In this third article in the series on Planetary Restoration Workforces, we explore the essential roles dedicated to restoring and preserving our environment. As cities worldwide expand, the need for sustainable infrastructure and green spaces becomes increasingly vital. Enter the Urban Ecologist, a professional who blends urban planning with ecological principles to ensure that growing cities remain healthy, vibrant, and in harmony with the environment.
Urban ecology studies ecosystems in urban areas, focusing on the relationship between living organisms and their built environment.
“A city is not the problem. It’s the solution.”
~ Jaime Lerner
In the 20th Century, activist Jane Jacobs advocated for inclusive city planning in New York City, where all residents are involved in shaping the urban environment to ensure sustainability. She spent her life collaborating with the neighborhoods and communities to develop a center for design review for the city’s real estate developers. In 2005, urban ecologists founded The Center for the Living City to build on Ms. Jacobs’ work. The Center aims to expand the understanding of contemporary urban life and inspire civic engagement and creative responses for advancing social, economic, and environmental justice.
When I first read the story about the former mayor of Curitiba, Brazil, Jaime Lerner, I immediately added him to my climate change hero list. He pioneered sustainable urban development and expanded on the idea that cities, often seen as hubs of pollution and congestion, can also be centers of innovation and sustainability through smart urban planning. News from the 2016 Brazil Olympics had devastating reports about Rio de Janeiro’s polluted ocean fronts. Yet, Brazil had a magnificent prototype ecological city of Curitiba (pronounced Cur Chee Ba). Curitiba: the Greenest City on Earth (theecologist.org)
Concurrently, Copenhagen is called the “Green Capital of the World” because it focuses on sustainable urban design and climate action. The Danes have set a goal to become carbon neutral by 2025. The city is investing heavily in renewable energy sources like wind and solar and energy-efficient buildings that incorporate green roofs and rainwater catchment systems. See: TomorrowCity.
Known as the “City in a Garden,” Singapore has transformed from a highly urbanized, concrete-heavy landscape to one of the greenest cities in the world. Since the 1960s, the government has prioritized integrating nature into the city through initiatives like Green Plan 2030. Singapore’s ambitious environmental strategy focuses on reducing carbon emissions, increasing urban green spaces, and promoting sustainable living. This plan encourages the construction of vertical gardens, green roofs, and nature reserves within the city. If you get the chance to visit, you will find the island nation also dedicated to botanical plant preservation, historical inclusion and diversity of its people, and genuinely stunning arts. (See euronews).
Field Overview: Urban Planning and Ecology
Urban ecologists work at the intersection of urban planning and ecology, focusing on integrating nature into city environments. With rising concerns about climate change and the health of metropolitan areas, these professionals are crucial to designing cities that function efficiently, promote biodiversity, improve air quality, and provide residents with access to green spaces. Other fields of study that can lead to a career as an Urban Ecologist include Geography, Sustainability Studies, and Landscape Architecture.
Urban Ecologists play a transformative role in creating cities that are not only sustainable but also resilient, ensuring a better balance between human development and the natural environment. Their work directly supports urban planning harmonizing with environmental sustainability, promoting healthier ecosystems and communities, and inspiring hope for a greener future.
Educational Path:
Bachelor’s or Master’s in Urban Planning and Environmental Design
To become an urban ecologist, a solid educational background is essential. Most professionals in this field have a Bachelor’s or Master’s degree in urban planning, Environmental Design, or a related field. These programs typically cover topics such as urban infrastructure, environmental sustainability, and the science behind ecosystems, preparing individuals to think critically about integrating natural elements into urban landscapes.
Key Responsibilities:
Urban ecologists are involved in various tasks influencing how cities grow and function. Their responsibilities typically include:
- Creating Green Spaces: Designing parks, gardens, and other green areas within cities to provide residents and local wildlife with a natural environment.
- Managing Urban Biodiversity: Ensuring that cities support biodiversity by developing ecosystems that allow plants, animals, and insects to thrive alongside human development.
- Developing Sustainable Infrastructure: Collaborating with architects and city planners to incorporate eco-friendly materials and practices into urban development projects, reducing the environmental footprint of new buildings and roads.
Urban Ecologist Salary Range:
The salary range for urban ecologists varies depending on experience and location. For example, urban ecologists in major cities like New York or San Francisco may earn more than those in smaller cities due to higher demand and the cost of living. This range reflects the potential financial rewards of a career in urban ecology, making it an attractive option for those interested in sustainability and urban planning.
Entry-level urban ecologists typically earn around $39,150 to $41,630 per year. Mid-level professionals can expect salaries averaging $48,370 to $52,280 annually. Senior-level urban ecologists with 10-20 years of experience can earn around $63,470 to $64,700. Top earners can earn over $82,680 per year in certain areas.
Growing Career Opportunities:
As urban redevelopment projects increase worldwide, the demand for urban ecologists is rising! Many cities are investing in green infrastructure as part of their commitment to combating climate change and improving the quality of life for their residents. The urgency is particularly true in areas undergoing significant redevelopment, where sustainable design is a priority.
What SDGs do Urban Ecologists address?
- Primarily, they work on SDG 11: Sustainable Cities and Communities to make cities and human settlements inclusive, safe, resilient, and sustainable. Urban Ecologists focus on creating and maintaining green spaces, improving urban biodiversity, and designing sustainable infrastructure that promotes environmental health in cities. Their work on green infrastructure helps cities absorb carbon and reduce energy consumption.
- SDG 6: Clean Water and Sanitation, which ensures the availability and sustainable management of water and sanitation for all, is an urban ecology work. Sustainable water management systems, such as green roofs, vertical gardens, rain gardens, and constructed wetlands that naturally filter water and prevent contamination in urban areas, help cities manage stormwater, reduce flooding, and protect water quality.
- SDG 7: Affordable and Clean Energy to ensure access to affordable, reliable, sustainable, and modern energy for all. Through the implementation of green infrastructure and sustainable building designs, Urban Ecologists support energy-efficient urban environments that reduce reliance on fossil fuels, promote the use of renewable energy, and lower overall carbon footprints in cities.
Critical Observations:
The major challenge for urban ecologists is the need to plan and coordinate across multiple levels of government, industry, development, and landscape restoration strategies. Other major challenges include a lack of funding for governmental allocation for neighborhoods, City Redesign, Systems Monitoring, and Collective education.
Urban ecologists redesign existing planting and UGS areas to comply with ecological shifts in water and pesticide uses.
Urban green spaces (UGS) created many decades ago must shift strategies to reduce grass, which often requires harmful pesticides for maintenance, pollutes the environment, and uses an enormous amount of water. Governments must mitigate run-off water from polluted grass so it does not contaminate the local waterways. In some cities, such as Melbourne, pilot projects to reduce grass cover and increase perennial planting are already in motion, offering valuable lessons in water conservation and ecological resilience.
Cities must use System Monitoring of city UGS, waterways, and transportation safety.
Urban ecologists work alongside many groups to monitor the city, including systemic monitoring of green space use, waterway contamination, and public safety on all forms of transportation. Urban Ecologists increasingly use AI and IoT devices to monitor urban green spaces in real-time, allowing for quick responses to environmental changes. The digital monitoring and coordination allow reports for city alerts on drought, pests, disease, and rescue. For example, recently, city water monitoring across the globe can now predict levels of COVID-19 from waterway samples and, consequently, alert the public.
Lack of funding and collective education for citizens will help mitigate urban pollution.
Citizens must understand how to use less grass in landscape design, plant perennial pollinating plants instead of grass and concrete, and develop areas free of chemical pesticides for human, animal, and insect safety.
Impact of Urban Ecologists
Urban ecologists are transforming the way we think about safe city living. By creating sustainable urban environments, they contribute to the health and well-being of city dwellers, provide habitats for wildlife, and mitigate the effects of climate change. Their work beautifies urban landscapes and builds resilience against future environmental challenges. For example, in a recent longitudinal study using remote sensing devices, open green spaces show lower assault violence rates in tree-lined streets and parks in cities https://doi.org/10.1016/j.landurbplan.2024.
Take Action
If you’re passionate about the environment and interested in making cities greener, a career as an urban ecologist could be the perfect fit. With growing opportunities in this field, urban ecologists are at the forefront of designing the cities of tomorrow—cities where nature and human life coexist in balance. Students passionate about urban sustainability can explore internships at local environmental NGOs or participate in online courses like the Urban Ecology certification offered by the Ecological Society of America.
Reading Suggestions:
“How to Fight Desertification and Reverse Climate Change” by Allan Savory (TED) Allan Savory explores how urban and rural environments are interconnected, focusing on how desertification and poor land management practices impact urban ecosystems. His talk emphasizes the restoration of ecosystems through innovative land use techniques. WATCH: Great Ecology
Nature’s Best Hope: A New Approach to Conservation That Starts in Your Yard by (2020) Douglas W. Tallamy. Timber Press. ISBN: 9781604699005.
Tallamy is one of the most beloved conservationists in the USA. His highly regarded books are resources for local and personal scale climate activists. Tallamy presents a “homegrown solution” to biodiversity loss – encouraging homeowners to plant native species to bring back the pollinators and birds – and create conservation corridors. It emphasizes the power of individual actions in fostering ecological resilience.
Trade Associations:
Society for Urban Ecology About SURE – Society for Urban Ecology (society-urban-ecology.org). Journals & Articles – The Society for Urban Ecology (SURE) (society-urban-ecology.org)
Urban Ecology Collaborative. Urban Ecology Collaborative A partnership of universities, non-profit organizations, and state, local and federal official. Monthly Webinars – Urban Ecology Collaborative.
RESOURCES:
Landscape and Urban Planning Volume 240, December 2023, 104877, Biodiversity in the city: key challenges for urban green space management. Myla FJ Aronson, Christopher A Lepczyk, Karl L Evans, Mark A Goddard, Susannah B Lerman, J Scott MacIvor, Charles H Nilon, Timothy Vargo.
Next up in our series on the Planetary Restoration Workforce: Planetary Health Specialist
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