Urban ecosystems are not well understood, but they are absolutely critical to the health, economy and quality of life of people who live in urban areas.

Urban ecology is a new branch of environmental studies that seeks to understand the natural systems of urban areas and the threats that face them. Urban ecologists study the trees, rivers, wildlife and open spaces found in cities to understand the extent of those resources and the way they are affected by pollution, over-development and other pressures.

Urban ecology research is helping people see their city in a new way -- as part of a living ecosystem with valuable resources that promote better health and quality of life. The information it produces is helping urban residents and policymakers make informed decisions and take action to restore these resources before they are lost.




What is the significance of this?



Recently published articles by the United States Forest Service, the National Science Board, by academics in sociology, anthropology, psychology and criminology, report that people in urban communities are intricately linked to their environments. When people become educated and engaged in ecological projects, whether it is the study of local birds, testing the quality of area water sources, cleaning up abandoned land to create parks and gardens, or planting and caring for street trees, positive change occurs for both the people and the environment.

For example, urban ecology transformations such as street tree projects increase social connections among urban residents which are the building block for public safety. A recent study from Chicago illustrates these powerful connections.




Please Respect our Efforts



Why do some communities have high rates of crime, violence and substance abuse while others are much safer? Researchers set out in Chicago to explore this question.

These researchers summed up the results of their work by pointing out a small sign in front of a community garden that reads “Please respect our efforts.” This sign was in a neighborhood with low crime rates, despite the fact that its profile would have identified it as high risk.

This research is meant to show that healthy urban communities exist where residents know and value one another, are concerned for the well-being of their community, and work together to achieve their goals. Indeed, the Chicago researchers conclude that the most important influence on a neighborhood’s crime rate is “neighbors’ willingness to act, when needed, for one another’s benefit, and particularly for the benefit of one another’s children.” These social connections are crucial to public health; multiple studies in over eight countries have shown that people with strong social ties have a reduced risk for all causes of mortality. Collective community projects to transform urban ecology and the environment are the most powerful way to bring neighbors together in this way.

Additional research has shown that the presence of vegetation may lead to reduced crime rates against people and property, that green spaces foster stronger communities by providing meeting spaces for residents, and that the presence of nature may reduce chronic mental fatigue and fatigue-related aggression among residents of inner-city neighborhoods.

UEI programs help communities realize all these benefits of urban environmental and urban ecology transformation. UEI connects with and engage members of the community to teach high school students about urban ecology, to plant and inventory trees, to transform the urban forest, and to rebuild vacant land in cities. UEI helps students learn science by studying their own neighborhoods through long-term field studies. These efforts help improve health, happiness, and quality of life for community members and the environment.