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2014 UK SUSTAINABLE GREEN INFRASTRUCTURE CONFERENCEINFRASTRUCTURE CONFERENCE
‘Green Infrastructure Good – Biodiverse Green Infrastructure Better’
Dr Michael Wells FIEEM
C t H t I l d ff tCurrent Heat Island effect
Potential difference with abundant lush vegetation
Biodiversity is diversity in biologicalbiological
* species* varieties
** processes
Good Practice Guidance onGood Practice Guidance on Green Infrastructure and
Biodiversity (TCPA)
More diverse green i f t t ill dinfrastructure will produce a
much greater range ofmuch greater range of ecosystem servicesecosyste se ces
Food d i
Microclimatic amelioration Pollution B th bl i productionamelioration Pollution
abatement
Other useable
Breathable air
Pollination
Black and
Bio-indication
St t l
Other useable materials (fuel,
MedicinePollination
Black and grey water treatment Sea
Structural protection
( ,construction, clothing)
Runoff
defenceAdaptability Soil creation
& Runoff attenuation and
resilienceCarbon Sequestration
& preservation
Place-Psychological and physical Tourism asset
Cultural appeal
makinghealthappeal
FUNCTION Wetlands Main Park Living Roofs
Genius Loci High Moderate ModerateBiophilic appeal High Medium to
HighModerate
HighUrban Cooling High High HighUrban Air Quality High High HighUrban Food Nil Moderate NilWater Cleansing High Moderate ModerateWater Re-use High High N/ABio-indication High Moderate Low to Moderate
EnvironmentalEducation
High High to Moderate
Moderate
Bi di it Hi h M d t M d tBiodiversity Conservation -
High Moderate Moderate
Semi-natural High Moderate ModerateHabitat Expansion
The more biodiverse the greenThe more biodiverse the green infrastructure often the greaterinfrastructure often the greater
the range of species of conservation concern it can
tsupport
Rarity on the roofRarity on the roofSt h B i t d f • Stephan Brenneisen - study of green roofs in Basel and Lucerne (4 years): (4 years): – 18% spiders and 11% of
beetles were RDB. beetles were RDB. – Local substrates &
topographical variety were of p g p ykey importance
• Kadas, Gedge, Jones (UK)Olibrus flavicornis- a flower beetle
Cercerisquinquefasciata5-banded tailed digger wasp
– High species diversity with national rarities found on biodiverse living roofs Tachys parvulus
- a ground beetle
Spatial habitat use of bats: 1, open space; 2, edge space; 3, narrow space.
Kalko E K V et al. Integr. Comp. Biol. 2008;48:60-73
© The Author 2008. Published by Oxford University Press on behalf of the Society for Integrative and Comparative Biology. All rights reserved. For permissions please email: [email protected].
Monocultures are veryMonocultures are very susceptible to environmental
shocks such as disease.
Greater diversity within greenGreater diversity within green infrastructure will generally ast uctu e ge e a yimprove resilience to such
shocks
Integrated Pest Management Depends on Biodiversity
Greater biodiversity in a given t ft th t itecosystem often means that it
provides a given ecosystemprovides a given ecosystem service betterse ce bette
Example 1: Pollination
Decline in Pollinators e g beesDecline in Pollinators e.g. bees
Decline in Pollinators e g beesDecline in Pollinators e.g. bees
Credit: Gary Grant/AECOM
Example 2: Water purification
E l 3 Q lit f f dExample 3: Qualityof food produceproduce
Example 4: Cooling
Heat capture or electricity generation with biodiversity?
Greater biodiversity in a given h bit t t h b h thabitat type has been shown to provide greater psychologicalprovide greater psychological
health benefitsea t be e ts
Pl tPlantsei
ved
Per
ce
ButterfliesP
Birds
Actual
‘reflection’ versus edplant species-richnessceiv
richness
‘distinct identity’ Per
yversus plant species-richnessspecies-richness
‘‘reflection’ versus number of habitats present
Actual
More biodiverse environmentsMore biodiverse environments have recently been correlatedhave recently been correlated with more biodiverse skin flora
and reduced incidence of ll i d i fl tiallergies and inflammation
Setting Targets
