BES is one of 26 research programs established by the National Science Foundation to study ecological systems over long time periods. Only two of these Long Term Ecological Research (LTER) projects are headquartered in urban areas. The research being conducted by BES is innovating the way cities are viewed from both an urban planning and conservation perspective.
In his award acceptance speech, Dr. Pickett noted, "As human populations concentrate more and more in cities, both the promise and the risk of urban systems increase dramatically. I hope that an improved ecological understanding of cities can help make our urban areas more attractive places, thereby reducing the pressures on conservation in wild and rural lands. I also hope this understanding improves biodiversity in cities, and helps them perform more of the ecological work needed for their support."
To learn more about the Baltimore Ecosystem Study, visit http://www.beslter.org/
CERC is a not-for-profit consortium that includes Columbia University, the Wildlife Conservation Society, the Wildlife Trust, the New York Botanical Garden, and the American Museum of Natural History. The organization's goal is to build the leadership and knowledge needed to curb the loss of biodiversity and environmental sustainability worldwide.