Download Specialist in Urban Landscape Ecology

ANR CE Specialist in Urban Landscape Ecology
Position Title: CE Specialist in Urban Landscape Ecology
Position: This CE Specialist will focus on impacts of existing and proposed policies on the
interactions between biological, geochemical, geographic, physical, and social processes in urban
settings. For example, research on water conservation policies may elucidate both positive and
negative impacts on the ecological services of urban systems. This position will evaluate policy
impacts on ecological systems and the environmental services they provide, develop strategies and
management practices to establish and sustain these systems and services, and evaluate how policy
may need to be altered in response to climate change.
This Specialist will apply principles of ecology in urban settings to increase understanding of
interactions among ecological processes with specific attention to the role of vegetation in providing
environmental, social, and economic services in urban systems. The multidisciplinary nature of this
position will integrate research and extension activity across several ANR strategic initiatives such as
Healthy Families and Communities, Sustainable Natural Ecosystems, and Water Quality, Quantity
and Security.
The Specialist will provide much needed outreach and research linkages between existing programs
in the UCD Departments of Plant Sciences, Human Ecology, Environmental Science & Policy, UCR
Department of Environmental Sciences, research centers on campus, state and county based CE
programs, and the urban forestry, civil engineering, landscape management, and landscape
architecture professions. The Specialist will provide technical assistance and advice to professional
organizations; municipal, state, federal, and local resource agencies; Office of the Governor; and the
Legislature.
The successful candidate is expected to have a Ph.D. in ecology, environmental science, plant
science, or a related science with understanding of plant and urban ecosystems. Experience in
landscape horticulture, landscape architecture, urban planning, and/or community development is
desirable.
Justification: Over 95% of California’s population lives in urban areas. The way these areas are
managed will have a significant impact not only on residents, but also on the natural resources on
which we all depend. All Californians will benefit from healthier urban environments created by
understanding the roles and functions of various urban system components in providing ecological
services. Specific benefits from this program would include: conservation of water and soils,
sustainable management of urban green spaces, reducing urban storm water runoff, improving urban
wildlife habitat, improving microclimate quality (e.g., reducing heat-island effects), reducing
airborne particulate and noise pollution, and reducing water pollutants including nutrients, pesticides,
human and plant pathogens, and sediments. Other benefits include community and social
neighborhood revitalization and the accompanying social and health benefits to residents and visitors.
Improving quality of life in cities may increase the acceptance of urban living and infill development,
and facilitate improvements in planning urban development. In addition, municipalities throughout
the state are developing plans and indices to determine and achieve ecological, economic, and social
sustainability goals and these efforts can be enhanced by the further development of science-based
information and citizen input.
Extension: This Specialist will develop an Extension program collaborating with other UC faculty,
Specialists and Advisors to extend information integrating the design and management of urban
landscapes with their ecosystem services. The Specialist will deliver technical assistance and advice
to professional planners, regulators, and policymakers affiliated with state, regional and local
agencies; developers; non-profit and community organizations; and K-12 and college educators. The
extension and outreach program will provide science-based learning by engaging urban youth and
adults to participate in research studies of urban issues related to ecology, horticulture, landscape
architecture, and community design. Publication outlets for this work are wide ranging and include
journals, magazines, and electronic media in ecology and urban ecosystems, environmental science,
horticulture, planning, public policy, and public health.
Research: The Specialist will study urban landscapes and the ecosystem services they provide, their
impacts on natural resources, and how changes in policy, management methods, plant selection,
landscape design, climate change, and social structures affect environmental function. It is expected
that changes to the management and design of landscapes could affect local and regional ecosystem
services and microclimates, but this has not been well characterized or researched. Research
conducted by this Specialist will lead to better knowledge of the roles and interactions of the
individual features of urban landscapes, green spaces embedded within the urban matrix, and
surrounding natural systems and the impacts of policy, management, and human activities on the
ecological services provided by urban landscapes. Better understanding of the structure and function
of urban ecosystems can lead to more effective landscape and community designs, policy, and
management practices that enhance and sustain ecosystem services. Examples of research programs
in which the Specialist may participate include projecting the effects of imposed policy and
regulations or local effects of climate change, developing integrated management systems for urban
forests including urban forest carbon offsets, strategies to conserve local ecologically important
native species, and measuring local benefits and impacts of landscapes that have been converted to
reduce water use and other resources.
ANR Network: This Specialist will work with other CE specialists (e.g., Urban Landscape
Horticulture and Integrated Urban Water Management Specialists), CE advisors, and faculty (e.g.,
UCD Departments of Plant Sciences and Human Ecology, UCR Department of Environmental
Sciences). ANR groups engaged may include the Environmental Horticulture Program Team; the
California Communities, Science Technology and Environmental Literacy, and Water Quality
Workgroups; and the 4-H Youth Development and Master Gardener Programs.
Network External to ANR: The Specialist will also form collaborations with the UCD Center for
Regional Change and the CA Center for Urban Horticulture. The Specialist will provide the linkage
between researchers in affiliated fields of study and stakeholders which include policy makers,
regulatory agencies, educators, and community groups.
Support: The Department of Plant Sciences will provide travel funds, office and laboratory space, as
well as information technology, human resource, and business office support.
Other support: Funding is available from programs at the federal, state (e.g., Natural Resources
Agency: Strategic Growth Council Urban Greening and CA Urban Rivers Grant Programs and
CALFire: CA ReLeaf), and municipal levels. Other stakeholders include urban greening programs
such as: The City Plants Los Angeles, Sacramento Tree Foundation’s Sacramento Shade & Urban
Forest for Clean Air Project, and the Sacramento Municipal Utility District Shade Tree Program.
Location: This position will be located on the UC Davis campus and will be placed in the
Department of Plant Sciences with linkage to the Human Ecology Department. This linkage will
facilitate collaborations with the programs in Environmental Horticulture, Landscape Architecture
and Environmental Design, and Human and Community Development.
Developed and Proposed by: This position proposal was developed by the UC Davis Department of
Plant Sciences in consultation and collaboration with the UC Davis Department of Human Ecology
Landscape Architecture +Environmental Design, the UC ANR Environmental Horticulture Program
Team, UC Davis California Center for Urban Horticulture, Foothill Associates, and Wildlands Inc.