Civic Ecology
Civic Ecology
The term "Civic Ecology" refers to a particular conservation philosophy,
related stewardship practices, and the interactions of these
practices with other components of the social and
ecological system. It reflects a growing area of resource management, research,
and education.
Civic Ecology and the Conservation Ethic
As a philosophy, Civic Ecology draws from the conservation ethic
of Aldo Leopold, who recognized that humans are
a part of rather than separate from the ecosystem. In describing his own
experience restoring a degraded farm, Leopold demonstrated how humans can
become positive actors in the landscape.
Our interests lie in exploring how the Leopold conservation ethic
is being applied by people in cities as well as in more rural communities.
We also draw from the work of the environmental philosopher Andrew Light,
who has written about an emerging civic environmentalism,
in which urban residents engage in restoring nature in cities.
Civic Ecology Practice
Civic Ecology practice refers to community gardening,
community forestry, watershed enhancement, and similar
small scale, citizen led restoration efforts that integrate ecological
and social outcomes. These practices emerge from the
actions of local residents wanting to make a difference
in the environment and social fabric of their community.
Civic Ecology is recognizable when both people
and the environment benefit measurably and memorably from these practices.
Civic Ecology Science
Civic Ecology science is the study of the interrelationships
among Civic Ecology practice and the surrounding
social-ecological system. By "practice" we refer to both stewardship
actions and related education and learning. We have drawn from the work of the
Resilience Alliance
in defining the core question asked in our
Civic Ecology research: What is the role of Civic Ecology
practice in fostering resilience in social-ecological systems?
We are particularly interested in questions having to do with reorganization
and regrowth in communities under stress after a disaster or
smaller scale disturbance; hence our work in New Orleans
following Hurrican Katrina, NYC following urban decay
and 9/11, and Fort Drum NY, following widespread military
deployment. We are investigating how Civic Ecology practices
become part of positive feedback loops that
confer resilience through demonstrating and enhancing adaptive
learning, self-organization, civic participation, biological and cultural
diversity, social capital, innovative and redundant forms of governance,
and ecosystem services.
Civic Ecology Education
Civic Ecology Education refers to educational programs in which
learning is situated in Civic Ecology practice, and which have
individual, community, and environmental outcomes. For example,
Garden Mosaics is an educational program in which youth learn
through working alongside community gardeners. Outcomes for
individual participants include learning about science and
gardening and forming positive relationships across generations.
For the community, outcomes include adaptive learning and
increased trust and social connectedness among youth and adults.
For the environment, Garden Mosaics programs
result in new gardens and greater biodiversity and ecosystem
services in cities.
Initiative for Civic Ecology
The Initiative for Civic Ecology began as a collaboration
between Professor Krasny and Cornell Extension Associate Keith
Tidball, and is growing to encompass a number of research,
teaching, and outreach activities.
- Research in New Orleans and NYC focusing on the role of community forestry on resilience post-disaster.
- Outreach in military communities to link youth, community members, and soldiers deployed overseas through community gardening, and research to determine learning and social outcomes of this "Defiant Gardens" program.
- Research to determine the community outcomes of watershed restoration education programs in the Bronx.
- Garden Mosaics and Project Ecopolis Civic Ecology Education programs.
- Urban Environments Seminar and Alternative Spring Breaks Service Learning Experience.
- Urban Trees for Sustainable Cities Working Group, in collaboration with MillionTreesNYC and the Cornell Center for a Sustanaible Future.
- Research in collaboration with the Cornell Human Dimensions Research Unit to learn from citizen-led efforts that integrate outdoor recreation and civic participation.
Contact Us
Marianne Krasny, Faculty Leader, Initiative for Civic Ecology mek2@cornell.edu
Keith Tidball, Associate Director, Initiative for Civic Ecology kgt2@cornell.edu