SS 12: Enhancing Urban Ecosystems in Los Angeles: How Research Can Inform Plans, Policies and Projects that Address Green Infrastructure in Cities

Session Organizer(s)

• Kat Superfisky

  City of Los Angeles
  Los Angeles, CA, USA

Volunteer(s)

• Adounke Mahugnon Gilles Renaud

  wildlife Ecology, Laboratory of Applied Ecology
  Abomey Calavi, Benin

Urban areas play an essential role in advancing conservation goals. As a megacity located in one of 36 Global Biodiversity Hotspots, Los Angeles (L.A.) is uniquely positioned to have a significant impact on the health and resilience of ecosystems and biodiversity. Conservation research and practice in an urban context like L.A. must consider not only ecological systems, but also the socio-political, cultural, and economic systems that are inextricably linked to the environment. Enlisting the help and support of people in achieving conservation goals in urban areas is essential. “The aim is to create a virtuous cycle that will be the engine for continued accrual of the benefits to both people and nature, by mainstreaming conservation so it becomes a part of and product of business as usual” (Morrison, 2016).
This session will present the Virtuous Cycle framework (Morrison, 2016) and showcase examples focused on green infrastructure in the urban core of L.A. that illustrate the power of creating regenerative cycles. The session will highlight the importance of public-private partnerships and how local government, researchers and nonprofits can coordinate efforts to move from status quo to a desired future state. Presenters will address what types of stakeholders should be involved, how to manage complex collaborations, and demonstrate how to create socio-ecological systems and catalyze connections. As the virtuous cycle can be applied at various scales, local to global, attendees will learn how to incorporate the framework into their day-to-day work and broaden collaborations to achieve urban conservation goals.

Presentations:

• ON DEMAND

  Community engagement mobilizes a neighborhood in eradicating a non-native lizard
  

  Presenting Author: Gregory Pauly – Herpetology, Natural History Museum of Los Angeles County
• ON DEMAND

  Connecting Los Angeles through the integration of socio-ecological systems
  

  Presenting Author: Kat Superfisky – City of Los Angeles
• ON DEMAND

  L.A. STEW-MAP: Examining the who? where? how? of environmental stewardship in Los Angeles
  

  Presenting Author: Michele Romolini – Center for Urban Resilience, Loyola Marymount University
• ON DEMAND

  Leveraging tree canopy data to engage communities in urban forestry decision-making
  

  Presenting Author: Edith de Guzman – University of California, Los Angeles
• ON DEMAND

  Planting stormwater solutions: A methodology for siting nature-based solutions for pollution capture, habitat enhancement, and multiple health benefits
  

  Presenting Author: Sophie S. Parker – The Nature Conservancy
• ON DEMAND

  The influence of historic and current land-use on avian communities in an urban ecosystem
  

  Presenting Author: Eric Wood – California State University Los Angeles
• ON DEMAND

  The Los Angeles City Biodiversity Index
  

  Presenting Author: Michelle Barton – LA Sanitation and Environment, City of Los Angeles