| The term historical ecology literally means, “documented ecology and has come to refer to the investigation and documentation of environmental change in a given region throughout time (How-to Guide for Local Historical Ecology). Studying historical ecology is an interdisciplinary collaboration that involves the analytical skills of people from various disciplines including anthropology, archaeology, history, geology, geography as well as the expert knowledge of native locals in order to create a detailed landscape history. This detailed description of past ecology can guide us in our understanding of current challenges with erosion, flooding, and the loss of biodiversity among others. This combined with observed and documented patterns of human land use can aid us in predicting how our actions will affect the future health of our land; it can enhance the effectiveness of our human design efforts and direct us in restoration efforts (Dindia 2003). “An understanding of the historical landscape and ecological change is needed to guide emerging plans for species recovery and the sustained ecological health of the Bay Area…Without this historical perspective, policies and prescriptions for the recovery of ecological resources can only be based on highly disturbed and artificial conditions, rather than the natural ecological support functions of the region.”
-SFEI |
| Tens of thousands of historical materials have been examined at over 100 institutional and personal archives in the nine counties of the Bay Area and in Sacramento, and many are stored and maintained by the San Francisco Estuary Institute (SFEI), a regional leader in historical ecology analysis. In partnership with SFEI and a number of other organizations, the Santa Clara University Environmental Studies Institute (ESI) hopes to bring together interested parties and contribute to the growing public demand for environmental awareness. While SFEI examines the broad Bay Area view, ESI is poised to host a local archive of historical information through its Santa Clara Valley Historical Ecology Project. |
