scholarly journals Establishing ecological and social priorities for urban biodiversity conservation and their alignment through green infrastructure planning; a case study in Swindon, UK.

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
◽  
Jonathan Wilshaw
Keyword(s):  
Biodiversity Conservation ◽  
Green Infrastructure ◽  
Urban Ecosystems ◽  
Well Being ◽  
Urban Biodiversity ◽  
Cultural Dimensions ◽  
Infrastructure Planning ◽  
Urban Green ◽  
Urban Biodiversity Conservation

The increasing number of people living in towns and cities across the world places ever growing pressures on, and demands of urban ecosystems. Research indicates that a diminution in the extent, quality and associated functions of urban green networks as a result of development pressure risks decline in urban biodiversity and the potential human benefits to be derived from nature rich urban environments. Adopting a case study approach, this research investigates ecological and socio-cultural priorities for conserving urban biodiversity and how these perspectives align within the theoretical framework and practice of green infrastructure planning. In doing so the research adds to a limited but growing body of evidence that describes the vital contribution of urban biodiversity to place making and how related policy and practice could better respond. The research took place in Swindon, UK, a town undergoing continued expansion and regeneration. Broadleaf plantation woodlands, as a widespread habitat and ubiquitous component of the town’s urban landscape, provided the venue for concurrent ecological and ethnographic explorations of the biodiverse qualities of place. Field studies of the richness and abundance of woodland dwelling beetles ran alongside observation of, and interviews with residents via regular and extended participation in Swindon’s health walks groups. The findings add to previous research highlighting the significance of the intricate and interlacing network of open spaces forming much of urban green infrastructure as wildlife habitats. Critically, the research also reveals the ways and depths to which common-place ‘everyday’ nature encountered in such settings is embedded within residents’ sense of place. The findings imply that urban biodiversity conservation goals should place much greater emphasis on local, small and inter-connecting greenspaces often dismissed in planning policy and conservation practice. Establishing such goals within strengthened green infrastructure planning frameworks and founded on a broader definition of urban biodiversity to encompass socio-cultural dimensions, could realise substantial benefits for environmental, personal and societal well-being.

Biodiversity and ecosystem services in urban green infrastructure planning: A case study from the metropolitan area of Rome (Italy)

2019 ◽  
Vol 37 ◽  
pp. 87-96 ◽  
Author(s):  
Giulia Capotorti ◽  
Marta María Alós Ortí ◽  
Riccardo Copiz ◽  
Lina Fusaro ◽  
Barbara Mollo ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Ecosystem Services ◽  
Metropolitan Area ◽  
Green Infrastructure ◽  
Infrastructure Planning ◽  
Urban Green ◽  
Urban Green Infrastructure

scholarly journals Ecological planning strategies for urban parks based on biodiversity conservation and promotion: a case study of Qingxiushan Forest Park in Nanning City

2021 ◽  
Vol 293 ◽  
pp. 01011
Author(s):  
Shuang Ming ◽  
Qin Du
Keyword(s):  
Biodiversity Conservation ◽  
Well Being ◽  
Urban Ecosystem ◽  
Economic Benefits ◽  
Urban Biodiversity ◽  
Ecological Planning ◽  
Forest Park ◽  
Planning Strategies ◽  
Nanning City

Urban biodiversity plays an important role in maintaining urban ecosystem, beautifying urban environment, improving economic benefits and human well-being, and urban park, as an important habitat of urban biology, is an important part of urban biodiversity. Taking Qingxiu Mountain Park in Nanning City as an example, this paper analyzes the main problems and challenges of biodiversity conservation and promotion, and puts forward a scientific reference basis for the promotion and protection of biodiversity in Qingxiu Mountain Park in Nanning City.

scholarly journals Evaluating Urban Green Public Spaces: The Case Study of Krasnodar Region Cities, Russia

2021 ◽  
Vol 13 (24) ◽  
pp. 14059
Author(s):  
Nina Danilina ◽  
Ksenia Tsurenkova ◽  
Vladislav Berkovich
Keyword(s):  
Climate Change ◽  
Green Infrastructure ◽  
Urban Areas ◽  
Well Being ◽  
Ecosystem Functions ◽  
Adaptation To Climate Change ◽  
Health Crisis ◽  
Urban Green ◽  
Krasnodar Region

The 21st century challenges, in particular those of climate change, population growth, air pollution and the COVID-19 pandemic global health crisis, demand greater emphasis on infrastructure facilities capable of keeping pace with population needs in well-being, health and economic prosperity. Green infrastructure aimed to intensify ecological processes in built-up areas and deliver vital ecosystem services is of a key significance for Russia, one of the most urbanized countries in the world. The article is dedicated to the issue of providing cities sustainability through creating a basic element of the urban green infrastructure—a public green network—by incorporating and linking a variety of already existing urban environmental components, both spatial and linear, such as natural areas, squares, parks, streets, boulevards, embankments and others. The territory of the case study is Krasnodar region located in the southwestern part of the North Caucasus, the warmest region of Russia characterized by highly varied urban areas. The authors propose the multiple criteria method for evaluating the existing GreenPS and creating a GreenPS framework for six cities located in Krasnodar region both on the southern seaward part and on the northern steppe part. This approach is focused on the sustainable development of the cities, adaptation to climate change and the prevention of local risks with respect to the preservation of ecosystem functions and cultural heritage. The methodology includes three stages: investigating and evaluating the present state of the existing urban GreenPS; defining sustainability potential; and the submission of master plan proposals for the improvement and further development and management of the GreenPS network implementing nature-based solutions. In addition, it follows seven main integral criteria, namely, Accessibility, Density, Sufficiency, Continuity, Diversity, Value and Clean and Sanitary, illustrated by ray diagrams. The results of the study show good potential for construction in Krasnodar region cities of an efficient GreenPS network integrating ecological and social city components. The flexibility of the method proposed makes it replicable for any other city aimed at creating a GreenPS network in sustainable, climate-change-adapted cities.

Urban green infrastructures and ecological networks for urban biodiversity conservation

2017 ◽  
pp. 186-199 ◽  
Author(s):  
Emily S. Minor ◽  
Elsa C. Anderson ◽  
J. Amy Belaire ◽  
Megan Garfinkel ◽  
Alexis Dyan Smith
Keyword(s):  
Biodiversity Conservation ◽  
Ecological Networks ◽  
Urban Biodiversity ◽  
Urban Green ◽  
Urban Biodiversity Conservation

scholarly journals Living Heritage in the Urban Landscape. Case Study of the Budapest World Heritage Site Andrássy Avenue

2021 ◽  
Vol 13 (9) ◽  
pp. 4699
Author(s):  
Kinga Szilágyi ◽  
Chaima Lahmar ◽  
Camila Andressa Pereira Rosa ◽  
Krisztina Szabó
Keyword(s):  
Urban Development ◽  
Green Infrastructure ◽  
Urban Landscape ◽  
World Heritage ◽  
World Heritage Site ◽  
Urban Green ◽  
Heritage Site ◽  
Heritage Protection ◽  
Urban Green Infrastructure

Historic allées and urban avenues reflect a far-sighted and forward-thinking design attitude. These compositions are the living witnesses of olden times, suggesting permanence. However, the 20th century’s urban development severely damaged the environment, therefore hundred-year-old mature trees are relatively rare among city avenues’ stands. Due to the deteriorated habitat conditions, replantation may be necessary from time to time. However, there are a large number of replanted allées and urban avenues considered historical monuments, according to the relevant international literature in urban and living heritage’s preservation. The renewal often results in planting a different, urban tolerant taxon, as seen in several examples reviewed. Nevertheless, the allée remains an essential urban structural element, though often with a changed character. The Budapest Andrássy Avenue, a city and nature connection defined in the late 19th century’s urban landscape planning, aimed to offer a splendid link between city core and nature in Városliget Public Park. The 19–20th century’s history and urban development are well documented in Hungarian and several English publications, though current tree stock stand and linear urban green infrastructure as part of the urban landscape need a detailed survey. The site analyses ran in 2020–early 2021 created a basis for assessing the allées and the whole avenue as an urban ecosystem and a valuable case study of contemporary heritage protection problems. Andrassy Avenue, the unique urban fabric, architecture, and promenades have been a world heritage monument of cultural value since 2002. The allées became endangered despite reconstruction type maintenance efforts. The presented survey analyses the living heritage’s former renewal programs and underlines the necessity of new reconstruction concepts in urban heritage protection. We hypothesize that urban green infrastructure development, the main issue in the 21st century to improve the urban ecological system and human liveability, may support heritage protection. The Budapest World Heritage Site is worthwhile for a complex renewal where the urban green ecosystem supply and liveable, pedestrian-friendly urban open space system are at the forefront to recall the once glorious, socially and aesthetically attractive avenue.

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