Accessing Urban Nature Initiative

By 2050, nearly 70% of the global population is expected to live in urban areas. Though cities are built for people, diverse communities of wildlife also inhabit them. Research shows that a connection to nature can enhance human health and strengthen community engagement, yet many Philadelphia residents lack access to these benefits. Our goal is to foster a sense of stewardship and curiosity about the natural world across Penn and throughout the city, enhancing the human-animal interaction in an urban ecosystem.

Our partners represent Penn institutions, Philadelphia schools, and nonprofit organizations that engage in informal science education. Partners provide an area on their property to set up one or more cameras for image collection. They will have access to data, curriculum guides, and programming on urban wildlife and ecosystems, along with a network of environmental and animal science partners and colleagues. The project provides a unique opportunity for real-world, hands-on environmental science that strengthens the human connection to nature and animals.

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Significance

The Accessing Urban Nature Initiative addresses pressing global challenges related to biodiversity and climate, and it facilitates hands-on engagement in data-driven research and applications, strengthening connections between Penn and its neighbors, both locally and globally. By partnering with the UWIN, we can contribute to ecological questions of global relevance, including: How do climate change and urbanization shape ecosystems across cities? And what barriers exist to building cities that support functional wildlife communities? This initiative will inform urban wildlife and human vulnerability to environmental changes and encourage community participation in science. By integrating our communities,’ partners,’ and agencies’ cultural capital to strengthen the bond between residents and nature, we will foster empathy while empowering local stewardship.