Jimma Institute of Technology Department of Architecture: Arch 3351: Urban Ecology

JIMMA INSTITUTE OF TECHNOLOGY
DEPARTMENT OF ARCHITECTURE
ARCH 3351: URBAN ECOLOGY
 SESSION I, 2023
 INSTRUCTOR: MICHAEL MENBERU
WHAT IS ECOLOGY ???
Eugene P. Odum
“He prefer to define ecology as:
The study of the structure and function of ecosystems or …..

The study of the structure and function of nature.”
ECOSYSTEM FUNCTION
In ecology, ecosystem function is the ability of earth’s processes to sustain life

over a long period of time. Biodiversity is essential for the functioning and
sustainability of an ecosystem. Different species play specific functions, and
changes in species composition, species richness, and functional type affect
the efficiency with which resources are processed within an ecosystem.
In these systems, disturbance is highly frequent and succession can occur

through multiple pathways. Resilience depends on the distribution, abundance,
and dynamic interactions of species.
ECOSYSTEM ???
"Living organisms ( biotic) and their

nonliving ( abiotic) environment are
inseparably interrelated and interact upon each
other.
i.e. exchange of materials between living and

nonliving parts) within the system is an
ecological system or ecosystem."
WHAT IS URBAN ???
• Urban; demographic
• Urban; political/administrative
• Urban; economic
• Urban; availability of service and
amenities
WAYS TO DEFINE URBAN ECOLOGY
• The aim of ‘Urban Ecology’ is to study these effects. According to Sukopp &
Wittig (1998), the term ‘Urban Ecology’ can be defined.
• as a sub discipline of biology and ecology. In this sense, urban ecology
endeavors to analyze the relationships between plant and animal populations
and their communities as well as their relationships to environmental factors
including human influences
• urban ecology is understood as a multidisciplinary approach to improving living

conditions for the human population in cities, referring to the ecological functions
of urban habitats or ecosystems for people and thus including aspects of social,
especially planning, sciences.
• From an even broader view, cities can be considered as emergent phenomena of

local-scale, dynamic interactions among socio-economic and biophysical forces.
• It investigates ecosystem services which are closely linked to patterns of urban

development (ALBERTI 2005).
• Urban ecology is an interdisciplinary field that supports societies’ attempts to
become more sustainable.
• Because of its interdisciplinary nature and unique focus on humans and natural
systems within urbanized areas, ‘urban ecology’ has been used variously to
describe the study of humans in cities, nature in cities, and the coupled
relationships of humans and nature.
URBAN ECOLOGY
• Urban ecology is the study of

ecosystems that includes humans
living in cities and urbanizing
landscapes.
• urban ecology endeavors to
analyze the relationships
between plant and animal
populations and their
communities as well as their
relationships to environmental
factors including human
influences.
URBAN ECOLOGY
• It has deep roots in many

disciplines including geography,
sociology, urban planning, urban
design, landscape, architecture,
engineering, economics,
anthropology, climatology, public
health, and ecology
URBAN ECOLOGY
WHY should we study Urban

Ecology ???
URBAN ECOLOGY
• Understanding how urban ecosystems function is integral to mitigating their

negative effects on ecosystem services, assessing their impact on neighboring
environments, and considering them in decision-making dialogue.
• Engaging urban dwellers is critical; their activities directly impact the way urban
ecosystems function and they have a vested interest in maintaining the
environmental integrity of the area they live in.
Institute for Ecosystem Studies
http://www.ecostudies.org/IES_urban_ecology.html
“URBANIZATION?”
• Is the process of
population
concentration in
urban areas.
• It is the movement
of population from
rural to urban
areas
•
WHAT IS “URBANIZATION?”
Urbanization is a process that leads to the growth of cities due to industrialization

and economic development, and that leads to urban specific changes in
specialization, labor division and human behaviors.
Due to uncontrolled urbanization in Ethiopia, environmental degradation has been

occurring very rapidly and causing many problems like shortage of housing,
worsening water quality, excessive air pollution, noise, dusts and heat, and the
problems of disposal of solid and hazardous wastes.
•
“URBANIZATION?”
1. concept of beings urbanized.

2. A way which is been followed worldwide.
3. An alternative to choose civic society.
4. Implies better facilities, development, economy,
health, education, comfort.
5. Aspiration of life.
DOES IT REALLY WORK?

•
IMPACT OF URBANIZATION
1. Impact on atmosphere and climate
• creation of heat island.
• Change in air quality.
• Change in pattern and precipitation.
2. Impact on lithosphere and land resources
• Erosion and other changes in land quality.
• Pollution.
3. Impact on hydrosphere and water resources
• Flow of water into stream.
• Flow of water through streams.
• Degrade water quality.
4. Impact on biosphere
• Modification of habitats.
• Destruction of habitats.
• Creation of new habitats.
IMPACT OF URBANIZATION THE ENVIRONMENT
QUALITY IN THE CITIES
• By concentrating humans and the

resources they consume,
metropolitan areas alter
• slum
• soil drainage,
• water flow, and
• light availability.
• energy demand
IMPACT OF URBANIZATION THE ENVIRONMENT
QUALITY IN THE CITIES
• population increment
• Change in Consumption patterns

due to technology advancement.
• huge quantities of different types

of wastes that disposed both inside
and outside the city’
• The Urbanization process must

consider the safety of the
environment in order to have a
sustainable development and one
way to achieve this is by dealing
with the wastes which are an
outcome of urbanization.
o Mitigation
measures
Before After
VARIOUS CAUSES OF URBANIZATION
• 1. Industrialization
• Industrialization is a trend representing a shift from the old agricultural economics
to a novel non-agricultural economy, which creates a modernized society. Through
the industrial revolution, more people have been attracted to move from rural to
urban areas on account of improved employment opportunities.
2. Commercialization
• Commerce and trade play a major role in urbanization. The distribution of goods
and services and commercial transactions in the modern era has developed modern
marketing institutions and exchange methods that have tremendously given rise to
the growth of towns and cities.
• 3. Social Benefits and Services

• There are numerous social benefits attributed to life in cities and towns. Examples
include better educational facilities, better living standards, better sanitation and
housing, better health care, better recreation facilities, and better social life in
general.
• 4. Employment Opportunities
• In cities and towns, there are ample job opportunities that continually draw people
from rural areas to seek a better livelihood.
• 5. Modernization and Changes in the Mode of Living

• Modernization plays a very important role in the process of urbanization. As urban
areas become more technology savvy together with highly sophisticated
communication, infrastructure, medical facilities, dressing code, enlightenment,
liberalization, and other social amenities availability, people believe they can lead a
happy life in cities.
• 6. Rural-urban Transformation
• As localities become more fruitful and prosperous due to the discovery of minerals,
resource exploitation, or agricultural activities, cities start emerging as the rural
areas transform into urbanism.
EFFECTS OF URBANIZATION ON OUR CITIES
• 1. Positive Effects of Urbanization

• Urbanization yields several positive effects if it happens within the appropriate
limits. Some of the positive implications of urbanization, therefore, include the
creation of employment opportunities, technological and infrastructural
advancements, improved transportation and communication, quality educational and
medical facilities, and improved standards of living.
• However, extensive urbanization mostly results in adverse effects. Below listed
points are a few of them.
• 2. Housing Problems
• Urbanization attracts people to cities and towns which leads to a high population
increase. With the increase in the number of people living in urban centers, there is a
continued scarcity of houses.
• 3. Overcrowding
• Overcrowding is a situation whereby a huge number of people live in a small space.
This form of congestion in urban areas is consistent because of overpopulation and
it is an aspect that increases day by day as more people and immigrants move into
cities and towns in search of a better life.
• 4. Unemployment
• The problem of joblessness is highest in urban areas and it is even higher among
educated people. It is estimated that more than half of unemployed youths around
the globe live in metropolitan cities.
• 5. Development of Slums
• The cost of living in urban areas is very high. When this is combined with random
and unexpected growth as well as unemployment, there is the spread of unlawful
resident settlements represented by slums and squatters.
• 6. Water and Sanitation Problems
• Because of overpopulation and rapid population increase in most urban centers, it is
common to find there are inadequate sewage facilities.
• 7. Poor Health and Spread of Diseases
• The social, economic and living conditions in congested urban areas affects access
and utilization of public health care services.
• 8. Traffic Congestion
• When more people move to towns and cities, one of the major challenges posed is in
the transport system. More people means an increased number of vehicles which
leads to traffic congestion and vehicular pollution.
• 9. Urban Crime
• Issues of lack of resources, overcrowding, unemployment, poverty, and lack of
social services and education habitually lead to many social problems including
violence, drug abuse, and crime.
WASTES BECAUSE OF URBANIZATION
• Municipal Waste
• from house hold, institutions and
commercials (garbage ,trash ,bulky
wastes..)
• Industrial Waste
• waste from municipal function and
services (water and waste water
sludge ,demolition and construction
waste….)
• Agricultural Waste
•
MITIGATION MEASURES
o Mitigation
Precautionary measures
minimizing the risks by taking action even before the damage is known
measures
Cleaner production
internalizing and integrating environmental considerations in to various

policies and developmental processes.
Environmental impact Assessment (EIA)
Identify the effect of an existing or proposed factory or development on the

environment. Forming environmental laws and policies
Waste dumps, landfills

MITIGATION MEASURES
A better reliable solution for the problem of municipal solid waste

generation. methods include
 WASTE COLLECTION
 SEGREGATION
 RECYCLING
 SHREDDING or PULVERIZING
 COMPOSTING
SOLUTIONS TO URBANIZATION
1. Building Sustainable and Environmentally-friendly Cities
Governments should pass laws that plan and provide environmentally sound cities
and smart growth techniques, considering that people should not reside in unsafe and
polluted areas. The objective here is to build sustainable cities that embrace
improved environmental conditions and safe habitats for all urban populations.
2. Provision of Essential Services
Urban stakeholders must ensure all populations within the urban areas have access to
adequate essential social services namely education, health, sanitation and clean
water, technology, electricity, and food.
SOLUTIONS TO URBANIZATION
3. Creation of More Jobs
To lessen the negative effects of rapid urbanization while at the same time
conserving natural ecosystems, private investments should be encouraged so as to
utilize natural resources and create more job opportunities.
• Tourism promotion and the sustainable exploitation of natural resources can create
more jobs for urban populations.
4. Population Control
Key stakeholders in urban areas must provide campaigns and counseling for effective
medical health clinics and family planning to help reduce the high rates of population
growth.
THANK YOU FOR YOUR
ATTENTION !!

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JIMMA INSTITUTE OF TECHNOLOGY

ARCH 3351: URBAN ECOLOGY

“He prefer to define ecology as:

The study of the structure and function of ecosystems or …..

In ecology, ecosystem function is the ability of earth’s processes to sustain life

In these systems, disturbance is highly frequent and succession can occur

"Living organisms ( biotic) and their

i.e. exchange of materials between living and

• urban ecology is understood as a multidisciplinary approach to improving living

• From an even broader view, cities can be considered as emergent phenomena of

• It investigates ecosystem services which are closely linked to patterns of urban

• Urban ecology is the study of

• It has deep roots in many

WHY should we study Urban

• Understanding how urban ecosystems function is integral to mitigating their

Urbanization is a process that leads to the growth of cities due to industrialization

Due to uncontrolled urbanization in Ethiopia, environmental degradation has been

1. concept of beings urbanized.

DOES IT REALLY WORK?

• By concentrating humans and the

• water flow, and

• Change in Consumption patterns

• huge quantities of different types

• The Urbanization process must

• 3. Social Benefits and Services

• 5. Modernization and Changes in the Mode of Living

• 1. Positive Effects of Urbanization

internalizing and integrating environmental considerations in to various

Environmental impact Assessment (EIA)

Identify the effect of an existing or proposed factory or development on the

Waste dumps, landfills

A better reliable solution for the problem of municipal solid waste

1. Building Sustainable and Environmentally-friendly Cities

2. Provision of Essential Services

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