Red Emma’s

How can we make sure people living in urban environments have a high quality of life—good health, a safe environment, stable communities free of violence, and opportunities to prosper. How can we ensure that our booming cities don’t poison the planet with their waste? And how can we encourage the urban sustainability, resilience, and innovation that are essential for addressing global environmental issues such as climate change? The Baltimore School of Urban Ecology lays out a new approach to understanding the ecology of cities. The authors challenge the idea that cities are ecologically pathological. Rather, they view cities as complex ecosystems that fully encompass human social interactions in addition to trees, waterways, and green spaces.  J. Morgan Grove is Team Leader and Research Scientist at the Baltimore Field Station, USDA Forest Service.     Steward T. A. Pickett is Distinguished Senior Scientist, Cary Institute of Ecosystem Studies, Millbrook, N.Y.   Freeman A. Hrabowski III is President of the University of Maryland, Baltimore County.