Urban ecosystem ecology has emerged as a crucial proving ground in the development of transdisciplinary approaches to both the study of coupled human natural systems and the effective management of human-dominated systems. Over the last century and more, social scientists in virtually all disciplines have generated rich and sometimes conflicting bodies of knowledge and theory about human life and the environment in cities. Reconciling these diverse approaches provides a challenge to urban ecosystem ecologists. Further challenges in governance, resource management, and equity are created by the many scales at which human decisions influence ecosystems, from individual behavior through various levels of government jurisdiction. To address this need, the Urban Long-Term Research Area (ULTRA) program has generated a new network of research sites funded by the National Science Foundation and the US Forest Service. Teams of scientists and practitioners are conducting interdisciplinary research on the dynamic interactions between people and natural ecosystems in sub/urban settings in ways that advance both fundamental and applied knowledge. The current exploratory phase of the network includes 20 projects across the United States. This symposium and its companion (Stewardship in Urban Systems 1: Ecosystem Processes and Ecosystem Services in the ULTRA Network) collectively bring together a multidisciplinary group of researchers from all 20 projects to share their approaches and findings. Speakers in this symposium will explore links among ecology, equity, and governance including the equitable distribution of ecosystem services and the roles of volunteers and governance in stewardship. The session features 11 oral presentations (12 min + 3 min questions) that focus on integrating people and their institutions into the ecology of cities. The speakers represent a broad range of disciplines, and the cities studied span the continent from Portland to Washington. The focus on cities and issues of equity provide common ground for identifying general insights into ecosystem management. Two discussion periods with the full panel of presenters provide opportunities for grappling with the reconciliation of diverse approaches to the study of coupled human natural systems.