The relational shift in urban ecology: From place and structures to multiple modes of coproduction for positive urban futures.
Steward T A Pickett, AbdouMaliq T Simone, Pippin Anderson, Ayyoob Sharifi, Aliyu Barau, Fushcia-Ann Hoover, Daniel L Childers, Timon McPhearson, Tischa A Muñoz-Erickson, Chantal Pacteau, Morgan Grove, Niki Frantzeskaki, Harini Nagendra, Joshua Ginsberg
Author Information
Steward T A Pickett: Cary Institute of Ecosystem Studies, Millbrook, NY, 12545, USA. picketts@caryinstitute.org. ORCID
AbdouMaliq T Simone: Urban Institute, University of Sheffield, Sheffield, UK.
Pippin Anderson: Department of Environmental and Geographical Science, University of Cape Town, Rondebosch, Private Bag x3, Cape Town, 7701, South Africa.
Aliyu Barau: Department of Urban and Regional Planning, Bayero University Kano, PMB 3011, Kano, Nigeria.
Fushcia-Ann Hoover: Department of Geography and Earth Sciences, University of North Carolina, Charlotte, 9201 University City Blvd, Charlotte, NC, 28223, USA.
Daniel L Childers: School of Sustainability, WCPH 442, Arizona State University, POB 877904, Tempe, AZ, 85287-7904, USA.
Timon McPhearson: The New School, 79 Fifth Avenue, 16th Fl., New York, NY, 10003, USA.
Tischa A Muñoz-Erickson: International Institute of Tropical Forestry, USDA Forest Service, 1201 Calle Ceiba, Jardín Botánico Sur, Río Piedras, PR, 00926, USA.
Chantal Pacteau: Institut d'Écologie et des Sciences de l'Environnement de Paris, Campus Pierre et Marie Curie 4, place Jussieu, 75005, Paris, France.
Morgan Grove: Baltimore Field Station, USDA Forest Service, 5523 Research Park Drive, Suite 350, Baltimore, MD, 21218, USA.
Niki Frantzeskaki: Utrecht University, Vening Meinesz Building A, Princetonlaan 8a, 3584 CB, Utrecht, The Netherlands.
Harini Nagendra: Centre for Climate Change and Sustainability, Azim Premji University, Burugunte Village, Bikkanahalli Main Road, Sarjapura, Bangalore, 562125, India.
Joshua Ginsberg: Cary Institute of Ecosystem Studies, Millbrook, NY, 12545, USA.
This perspective emerged from ongoing dialogue among ecologists initiated by a virtual workshop in 2021. A transdisciplinary group of researchers and practitioners conclude that urban ecology as a science can better contribute to positive futures by focusing on relationships, rather than prioritizing urban structures. Insights from other relational disciplines, such as political ecology, governance, urban design, and conservation also contribute. Relationality is especially powerful given the need to rapidly adapt to the changing social and biophysical drivers of global urban systems. These unprecedented dynamics are better understood through a relational lens than traditional structural questions. We use three kinds of coproduction-of the social-ecological world, of science, and of actionable knowledge-to identify key processes of coproduction within urban places. Connectivity is crucial to relational urban ecology. Eight themes emerge from the joint explorations of the paper and point toward social action for improving life and environment in urban futures.
