- Morgan Grove, Northeastern Research Station, USDA Forest Service
Description
This research tested the theoretical relationship between patterns and processes of social stratification and vegetation of an urban-rural watershed using Logan and Molotch's (1987) political economy theory of place. Specifically, an ecosystem and landscape approach was applied to Machlis and others' (1997) human ecosystem framework to explore how differential access to and control of resources (social stratification) affected biophysical patterns (vegetation structure) of an urban-rural watershed over time and space. A social area analysis approach and Geographic Information System (GIS) were developed to measure patterns of social stratification using indices of socioeconomic status, homeownership, and ethnicity. Satellite imagery and a GIS were used to classify and measure indicators of vegetation structure related to vegetation ground cover and canopy cover. This approach was applied to the Gwynns Falls watershed of the Baltimore, Maryland region for a 20 year period (1970-1990).
Social stratification had a significant relationship to vegetation structure. Socioeconomic and household indices had a positive relationship; ethnicity had a negative relationship. The socioeconomic index had the largest relationship; the ethnicity index had less of a relationship; and the household index had the least relationship. A response lag existed between changes in sociocultural and biophysical characteristics: indicators of social stratification for 1970 explained the most variation and had the largest relationship to 1982 and 1992 vegetation structure. Social stratification had larger relationships to classes that included canopy cover than classes that did not.
Products
Articles
Grove, J.M. 1996. The Relationship between Patterns and Processes of Social Stratification and Vegetation of an Urban - Rural Watershed. Published Dissertation. Yale School of Forestry & Environmental Studies. 205 Prospect Street, New Haven, CT. 06511.
Data and Data Collection
Indices of social stratification and vegetation cover (time series 1970 -1990) and land use (1970 -1990).
