An Urban Nature Network
Ecosystems and cultures are composed of interconnected and interdependent communities. Our local ecosystem or bioregional web of life, like the global environment, is a complex dynamical system, interconnected by an infinite network of ecological relationships. Our local human community is similarly interconnected by a complex and dynamic network of social relationships.
The ecological restoration movement in San Francisco is already a vibrant network of individuals and organizations interacting with our local nature in revolutionarily new and restorative ways. People identify as "local nature lovers" differently. But stewards, naturalists, advocates, educators, and soon, civic leaders, share commonality in that they all recognize that we have nature in the city - and that we can interact positively, harmoniously and sustainably with urban nature and biodiversity.
We envision a much stronger and more organized community network that:
- physically stewards our natural areas and local biodiversity,
- educates the public about local nature and our interconnectedness with the global environment,
- advocates for stronger legal ecosystem protection and more comprehensive ecological restoration, and
- embodies a healthy culture of proactive, positive and restorative ecological stewardship, which becomes how we humans interact with our environment.
Nature in the City hopes to create a backbone of support for co-evolving community cultural ecological partnerships. Facilitating communication, co-education and collaboration over the ever-expanding network of San Francisco's ecological stewardship community, and creating a shared identity and sense of community interconnectedness and interdependence will be key to urban ecological sustainability.
