Urban Ecologist City of Los Angeles Los Angeles, CA, United States
Urban areas play an essential role in advancing conservation goals. Cities are uniquely positioned to have a significant impact on the health and resilience of ecosystems and biodiversity. Unlike more “wildland” ecosystems, urban ecosystems are not solely owned and/or managed by public entities or with the sole goal of ecosystem restoration and/or enhancement. The important plants, animals and ecosystems in cities are scattered across open spaces and public parks that are already protected and being managed for conservation, as well as on private properties that oftentimes comprise the majority of land in cities, illuminating the need to address biodiversity and climate resiliency at multiple scales, on various land uses/types, and through a diverse array of strategies. Municipal governments, such as the City of Los Angeles (LA) can play an essential role in addressing biodiversity and wildlife connectivity on both public and private land in cities through plans, reports and policies that influence projects in the city and region. The City of LA has ambitious work programs underway, such as the Biodiversity Index and Wildlife Ordinance, which are actively working to “manage” LA’s urban ecosystem. Such efforts can provide other cities across the country and world with a roadmap for how government entities can address biodiversity and habitat connectivity and climate resilience in an urban context.
