Applied Urban Ecology: A Global Framework

This book is based on a five-year study Urban ecology - an international comparison and investigations into research questions at a number of large research institutes. Thus, the book covers a range of recent approaches to urban ecology. It bridges the gap between theory and practice and presents a broad spectrum of recent urban ecology approaches from systems research to environmentally sound urban design, exemplified by selected case studies from different continents. Experts have been engaged from China, Great Britain, Germany, India, Netherlands, New Zealand, Switzerland, South Africa, and the US. The contributor list includes a selection of well known key academics and a selection of promising young scientists. This book is conceived as an advanced textbook, based on original scientific papers, but put in a coherent and logically structured framework. Fundamental knowledge of up-to-date urban ecology topics are combined with short summaries for each chapter, accompanied by additional interesting facts (lessons to learn) and literature links for readers seeking further information. Furthermore, contextual knowledge of intrinsic values and goals of different urban ecological projects are provided.