Cities as Sustainable Ecosystems

by Newman, Peter

• ISBN13: 9781597261876
• ISBN10: 1597261874
• Format: Hardcover
• Copyright: 2008-01-31
• Publisher: Island Pr

Summary

Modern city dwellers are largely detached from the environmental effects of their daily lives. The sources of the water they drink, the food they eat, and the energy they consume are all but invisible, often coming from other continents, and their waste ends up in places beyond their city boundaries. Cities as Sustainable Ecosystemsshows how cities and their residents can begin to reintegrate into their bioregional environment, and how cities themselves can be planned with nature's organizing principles in mind. Taking cues from living systems for sustainability strategies, Newman and Jennings reassess urban design by exploring flows of energy, materials, and information, along with the interactions between human and non-human parts of the system. Drawing on examples from all corners of the world, the authors explore natural patterns and processes that cities can emulate in order to move toward sustainability. Some cities have adopted simple strategies such as harvesting rainwater, greening roofs, and producing renewable energy. Others have created biodiversity parks for endangered species, community gardens that support a connection to their foodshed, and pedestrian-friendly spaces that encourage walking and cycling. A powerful model for urban redevelopment,Cities as Sustainable Ecosystemsdescribes aspects of urban ecosystems from the visioning process to achieving economic security to fostering a sense of place.

Author Biography

Peter Newman is professor of city policy and director of the Institute for Sustainability and Technology Policy at Murdoch University in Perth, Australia. He recently completed a Fulbright scholarship, which he spent at the University of Virginia studying sustainability initiatives in the U.S. He is the author of Sustainability and Cities (Island Press, 1999).

 

Isabella Jennings is a graduate student in the School of Environmental Science at Murdoch University. Her past and current research is related to the cities as sustainable ecosystems idea.

Table of Contents

Acknowledgments	p. IX
Introducing Cities as Sustainable Ecosystems	p. 2
Vision	p. 8
Economy and Society	p. 32
Biodiversity	p. 64
Ecological Footprints	p. 80
Modeling Cities on Ecosystems	p. 92
Sense of Place	p. 144
Empowerment and Participation	p. 156
Partnerships	p. 168
Sustainable Production and Consumption	p. 188
Governance and Hope	p. 216
Conclusions	p. 238
Extracts from the "Local Government Declaration to the World Summit on Sustainable Development," 2002	p. 242
The Carbon Cycle	p. 244
The Nitrogen Cycle	p. 246
The Phosphorus Cycle	p. 248
The Hydrological Cycle	p. 250
Notes	p. 253
Glossary	p. 259
Online Resources	p. 265
References	p. 269
Index	p. 277
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