Urban Systems: A Socio-Ecological System Perspective

Urban areas are hot spots of complex and dynamic interactions between society and ecosystems. Studies on such areas, however, have partially captured the coupled socio-ecological nature of urban environments. To address this gap, we examine the ways natural and social scientists have defined, developed and implemented research on urban environments. We discuss how these literatures set the foundation and explicitly advance urban studies through the lens of urban socio-ecological systems. By bringing these literatures together we forge a common ground between scholarly communities and foster cross-fertilization between researchers working on cities. A better understanding of the commonalities and differences of these disciplines in approaching urban environments is the first step toward opening corridors for new lines of discussions that better encompass the role played by urban socio-ecological systems in shaping changes and long-term sustainability.