The social and economic decisions made in a city can shape the character of that city for decades, even centuries to come. Some of the most profound contrasts in any urban area -- the location of good vs. poor housing, healthy living conditions vs. localized pollution, great schools vs. terrible ones -- have their roots in racist policies and attitudes. Historical inequality can also shape the natural environment of a city, and the plants and animals that call the city home. Eric Wood studies how practices in Los Angeles like redlining shaped where birds and other wildlife are found today.
Dr. Eric Wood is an associate professor of Avian and Urban Ecology in the Biological Sciences Department at Cal State LA, and a Research Associate in the Department of Ornithology at the Natural History Museum of Los Angeles County.