the American mink have in common?
Hopefully not a full-body pelt, because that could harm your chances with the ladies.
Nope, the correct answer is you’re both denizens of midwestern urbanized areas. (Or at least, we assume you are, since that’s where most loyal members of the Ecogardens community live.)
The real answer we’re looking for, though, is that you both make up a vital part of your local urban ecology, and you both contribute to keeping urban ecology sustainable.
At least, that’s the goal, and the subject of today’s post.
So What Is Urban Ecology?
What’s that, you’re wondering?
According to people who are much smarter than us, “urban ecology addresses biological patterns and associated environmental processes in urban areas, as a sub-discipline of biology and ecology.
In this sense, urban ecology endeavors to analyze the relationships between plant and animal populations and their communities as well as their relationships to environmental factors including human influences.”
We strive every day to improve those relationships – humans to nature, nature to city, city to humans – and to make urban ecology sustainable.
Which begs the question, can we actually do it?
Does there exist a fundamental and irreparable divide between city and nature?
Or can we heal the breach?
Needless to say, we have a pretty positive view on the matter.
Is It Possible to Make Urban Ecology Sustainable?
Life is stressful enough, so we won’t keep you in suspense here: Yes, it is possible to make urban ecology sustainable. With the right approach, we can keep our cities balanced and environmentally friendly long into the future.
We’re not there yet, though.
Currently, our landscapes and the people within them focus too much on human convenience and not enough on the wildlife our activities displace. Squirrels, birds, pollinators, wild grasses and other organisms don’t have enough habitat, but that doesn’t mean we can’t replace it.
We’re working very hard to do so, in fact. As other smart people point out, “After almost 90 years of development, urban ecology has evolved into a truly transdisciplinary enterprise that integrates ecological, geographical, planning, and social sciences.”
We learn more every day about how these subjects work together, as well as how we relate to our urban environments and the other organisms with which we share them.
Continual developments such as green roofs, stormwater management solutions and cutting-edge green products make it much easier to keep urban ecology sustainable. Bit by bit, we are greening up our cities, making homes for animals, reducing pollution and erosion, and more.
Take Action to Improve Our Cities’ Ecology Today
Want to find out more about making urban ecology sustainable? We would love to tell you alllllllll about it.
Like seriously, you won’t get us to shut up. No matter how hard you try.
Kidding. But we really do love this stuff, and nothing makes us happier than discussing the possibilities for making the world a greener, happier place. Please give us a call or email us today. We look forward to collaborating.
