Cornell Urban Sustainability Initiative: Developing a MillionTreesNYC Research Agenda Situation Theory Paradox Action To create a coupled-systems research program that leads to better understanding and practice related to urban tree planting and related sustainability efforts in cities. Coupled Human-Natural Systems A coupled systems approach to urban sustainability implies integrating: human outcomes… people’s attachment to the city (sense of place), stewardship behaviors, social connectedness, and physical and mental health; and ecological outcomes… ecosystem services, biodiversity. Outcomes and Next Steps Image Credits: Alex Kudryavtsev, Daylife.com, International Monetary Fund, Millenium Ecosystem Assessment It’s the responsibility of our city’s corporations and foundations, developers, block associations, policymakers, home owners and renters – all New Yorkers – to create a million living, growing legacies that will enhance our beloved city and sustain the world for generations to come. New York City has always been a place of big dreams and big ideas – and our Administration has never been afraid to embrace them. Over the next decade, with our friends at the New York Restoration Project, we are going to plant an unprecedented one million new trees across the City. Big Question Given claims about urban trees “sustaining the world for generations to come,” how can we gather evidence of social, economic, and ecological outcomes of urban tree planting? Research Questions Do urban trees contribute to ecosystem services and human well-being? Does engagement in tree planting lead to greater tree survival and to positive stewardship attitudes and behaviors in cities? air quality nutrient cycling carbon sequestration stewardship behaviors social cohesion education sense of place recreation human health water retention Cornell Collaborators Marianne Krasny and Keith Tidball (Natural Resources): PIs Nina Bassuk (Horticulture), Shorna Broussard Allred (Natural Resources), Janis Dickinson (Cornell Laboratory of Ornithology), Gretchen Ferenz (Cornell Cooperative Extension-NYC), Stephan Schmidt (City & Regional Planning), Richard Stedman (Natural Resources), David Weinstein (Natural Resources), Nancy Wells (Design & Environmental Analysis), Thomas Whitlow (Horticulture), Ke “Max” Zhang (Mechanical & Aerospace Engineering) NYC Partners Christine Alfsen (UNESCO), Lindsay Campbell (US Forest Service), Cristiana Fragola (MillionTreesNYC, PlaNYC), Susan Gooberman (Trees NY), Jacqueline Lu (Parks & Recreation), Megan Shane (NY Restoration Project), Erika Svendsen (US Forest Service) MillionTrees-NYC Research Areas Ecosystem Services: Local Air Quality and Urban Heat Island* Ecosystem Services: Water Quality, Stormwater Management Economic Impacts: Quantifying Return on Investment Education* Effective Stewardship* Human Health and Well-Being* Reforestation Dynamics and Forest Health* Green Jobs & Social Justice Biodiversity and Ecological Communities Green Infrastructure* Implications of Scale* At the March 2009 MillionTreesNYC workshop, over 120 researchers and practitioners developed an urban sustainability research agenda. Cornell faculty provided leadership in planning the workshop and are involved in research areas marked by asterisk. Larger Vision Cornell has expanded its presence in NYC, through developing ongoing collaborations with MillionTreesNYC government and non-profit partners.. Current efforts: Participation on planning team of the March 2010 MillionTreesNYC Research Symposium. Participation on Advisory Committee for NYC Urban Long-term Research Area Exploratory project (NSF and USDA funded). Leadership for Stockholm Resilience Centre NYC Urban Node Cornell as lead organization for UNESCO NYC Urban Biosphere Cornell Urban Sustainability Working Group Future efforts: Develop partnerships with private sector Develop additional funding proposals to carry out research agenda Grow and sustain the Cornell Urban Sustainability Working Group From a sustainability point of view, cities are viewed negatively because of their huge environmental footprints. Yet city mayors are becoming leaders in sustainability. Witness Mayor Bloomberg’s MillionTreesNYC initiative …