Urban ecology: Concepts, preconcepts and postconcepts

Abstract

The world is becoming more and more complex in a predominantly urban reality, amid increasing multidisciplinary issues and particularly entangled challenges. Today there are already almost thirty cities with more than 10 million inhabitants. Considering a world population of approximately 7.5 billion people, about 54% of that total live in urban areas.Cities must be seen as ecological entities, with a strong predominance of anthropic action. In fact, many scientists claim that there is probably no place on earth fully protected from human influence. A clear understanding of the distinction between "ecology of the city” and "ecology in the city" provided more rigorous and tangible views of the planet. There are many environmental, biological and social problems and they require specific analyses (ecosystemic) structured within a reliable theoretical basis.The present work will trace the evolution of the expression “urban ecology” and will discuss topics, from various approaches and different points of view related to the proposed ideas of concepts, preconcepts and postconcepts.