Ecological Science and Transformation to the Sustainable City

Authors

S.T.A. Pickett, Cary Institute of Ecosystem StudiesFollow
Christopher G. Boone, School of Sustainability, Arizona State UniversityFollow
Brian P. McGrath, Parsons the New School for Design
M. L. Cadenasso, Department of Plant Sciences, University of CaliforniaFollow
Daniel L. Childers, School of Sustainability, Arizona State UniversityFollow
Laura A. Ogden, Department of Global and Sociocultural Studies, School of International and Public Affairs, Florida International UniversityFollow
Melissa McHale, North Carolina State University, Department of Forestry and Environmental ResourcesFollow
Morgan Grove, Baltimore Field Station and Baltimore Ecosystem Study, US Forest Service Northern Research StationFollow

Abstract

There is growing urgency to enhance the sustainability of existing and emerging cities. The science of ecology, especially as it interacts with disciplines in the social sciences and urban design, has contributions to make to the sustainable transformation of urban systems. Not all possible urban transformations may lead toward sustainability. Ecological science helps identify components of resilience that can favor transformations that are more sustainable. To summarize the dynamics and choices involved in sustainable transformations, a “metacity” framework is presented, embracing ecological processes in cities as complementary to those involving society, power, and economy.

Comments

The definitive publisher-authenticated version is available online at http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.cities.2013.02.008

This material is based upon work supported by the National Science Foundation through the Florida Coastal Everglades Long-Term Ecological Research program under Cooperative Agreements #DBI-0620409 and #DEB-9910514. Any opinions, findings, conclusions, or recommendations expressed in the material are those of the author(s) and do not necessarily reflect the views of the National Science Foundation.

Recommended Citation

Pickett, S.T.A., C.G. Boone, B.P. McGrath, M.L. Cadenasso, D.L. Childers, L.A. Ogden, M. McHale, J.M. Grove. 2013. Ecological Science and Transformation to the Sustainable City. Cities 32: S10-S20. DOI: 10.1016/j.cities.2013.02.008