The global human population has grown considerably in the last 100 year and mostly lives in urban environments, but we are just starting to study towns and cities as ecosystems. There is even less knowledge from the tropics, where the ecological-social mechanisms that shape urban ecosystems are poorly known. UNED’s Laboratory of Urban Ecology investigates the interrelation of a series of human, biotic and abiotic factors in towns and cities, as well as their impact on distant, natural ecosystems.

The comprehensive study of urban ecosystems gives society  tools to take decisions that lead to a healthy and sustainable environment. The Urban Ecology Laboratory was created by Dr. Zaidett Barrientos Llosa in July 2008; it is a research unit, but is closely linked to teaching and university extension.

Students, mainly from the Academic Master’s Degree in Natural Resources Management, obtain support and guidance for the development of their theses. In addition, we share the results of our research with the scientific community, general public and decision-makers (including municipal councils).