An old adage holds that the only constant is change. This certainly seems true in climatic terms – as humanity’s ecological footprint grows, the unfortunate consequences of a destabilized climate seem increasingly inevitable. Just as inevitable, importantly, as humanity’s ceaseless migration towards the city.
The United Nations predicts that 60% of the global population will be living in urban areas by the year 2025, compared to less than 30% in 1950.1 Urban land area will continue to expand as the demand for housing, trade, and transport increases with the migration of people into cities. As the human population moves into cities and urbanization sprawls across landscapes, it is becoming increasingly important for metropolitan citizens to incorporate sustainable practices, live in harmony with the natural world, and understand the impact cities are having on the ecosphere.
Up until about 40 years ago, scientists dismissed the idea of studying ecology in urban areas as cities were thought to be dead zones for plants and animals. It was believed that the existence of ecological communities in cities were just coincidental. Early observations, however, revealed that similar species were occurring under similar urban conditions and thus, it became obvious that urban ecological communities were not purely occurring and persisting due to chance. The field of “Urban Ecology” emerged within the biological sciences to refer to the study of the relationships amongst living creatures and communities within urban areas and also of the relationships between plants and animals and their environments. City planners and politicians have also started using the phrase to describe sustainable urban design programs to promote the coexistence of cities and natural ecosystems.1
Cities use large amounts of energy use consume enormous amounts of materials and are not, by themselves, sustainable, as they are strongly linked to accelerating ecological decline. Some examples of ecological issues created and exacerbated by cities include: the modification of land and waterways, the spread of invasive species, the effects on biogeochemical pathways, the urban heat island effect, greenhouse gases, acid rain, and pollution. Despite the constant development of technological and economic advances, humans still rely on the environment for resources and our consumption is ever increasing. It is therefore the responsibility of urban citizens to be ecologically aware and promote global sustainability through informed ecological practices.2 As a result of scientific research, public education and outreach, many communities have taken steps in the right direction to green their cities.
The Urban Ecology Center of Montreal is a great example of an initiative that is making large efforts to transform neighborhoods into more sustainable areas. The Center is working to create green public spaces, such as parks and agricultural gardens, promote active transportation, and engage residents in participatory budgeting, planning, and greening projects.3 Recently, as an approach to offset the extreme heat created by roads, parking lots, roofs, and walls all around the city, the center completed the construction of a green roof for the Palais des Congrès, with a surface area of 32,000 m2. The irrigation-free project included the use of five different green-roof technologies, 450 different plant species, a shed built entirely out of recycled materials, and the development of several partnerships with restaurants that will harvest the vegetable garden.4 The project was only one of the center’s many successes.
New York City also has a number of great urban ecology initiatives and is actually one of the greenest metropolises in the United States. A quarter of New York’s area is dedicated to open space – the most famous green spot being Central Park, which was opened in 1857 and has its 3.4 km2 filled with ponds, swamps, streams, fields, and forests.5 New York City is also participating in projects such as outdoor urban adventure programs, bird watching, beekeeping, and community gardening, to name a few.6
While it can be understood that more developed cities have access to more technological and financial resources to carry out urban ecology projects, there are many simple, inexpensive ways to encourage greener environments, such as public education and public engagement in policy making. If we want to preserve our supply of and access to necessary resources, the time to act is now. The scientific community must promote the advancement of research on the topic, the media and the government must spread the word about green initiatives, and the public must take action to promote sustainable living. Only then will humanity survive the inevitability of urbanization.
By Julie Arrowsmith
M.Sc. Candidate (Ecology), Concordia University
References:
1. Sukopp, Herbert, 1998. Urban Ecology – Scientific and Practical Aspects. Urban Ecology. 3-16. http://link.springer.com/chapter/10.1007/978-3-642-88583-9_1#page-1
2. Rees, William and Wackernagel, Mathis, 2008. Urban Ecological Footprints: Why Cities Cannot be Sustainable – and Why They are a Key to Sustainability. Urban Ecology. 537-555. http://link.springer.com/chapter/10.1007/978-0-387-73412-5_35#page-2
3. Montreal Urban Ecology Center. http://www.ecologieurbaine.net
4. Culti-vert: Greening the roof of the Palais des congrès de Montreal. http://www.ecologieurbaine.net/en/activities-and-projects/projects/urban-agriculture/item/89-culti-vert-greening-roof-palais-des-congres-montreal
5. Urban Conservation in New York City. http://www.ecology.com/2012/02/20/new-york-conservation-biodiversity/
6. Urban Ecology. Cornell University Cooperative Extension New York City. http://nyc.cce.cornell.edu/UrbanEnvironment/UrbanEcology/Pages/default.aspx
