Landscape Strategies for Promotion of Urban Biodiversity Involvement of Ecologists Maryann Harris Past-President Irish Landscape Institute

Transcription

1 Landscape Strategies for Promotion of Urban Biodiversity Involvement of Ecologists Maryann Harris Past-President Irish Landscape Institute Parks and Landscape Services Dublin City Council

2 従って我々はについて何を話している?

3 So - what are we talking about? What is it? Designing landscapes? Biodiversity? How is urban biodiversity to be managed at a landscape scale? What are the landscape objectives we need to focus on? Where are the gaps in guidance for Ireland? What policy framework exists? How can parks managers increase biodiversity? Show real projects that can deliver measure effects

4 Setting the scene Irish cities and towns offer high biodiversity sites, including many protected habitats and species, but fragmentation is a constant challenge. Connectivity is desirable for some species, not all! Green infrastructure strategies are being promoted in Ireland and in the EU to improve connectivity. How can ecologists harness this potential while dealing with urban pressures? Public landscapes can be ideal for demonstration and awareness-raising.

5 Characteristics of biodiversity in cities 1. Cities often have higher biodiversity due to influences of humans and are often situated in naturally high biodiversity areas e.g. harbours 2. Global and Irish urbanisation phenomenon = 60% of population lives in cities, so urban biodiversity is nature for many an artificial ecosystem 3. Urban biodiversity can be more complex due to multi-causal dynamics, more non-natives, niche habitats 4. Some species adapt better generalists better off than specialists, which become locally extinct 5. Not well-studied, ecological literature based on natural habitats not urban more complex to model

6 Scales of urban biodiversity management global European national regional city landscape ecosystem habitat species individual

7 Societal urban biodiversity challenges Development pressures Vandalism Dogs Fires Litter + dumping Public perceptions Maintenance regimes Theft Substance abuse Urban landscape Introduced species

8 What are the landscape objectives we need to focus on? Where are they found? Biodiversity Action Plans National, County Regional Planning Guidelines County/City Development Plans GI Strategies Local Area Plan GI Strategies Species Action Plans RBD river basin district management plans Park and habitat management plans Natura 2000 site conservation management plans Residential Density Guidelines National Landscape Strategy [tbc]

9 Balance objectives

10 Who decides/implements them? Ecologists Planners Courts NPWS Councillors Engineers L. A s, Parks Superintendents Managers Community Consultants NGO s Developers Landowners Engineers Landscape architects Biodiversity Officers Heritage Officers Volunteers

11 What influences key decisions on urban biodiversity management? Most green space in urban areas in Ireland is dedicated to public amenity usage Very little land specifically designated for conservation purposes in urban areas - multifunctional Conservation must balance with recreation and amenity demands and targets Concept of ecosystem services relevant to Irish scenario Public parks have nil valuation (Dept. of Finance) Perception of biodiverse areas may be low e.g. brownfield sites

12 Urban biodiversity strategies what s needed? Existing policies and gaps No published urban biodiversity research goals on NPBR No specific objectives for urban biodiversity in national BAP (2011) No mention of biodiversity in DMURS (2013) Need for Irish research and guidance Biochange (EPA 2011) looked at fragmentation of certain habitats and effects on species Green infrastructure strategies as an objective of Framework for Sustainable Development (2012) national GI strategy? Reconciliation of landscape level with habitats and species levels Green City (2008)

13 Challenges in parks management for biodiversity Fragmentation and deficits of green space network Loss of vegetation structure eroding existing network Poor understanding of biodiversity concepts Perception of low maintenance as untidy Media focus Conservation is not the main agenda wildlife objectives have to fit in with human objectives Segunda Pieles, by Miguel Vallinas

14 Green space deficits and fragmentation in Dublin Red = loss of green space Green = gains of green space 10% open space requirement as national planning policy but no specific guidance on how to structure it The city centre has areas of open space deficits Built and green space in Dublin region 2006 (Brennan et al 2009)

15 Loss of urban vegetation structure

16 Loss of urban vegetation structure Anti-social behaviour substance abuse, homeless people sleeping rough CCTV cameras require clear sight lines Litter and dumping ease of collection Type of equipment used for maintenance narrows practices Reduction in staffing levels in local authorities Loss of horticultural skills and practices Intensification of existing open spaces (Residential Density Guidelines permitted lower provision)

17 Measuring urban biodiversity how to define successful outcomes? How should we be measuring to assess changes in urban biodiversity? What should we focus on to measure? certain taxonomic groups, not others protected species indicator species How to increase involvement of the public in monitoring Bioblitz, species surveys, citizen science projects, NGO s Challenges to address?

18 Planning for landscape connectivity ecological networks approach Green infrastructure systems are spatially made of: Core areas = nucleus of the network and provide essential habitat for sensitive species Hubs = buffering the core areas, the largest, least fragmented continuous area of forest, wetlands, stream systems, or other native landscape type Corridors = maintain connectivity in the landscape and provide for animal movement, seed and pollen dispersal, and plant migration

19 Green Infrastructure policy in City Development Plan DCC GI Working Group for Plan

20 Challenges to ecological networks approach (Boitani et al 2007) Two (at least) components of connectivity: Structural = landscape features, measured at human perception Functional = behaviour of species across landscape, specific No theoretical framework exists to support concept that functional connectivity complements landscape connectivity Connectivity neither good nor bad; species and context-specific Existing protected areas have little evidence to support their use as core areas and may have criteria for designation which are imbalanced for conservation planning Networks often designed around needs of few key species and assumed one-size-fits-all Responses of species to landscape change poorly understood

21 Workshop Discussion (in groups) Themes 1. Decision-making on urban biodiversity management 2. Dealing with landscape fragmentation and connectivity 3. Addressing loss of vegetation structure in urban areas 4. Planning urban ecological networks 5. Monitoring of urban landscapes for biodiversity

22 1. Decision-making on urban biodiversity management What are the knowledge and skills deficits that you think have the most impact on delivering targets for biodiversity conservation? How do we engage the wider community? What does the community know, prioritise, engage with? Defining what urban communities want and how to ensure biodiversity is a priority of many plans. What structures should be used? Who are the key players, in your view? Who should be, in your view, implementing it?

23 2. Dealing with landscape fragmentation and connectivity Has fragmentation been adequately measured and assessed, in your view? Are concerns justified? Who is concerned? Discuss specific causes in Ireland which contribute. What policy approaches are positive? Negative? Is connectivity prioritised enough in planning, in your experience? What are good examples of this in Ireland, in your experience? How should connectivity be measured?

24 3. Addressing loss of urban vegetation structure What measures have you taken in your work to counter loss? How much of a problem have you found this to be in delivering satisfactory outcomes in your work? How can perceptions of the public, decision-makers, be altered? What are the key problems that require attention? Is it a cop-out to reduce landscape management requirements or a genuine problem in your experience? What policies/laws are needed, if any?

25 4. Planning urban ecological networks Should we accept ecological network model? Do we risk wasting scarce resources on it? What other models could work in Ireland? How to define for Irish cities and towns? How can ecologists ensure fit of functional components with structural ones? Should protected areas be core areas? Are they representative of biodiversity importance? How does EN approach benefit planning policy?

26 5. Monitoring of urban landscapes for biodiversity Discuss approaches currently in use for monitoring in Irish urban areas and what you think works/doesn t. What species or groups would you propose for prioritisation of resources in urban areas? Why? Compared to other countries, are Irish cities and towns adopting the right approach? What other systems are you aware of? Who should monitor? Verify? Manage records? How can public engagement be increased? How can landscape change be monitored in urban areas?

27 Irish Urban Biodiversity Research Project EPA STRIVE Doctoral Programme Enhancing biodiversity potential of urban parks through improved management and public engagement EPA/UCD/DCC partnership Questionnaire to inform Irish guidance document please assist by completing today Survey of Irish professionals whose work can impact on biodiversity in urban areas Thanks!