Abstract
Excerpt: Ecological engineering has been defined as “the design of sustainable ecosystems that integrate human society with its natural environment for the benefit of both” (Mitsch and Jørgensen, 2004, Mitsch, 2012). This editorial builds on that definition for a specific urban riverine wetland complex in Ohio USA. An integrated project of collaboration among the city, a university, industry, environmental NGOs, and others is proposed here whereby the designation of Ramsar Convention Wetland of International Importance, in place since 2008 for the 20-ha Wilma H. Schiermeier Olentangy River Wetland Research Park (ORWRP) on the campus of The Ohio State University, should be extended to include a much larger part of urban Columbus, OH, USA. We suggest a proposed extension of an existing Ramsar site to inclue a 14-km Olentangy/Scioto Ecosystem Corridor (OSEC)—a “blue/green ecological highway”—from the Olentangy River Wetland Research Park just north of Ohio State’s campus downstream to a riverine Audubon Center south of the city center.
