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: journals.permissions@oxfordjournals.org.

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