"Among the plants I identified in my study quadrants were trumpet vine (Campsis radicans)
(upper right) and common privet (Ligustrum vulgare) (upper left)," Aruni says.
post-industrial cities. As part of my program, I took an
urban geography course and studied green gentrification.
For my PhD candidacy I did an intensive literature
and case study review on green gentrification, which
led me to think about environmental justice. As I
explored the social dimensions of urban biodiversity
and green spaces, the community well-being aspect
came into focus. Seeing how access to nature impacts
people's health and sense of belonging—and how
these benefits should be accessible to everyone—
made me realize how profoundly urban greening
isn't just about plants; it's about people, too.
Please break down your
doctoral research for us.
As small cities in the upper Ohio Valley transition from
industrial to service economies, large areas of unused
land are naturally regenerating into forests. This process,
known as urban forest succession, occurs through the
dispersal and establishment of plant species. Using a
replicated chronosequence approach, we have recon-
structed succession in urban forest patches of the
Ohio Valley, a region naturally occupied by mixed-me-
sophytic deciduous forests. These urban forests now
play a crucial role in city ecosystems, offering valuable
services such as improving water retention, cooling air,
reducing noise, and filtering pollutants. Understanding
urban forest succession is essential for conserving bio-
diversity and maximizing these ecological benefits.
Aruni Sabina Ariyawansha enjoying the springtime in
urban forest tracts she frequents for her studies.
36 CityTREES
