Using the Levels-of-Organization Concept to Establish Context and Consequence In Planning Depictions Ashwani Vasishth California State University, Northridge ACSP 2007, Milwaukee, WI

Descriptions Matter How we choose to make depictions of complex systems affects what we can see of context and consequence, and so affects outcomes Complex systems are best conceptualized as being arranged into nested levels of organization

Elements of An Ecosystem Approach Processes Boundaries Scales Purpose Perspective

Properties of An Ecosystem Approach Nested Assembly Scale-hierarchic Levels of Organization Rate-dependant Boundaries Purposive Descriptions Scale-dependent Structuring Functional Associations

An ecosystem approach based on nested scale-hierarchic process-function ecology offers the most effective basis for making robust descriptions under complexity

Nested Systems Bossel, H Assessing Viability and Sustainability: A Systems-Based Approach for Deriving Comprehensive Indicator Sets. Conservation Ecology, 5(2): 12.

Nested Structures O’Neill, Robert V. et al A Hierarchical Concept of Ecosystems. Princeton, NJ: Princeton University Press. p.131

Nested Scale Hierarchy

Levels of Organization Allen, Timothy F.H. & Thomas W.l Hoekstra Toward A Unified Ecology. New York: Columbia University Press. p. 30

South Coast Goods Movement: Levels of Organization Supra-system System of Concern Sub-system

In One Meaningful Sense, Globalization Is the Externalization of Environmental Health Costs By the Rich, Onto the Poor

Toxic Pollution and Life Expectancy In a memo dated December 12, 1991, Lawrence H. Summers, then Chief Economist at the World Bank, is said to have suggested that toxic industries be relocated to nations with the lowest life expectancies and the lowest wages We ’ ve done just that!

Local Impacts of Globalization The globalization of production means a huge increase in international goods movement Diesel-powered ships, trucks and trains are what we use to move these goods Diesel exhaust is highly toxic

The Hidden Costs of American Consumerism Communities residing and working around goods movement nodes and facilities pay a high price in health impacts too

Ranking of US Container Ports

Diesel Rail Engines Belch Smoke

Truck Traffic On the I-710 Freeway

Freeways Serving the San Pedro Port Complex

Estimated Cancer Risk for the South Coast Air Basin Excess Cases per Million Population

Residential Land Uses Industrial Land Uses

Houses Abut the I-710 Freeway Los Angeles River

Proximity to Freeway A Factor In Pollution Concentrations Zhu, Yifang & William C. Hinds & Seongheon Kim & Si Shen & Constantinos Sioutas “Study of Ultrafine Particles Near A Major Highway With Heavy-Duty Diesel Traffic,” Atmospheric Environment, 36 (2002) 4323–4335

Recommended Buffer Zones for New Construction California Air Resources Board recommends a 300 to 1,700 foot downwind buffer between freeways and human activity “Sensitive Receptors” should be sited at least 500 feet away when downwind from freeways No recommendations for existing structures CARB (California Air Resources Board) Air Quality and Land Use Handbook: A Community Health Perspective. Sacramento, CA: California Air Resources Board.

Conventional Depictions Are Confrontational Community groups and the Port Administration depict one another in oppositional roles, with State and Regional governmental agencies playing mediative roles Non-profit groups tend to align themselves in activist roles alongside communities and against the Ports

Consequences of Confrontational Depictions Given the oppositional characterization of roles, the debate is primarily limited to issues of physical growth in port activity Community groups seek to limit growth, Port authorities seek to expand growth, and that sets the modalities for the discourse

Depiction as Nested Levels of Organization Allows all relevant processes and functions to be kept in play, with associations and relationships shown in their actual configurations and strengths Allows effects to be traced across levels of organization, with adjustments for benefits and disbenefits at different levels to be affected more directly

South Coast Goods Movement: Levels of Organization Supra-system System of Concern Sub-system

Benefits and Disbenefits Benefits are clustered primarily at the sub-system and supra-system levels of organization Disbenefits are concentrated primarily at the system level of organization

South Coast Goods Movement: Levels of Organization Supra-system System of Concern Sub-system

Redistribution of Benefits Some small portion of the benefits accruing to the manufacturing, shipping, logistics and consumer markets should be redirected to remediate the adverse impacts at the neighborhood level of organization

Integrative Ecosystem Approach Identification of properties most at risk Design of buffer zones, using urban forestry and landscape elements Redesign of neighborhoods using transit- oriented smart growth sorts of urban design strategies, to accommodate potentially displaced families within their current neighborhoods, where possible Accelerated turnover of truck and rail fleets toward low-sulfur diesel and alternative fuels

Ashwani Vasishth Department of Urban Studies and Planning California State University, Northridge (818)