National Park Service - Center for Urban Ecology

The Center for Urban Ecology (CUE) identifies and responds to the natural resource needs of the National Capital Region (NCR), located in the Washington, D.C. metropolitan area. The CUE staff focuses on urban ecology within the matrix of the region's nationally significant natural and cultural resources. Through science, service, and partnerships, CUE assists managers in understanding, protecting, and restoring natural resources for future generations.

With the continued development and population growth throughout the area, natural resources are fragmented within urban and suburban landscapes, and are often highly impacted. CUE has the unique ability to advise, manage, and support projects at both the national and regional level through a professional interdisciplinary team that provides comprehensive science and technical support to park resource managers.

The Center for Urban Ecology's mission, as an interdisciplinary team, is to provide scientific guidance, technical assistance and education for the preservation, conservation and enhancement of park resources within urbanizing landscapes.

	Air
	Monitors air quality to evaluate pollution impacts on park resources, human health, and scenic views.

	Chesapeake Watershed Cooperative Ecosystem Studies Unit
	Develops partnersips with academic and other institutions to address resource issues.

	Ecology
	Provides guidance to parks on ecosystem-based resource management.

	Exotic Plant Management
	Surveys and implements treatments for invasive non-native populations.

	Geology and Soils
	Identifies and describes signifigant geological and soil features for park and regional planning.

	Horticultural Landscapes
	Provides guidance on the management of sustainable horticultural landscapes.

	Integrated Pest Management
	Solves pest problems using effective low risk methods to protect visitors, resources, and the environment.

	Inventory & Monitoring
	Documents species present in parks and conducts long-term monitoring for selected natural resource indicators' trends (vital signs).

	Threatened and Endangered Species
	Assists and facilitates projects for federally endanagered species research and recovery.

	Urban Ecology Research Learning Alliance
	Facilitates scientific research and science education in the parks and communicates research findings.

	Vegetation
	Provides technical support to parks for the identification and reservation of plant resources and coordinates vegetation mapping for the region.

	Water
	Provides technical assistance for management and protection of aquatic systems.

	Wildlife
	Provides technical assistance for wildlife management.