Linking ecological and social systems for sustainability of urban development (ECOLINK)

Background and description of the project
Objectives and methods
Expected results
Performers of the ECOLINK research project

Background and the description of the project

ECOLINK consortium, funded by the Helsinki University Environmental Research Unit, includes two interlinked projects: (a) Linking ecological and social urban systems, and (b) The Sea and the City – environmental history of pollution and protection of urban sea area of Helsinki in the 20^th century. The focus here is explicitly on the subproject (a) Linking ecological and social urban systems. Also, the word ECOLINK here refers to the subproject (a) in particular. More information about the subproject (b) can be found on The Sea and The Cities www-pages.

The research is based on the notion that in the traditionally divided scientific community, scientists usually study either ecological systems or social systems, yet the need for an interdisciplinary approach to the problems of environmental management is becoming increasingly obvious. The overall significance of this research is that it will link ecological and social systems in the urban setting in order to create a holistic view of sustainable development in cities. The close collaboration between researchers and end-users (e.g. the City of Helsinki) ensures that results can be quickly applied. The innovation is the integration of social science and ecology science approach, which is rarely applied in environmental research in cities. A potential theoretical and conceptual framework for combining social and ecological systems is the ‘human ecosystem model’, which identifies social components and processes where connections to ecological processes and structures exist.

Objectives and methods

More specifically, the research will focus on three, interlinked questions:

(1) In what ways can ecological and social science approaches be integrated to sustainable development of urban areas?

This research will be based on literature, interviews and discussions with researchers, managers, planners and political decision makers in the Finnish urban settings. Studying the subject matter is in progress, since it is extremely important to get familiar with the wide spectrum of publications and perspectives from this highly multidisciplinary research subject.

(2) How is ecological information integrated in today’s city planning, and what is the relation of ecological information to other information used in city planning?

Particular areas in Helsinki metropolitan area that are currently being developed and planned as a part of a master plan will be selected as case studies. Theoretical and conceptual framework combining social and ecological systems will be based on these small-scale case studies and other information collected. Nevertheless, the whole city level will work as an umbrella for the research.

(3) Can local and experiential ecological knowledge guide the sustainable management and planning of urban systems?

A literature study about the participatory planning, particularly the role of ecology in it, will be done. Suitable research methods will be developed to learn more about ecological knowledge of citizens and the usefulness of this knowledge in planning of urban areas. Interviews will be conducted in the selected case study areas mentioned in the previous passage in order to find out how citizen participation in planning is working in the eyes of citizens and planners.

Expected results

The research will provide valuable, multidisciplinary understanding of the links between ecology and social structure within the city. The research results will provide applicable information for city planners and decision-makers and thus improve collaboration among ecologists and social scientists to study urban issues. The research will also produce several research publications and a good part of PhD thesis.

Performers of the ECOLINK research project

Principal investigator: MSc Vesa Yli-Pelkonen, PhD student

Department of Ecology and Systematics
P.O. Box 65 (Viikinkaari 1)
FIN-00014 University of Helsinki
Tel: +358-(0)9-19157911, Mobile: +358-(0)50-5869166,
Fax: +358-(0)9-19157694
E-mail: vesa.yli-pelkonen@helsinki.fi

Project leader: professor Jari Niemelä
Department of Ecology and Systematics
P.O. Box 65 (Viikinkaari 1)
FIN-00014 University of Helsinki
Tel: +358-(0)9-19157849, Fax: +358-(0)9-19157847
E-mail: jari.niemela@helsinki.fi

ECOLINK research project is supported and supervised by the multidisciplinary ECOLINK steering group, which consists of following persons:

Professor Jari Niemelä (University of Helsinki, Department of Ecology and Systematics): professor of urban ecology, leader of the research team.

Director Pekka Kansanen (the Environmental Centre of the City of Helsinki): PhD in ecology, ecology expert representing the City of Helsinki.

Professor Peter Clark (University of Helsinki, Department of History): professor of urban history, historical perspective on the development of cities.

Research professor Harry Schulman (City of Helsinki Urban Facts): PhD in geography, expert in rural fringe and urban sprawl issues from geographical perspective representing the city of Helsinki.

Licenciate of Social Sciences Johanna Kohl (University of Helsinki, Department of Social Policy), expert in linking social science and ecology.

Researchers of The Sea and the Cities project are:

PhD Simo Laakkonen (University of Helsinki, Department of Social Science History, Economic and Social History)

MSc Sari Laurila (University of Helsinki, Department of Social Science History, Economics and Social History)