Urban Ecological Restoration Benefits People, Too
Peter May, Ph.D. and Phil Jones
"Barring love and war, few enterprises are undertaken with such abandon, or by such diverse individuals, or with so paradoxical a mixture of appetite and altruism, as that group of avocations known as outdoor recreation. It is, by common consent, a good thing for people to get back to nature."
- Aldo Leopold, A Sand County Almanac
People have altered the ecology of their surroundings for many thousands of years. Nowhere is this more evident than in the urban environment, where development patterns and human behaviors have radically changed local ecosystems. Still, urban treasures such as New York City's Jamaica Bay and Washington, D.C.'s Anacostia River continue to provide essential ecological, recreational, psychological, and economic benefits to city residents.
Such remaining urban ecosystems have been recognized in recent decades as the backbone for broader ecological restoration efforts in urban areas, reversing some of the damage of the past and building on their still-impressive ecological assets. The notion of restoring
on their still-impressive ecological assets. The notion of restoring urban ecosystems has coincided with an evolution in attitudes toward nature. Once perceived as a domain to be dominated, nature is increasingly regarded as a vital element of the human experience. Urban ecological restoration can also be considered the restoration of valuable human habitat, as more people in cities rediscover their own "backyards."
In addition to achieving environmental and technical goals, successful urban restoration efforts should strive to re-connect people with their local ecosystems and foster in them a sense of place. This isn't always easy. Impediments include physical and cultural barriers and inadequate financial and political capital. Harnessing the support of local communities is key to overcoming these barriers and often requires a long-term effort. Tapping into existing community networks, articulating a clear vision and set of goals, involving residents early in the planning process, and demonstrating concrete results can all help to develop a constituency for urban ecological restoration.
Many cities are exploring ways to improve access to natural urban areas. Examples include trail networks that link neighborhoods to parkland, expanded
opportunities for fishing and boating, and interpretative signage and educational tours. Other efforts involve overcoming the physical barriers created by highways, such as the Alaskan Way Viaduct in Seattle and the Anacostia Freeway in Washington, D.C., in order to improve residents' access to nearby waterways. These physical re-connections are essential in the renaissance of urban life, but are only recently being commonly considered in urban planning. Creating physical access also helps to break down psychological barriers, as residents become connected to natural areas they may not have previously considered part of their world.
To put the potential impact of urban ecological restoration into context, let's take a look at an actual example.
Urban Wetland Restoration in Washington, D.C. - A case study
This study illustrates that the ecological, economic, and social effects of urban ecosystem restoration can be complex and interrelated. While tidal marsh restoration will bring about long-term ecological and public health benefits, in part through a more diverse fish population, restoration efforts may cause short-term shifts in recreational and economic patterns that were unanticipated by the general public. The full ecological and economic value of a restored marsh ecosystem will be realized over time as the marsh matures.
Urban ecosystems are intimately linked to the local and regional economy and society, even if the connections are not always readily apparent. Restoration efforts can initiate a positive feedback loop by improving benefits to residents, including recreation, public and mental health, economic activity, and environmental vitality. In turn, city residents have the potential to become a long-term constituency for environmental stewardship and restoration efforts.