The Baltimore School of Urban Ecology
The Baltimore School of Urban Ecology
This introductory chapter examines Baltimore as a key site for the development of a new approach to urban ecology: an ecology of cities. This approach is based on four propositions. First, the ecology of cities addresses the complete mosaic of land uses and management in metropolitan systems. Second, the urban mosaic is complex: spatially, organizationally, and temporally. Third, an ecology of cities is an integrative pursuit utilizing midrange theories and is often designed to both enhance fundamental understanding and address practical issues. Ultimately, the book's goal is to develop a more general scientific understanding of urban ecological systems and to increase the practical capacity of decision makers to address the complexity and interdependence of urban ecological problems. Fourth, an ecology of cities can be useful for linking and advancing both practice and science. In addition, the chapter discusses the advantages of using a patch dynamics approach to urban ecology.
Keywords: Baltimore, urban ecology, cities, patch dynamics, urban ecological systems, urban ecological problems, metropolitan systems
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