An Ecosystem Approach to the Greening of CitiesGary Grant

Green Building - Building Green in CitiesHelsinki

25th August 2016

Convention on Biological Diversity introduced the ecosystem approach in 1992.

A holistic approach to land management. Working with nature to maintain healthy ecosystems that provide ecosystem services. Respect environmental limits. Protect and restore. UN Millennium Ecosystem

Assessment 2005

Ecosystem Services

Source: ASLA

• Hot• Dry• Pollution (Air, Water, Light)• Traffic• Noise• Disease• Crime• Governance• Unemployment• Housing• Food

City Challenges

Multi-functional biodiverse green infrastructure networks

Climate Change

• Likely have more intense and focus rainfall• Increased volumes in short space of time

likely to burden urban drainage systems• Leading to increase in urban flash floods• Drought• Heat waves

www.livingroofs.orgwww.greenroofconsultancy.com

Namba Park, Tokyo

Reflected

Reflected

Water Sensitive Cities

(Water Sensitive Urban Design)

17

18

19

- De-pave

-Pavement re-laid to drain into garden

-Free draining yet water absorbent soil

- Planted for biodiversity

-Overflow to next rain garden

- Final overflow to conventional drain

Rain Garden

Tooley Street Vertical Rain Garden

Vertical Rain Garden, social housing near Tower Bridge

Rubens Hotel at The Palace, Victoria, London

HQ of Transport for London

Rubens Hotel at the Palace, Victoria, London 2013

Multi-functionality

Conclusions:

•More Soil, Vegetation & Water (Blue-Green Infrastructure)

•Multi-functional approach

http://eu.wiley.com Twitter @ecoschemes

http://greeninfrastructureconsultancy.com