What is (Urban) “Nature” ?

Online Definitions of “Nature”

For the purpose of the restorative goals of Nature in the City, a clear definition of the term “nature” is critical. Let's take a series of steps to establish our definition of “urban nature," guided by our shared history of human/rest-of-nature interaction and co-evolution:

STEP 1.  “Nature” is everything in the universe including human beings.

STEP 2.  Human beings are a unique species, Homo sapiens, which coevolved with the Earth and all other members of the planet's web of life.

STEP 3.  While humans are not separate from nature, we are spectacularly unique in our ability to transform Earth so radically so quickly.

STEP 4.  Much of the human transformation and interaction with Earth has been destructive to the evolved complex ecological systems within which humans and other species are interconnected and interdependent including our evolved unique and inherently intimate relationship with nature.

STEP 5.  The same destructive transformation applies to our local “urban nature”, i.e., local species and habitats that have coevolved in our local watersheds. Thus, “nature in the city" includes all locally evolved elements of the urban environment, places where remnants of local ecological communities persist, and humans and other species that are now interconnected with these physical elements and places.

Which “Urban Nature” concerns Nature in the City?

In spite of the destruction of most of the wildlands of the City, a biodiversity of indigenous birds, reptiles and amphibians, endangered butterflies, and mammals endure in local habitats in the City's watersheds. The City contains wonderful natural resources including rare plant and wildlife habitats, unique geologic formations, rocky intertidal habitats, lush natural seeps, lakes, perennial springs and creeks.

We typically refer to our discrete little jewels of native plant communities, wildlife habitats or rocky outcrops as “Natural Areas." These places are very special indeed, since they provide a window into San Francisco's wild past and to its possible future. They are where the most precious and fragile members of our local ecosystem reside, namely rare and endangered plants and animals. Our unique natural areas are our highest priority for conservation and restoration of San Francisco's watersheds and threatened biodiversity. They are important refuges for  people to experience interconnectedness and solace.

As defined above, “urban nature” is not restricted to "natural areas." More broadly speaking, returning to the idea of the City painted onto the ancient landscape and to the fact that urban places are embedded in the natural environment, we realize that San Francisco resides in a distinct ecosystem on the Earth, and thus has become part of the natural ecological community of this place. The modern cityscape of backyards, buildings, utility lines, fences, piers, and, yes, eucalyptus forests, are part of “natural” San Francisco. All of these features provide habitat for wildlife and even some native plants.

Thus, restating the definition at which we arrived in STEP 5 above:

“Nature in the city” or “urban nature” includes all locally evolved biological, ecological, and physical phenomena that have persisted, adapted, or recovered through the period of intense urban development in San Francisco, and humans and other species with which these phenomena are now interconnected through all forms of interaction including habitat restoration and stewardship.

One of the most inspiring examples of these “urban nature dwellers” is the American peregrine falcon, which has adapted to life among the skyscrapers, where it raises young and from which it makes forays to hunt for pigeons and other small birds and mammals.

Visit Wildlife in the City to learn much more about other intriguing ways our indigenous wildlife have adapted to the modern cityscape

The word "nature" has many definitions and encompasses many concepts. One scholar called it “perhaps the most complex word in the language” (Williams, 1976). For some heady analysis of the term "nature," go no further than the Dictionary of Human Geography. Historical, social geographical, normative, wilderness, marxist - take your pick of perspectives there.

In his new book, Last Child in the Woods, Richard Louv invokes Gary Snyder's affection with the poet John Milton's phrase, 'a wilderness of sweets', in which is embedded the richness and bounty of "nature" together with its chaos, uncertainity and wonder. Since Louv's work focuses on children, he emphasizes that "nature is reflected in our capacity for wonder" (Louv, 2005).

References:

Johnston, R.J., Gregory, D., & Smith, D.M. 1994. The Dictionary of Human Geography. Oxford. Blackwell.

Louv, R. 2005. Last Child in the Woods: Saving Our Children From Nature Deficit Disorder. Chapel Hill. Algonquin Books.

Williams, R. 1976. Keywords: a vocabulary of society and nature. London: Fontana.