D. PatakiNov 10, 20201 minThe need for an ethical code for waterFor the last 18 months an intrepid and international group of urbanists, activists, and researchers has been meeting regularly to the dis...
D. PatakiAug 17, 20205 minCOVID-19 and the return of the sanitary cityOutbreaks of disease in the19th and early 20th century shaped the design of modern cities and parks.
D. PatakiAug 7, 20204 minUrban greening highlights from the Ecological Society of AmericaMany new advances in greening science made their debut at the 2020 ESA annual meeting.
D. PatakiJul 30, 20206 minUnlocking greening science through the study of “cultigens”Lawn grasses, tree cultivars, and other ornamental plant "cultigens" are what most urban greenspace is made of.
D. PatakiJul 24, 20206 minWhat's the role of ornamental and cultivated garden plants in cities?The ecology of plants that have been hybridized or bred is far less studied than “naturally” occurring species.
D. PatakiApr 16, 20204 minEarthquakes, pandemics, and cherry blossoms in Salt Lake City, UtahI started this blog to chronicle urban greening issues around the world and made it as far as Australia before the pandemic crisis struck.
D. PatakiMar 9, 20204 minLife past the tipping point in Western SydneyFor one day during the bushfires, Penrith, NSW was declared the hottest place on the planet.
D. PatakiFeb 25, 20204 minWhen greening doesn't deliver: The case of trees and air qualityGreening isn't always the most effective solution to pressing urban problems. But that doesn't mean the problems can't be solved.
D. PatakiFeb 5, 20204 minIs green infrastructure still experimental?Does the call for more experimentation mean that green infrastructure still needs more testing than grey infrastructure?
D. PatakiJan 29, 20204 minWhy are U.S. cities still irrigating with drinking water?After the Millennium drought, Australian cities found other ways to irrigate parks, gardens, and landscapes, and so can we.
D. PatakiJan 20, 20204 minGreener and denser cities - The Australian School of Urban Forestry, Part IIWith more high density and mixed-used buildings crowded into urban areas, where will all the trees go?
D. PatakiJan 10, 20204 minTrees that answer fan mail and other tales from the Australian School of Urban Forestry, Part IYou don't just need expertise or experience to be an effective steward of urban trees. You need a network.
D. PatakiJan 5, 20204 minPeople want action on rising temperatures in Australian cities. Can urban trees help?The catastrophic bushfires are a terrible reminder that adapting to climate change won't be enough. Here's how urban trees can help
D. PatakiJan 1, 20203 minSolutions-oriented ecology: Thoughts from the other ESA (and a platypus!) American universities are still struggling to evaluate and reward practical, use-inspired, and community engaged research on solutions to...
D. PatakiDec 30, 20193 minThe green dilemma for arid citiesShould arid cities plant more trees in a hotter and drier world? The science of “socioecohydrology” aims to find out.
D. PatakiDec 30, 20192 minNew decade, new blogAt this site I'll be posting non-technical summaries of new projects in urban greening from my lab, my colleagues, and the people I'm meetin