Urban biodiversity : from research to practice / edited by Alessandro Ossola and Jari Niemela.

Format:

Book

Contributor:

Ossola, Alessandro, editor.

Niemelä, Jari, editor.

Series:

Rouledge Studies in Urban Ecology

Language:

English

Subjects (All):

Urban ecology (Biology)--Research.

Urban ecology (Biology).

Physical Description:

1 online resource (259 pages) : illustrations.

Edition:

1st ed.

Place of Publication:

London, [England] ; New York, New York : Routledge, 2018.

Summary:

Urban biodiversity is an increasingly popular topic among researchers. Worldwide, thousands of research projects are unravelling how urbanisation impacts the biodiversity of cities and towns, as well as its benefits for people and the environment through ecosystem services. Exciting scientific discoveries are made on a daily basis. However, researchers often lack time and opportunity to communicate these findings to the community and those in charge of managing, planning and designing for urban biodiversity. On the other hand, urban practitioners frequently ask researchers for more comprehensible information and actionable tools to guide their actions. This book is designed to fill this cultural and communicative gap by discussing a selection of topics related to urban biodiversity, as well as its benefits for people and the urban environment. It provides an interdisciplinary overview of scientifically grounded knowledge vital for current and future practitioners in charge of urban biodiversity management, its conservation and integration into urban planning. Topics covered include pests and invasive species, rewilding habitats, the contribution of a diverse urban agriculture to food production, implications for human well-being, and how to engage the public with urban conservation strategies. For the first time, world-leading researchers from five continents convene to offer a global interdisciplinary perspective on urban biodiversity narrated with a simple but rigorous language. This book synthesizes research at a level suitable for both students and professionals working in nature conservation and urban planning and management.

Contents:

Intro

Urban Biodiversity

Routledge Studies in Urban Ecology

Title

Copyright

List of Contributors

Foreword

Preface

1 Bringing Urban Biodiversity Research into Practice

A Brief Historical Overview of Urban Biodiversity Research

Urban Biodiversity and the Global Community of Practice

Connecting Urban Biodiversity Research and Practice

References

2 Soil as a Foundation to Urban Biodiversity

Introduction

Natural and Anthropogenic Soil Forming Factors

Properties of Urban Soils

Urban Soil Management

Conclusions

Acknowledgement

3 Urban Biodiversity and Ecosystem Services

Urban Biodiversity and its Importance for Humans

Urban Ecosystem Services in Urban Planning

Ecosystem Services Across Different Forms of Green Infrastructure

4 Planning for Protection: Promoting Pest Suppressing Urban Landscapes Through Habitat Management

Ecosystem Services and Biodiversity

Regulation of Herbivores by Predators and Parasites in Urban Systems

Elevated Herbivory in Urban Environments

Landscape Interventions and Beneficial Biodiversity

Scale and Ecological Interactions in Urban Ecosystems

Promoting Beneficial Invertebrates in Urban Environments

Promoting Beneficial Vertebrates in Urban Environments

Promoting Ecological Interactions in Cities

Acknowledgements

5 Urban Agriculture: An Opportunity for Biodiversity and Food Provision in Urban Landscapes

What is Urban Agriculture?

Urban Agriculture as Important Areas of Food Provision in Cities

Urban Agriculture can Support High Levels of Biodiversity

Local and Landscape Factors Affect Biodiversity in Urban Agriculture

Social Systems can Affect Urban Agriculture Management and Food Provision.

Beyond Food Provision: The Socio-Ecological Benefits and Challenges of Urban Agriculture

Supporting Urban Agriculture and its Contributions to City Life

6 Urban Biological Invasions: When Vertebrates Come to Town

Why and From Where are Vertebrates Colonising Urban Areas?

Vertebrate Species and Human Empathy: An 'Explosive' Combination

Some Examples on Emblematic Cases in the World

Urban Species and Their Critical Threats

How to Contrast the Problem

7 Management of Plant Diversity in Urban Green Spaces

What Influences Plant Community Composition and Structure in Cities?

Managing Urban Green Spaces for Biodiversity Conservation

Managing for Humans and Nature

8 Managing Biodiversity Through Social Values and Preferences

Can People Accurately Perceive Biodiversity?

Do People Prefer Biodiversity?

Managing Biodiversity in Line with Perceptions and Preferences

Community Engagement

Conclusion

9 Biodiversity and Psychological Well-Being

Defining Biodiversity and Well-Being

Different Aspects of Biodiversity Affecting Well-Being

Evidence of the Links Between Biodiversity and Well-Being

Mediating Mechanisms Between Biodiversity and Well-Being

Gaps in the Literature and Suggestions for Future Studies

10 Governance Perspectives on Urban Biodiversity

Elements of Governance

Urban Land Use, Governance and Biodiversity

Protection of Nature in Cities - a Biocentric Approach

Ecosystem Services in Urban Planning - an Anthropocentric Approach

Concluding Remarks

11 Managing Urban Green Spaces for Biodiversity Conservation: An African Perspective

Introduction.

Management of Fragmented Natural Areas in Biodiversity Hotspots

Management of Public and Private Green Spaces

Management of the Whole Urban Green Infrastructure

12 Urban Green Infrastructures and Ecological Networks for Urban Biodiversity Conservation

The Role of the Matrix in Urban Green Infrastructure Networks

Networks of Green Infrastructure

13 Designing Nature in Cities to Safeguard Meaningful Experiences of Biodiversity in an Urbanizing World

The Extinction of Experience Causes and Consequences

Planning and Managing Cities to Avert the Extinction of Experience

14 Biodiversity-Friendly Designs in Cities and Towns: Towards a Global Biodiversinesque Style

Design with Native Plants

Biodiversity as a Main Design Tool: Alternative Lawns

English Approach

Naturalistic Plantings

Grass-Free Lawns

Alternative Lawns in Sweden

Changing Aesthetics: Appreciation of Wastelands and 'Go Spontaneous' in Germany

Kongjian Yu's 'Big Feet' Ecological Design

Discussion

15 Integrating Urban Biodiversity Mapping, Citizen Science and Technology

Urban Biodiversity Mapping

Citizen Science for Urban Biodiversity

Integrating Technology for Urban Biodiversity

Index.

Notes:

Includes bibliographical references at the end of each chapters and index.

Description based on print version record.

ISBN:

1-315-40257-2

1-315-40258-0

1-315-40256-4

9781315402581

OCLC:

1007508232