Greenery System for Cooling Down Outdoor Spaces: Results of an Experimental Study

Pathways of ecosystem-based disaster risk reduction: A global review of empirical evidence

Ecosystems provide valuable services in reducing the risks of disasters through various pathways, which are increasingly recognized as sustainable strategies for disaster management. However, there remains limited information on the underlying ecological processes of risk reduction. This paper addresses this gap by synthesizing ecological mechanisms and evaluating the 'level of evidence' and 'scale of use' through a review of 64 peer-reviewed research articles published between 2015 to 2022. These research articles covered nine types of disasters, predominantly floods (42.19 %), followed by urban heat waves (18.75 %), storm runoff (10.94 %), coastal erosion (9.38 %), tsunamis (4.69 %), and avalanches and landslides (6.25 % each). The level of evidence supporting ecological processes for disaster risk reduction is moderate, as is the 'scale of use'. Results show that there are a few studies describing the mechanism of ecosystem-mediated risk reduction and are mostly limited to the causal relationship. Empirical evidence demonstrates that forest and freshwater ecosystems buffer the risk of urban heat through processes such as transpiration, solar radiation interception, and evaporative cooling, while flood risks are mitigated by enhancing evapotranspiration, reducing water runoff time, and facilitating infiltration rates. Coastal erosion is reduced by dissipating wave energy and through beach nourishment, which facilitates ecological succession. The review underscores that hazard attenuation depends on factors such as forest type (e.g., species composition, age structure, and area), and landscape characteristics (e.g., matrix, composition and configuration). Moreover, the geographic scope of published research is largely confined to developed countries and the global north. Multidisciplinary research involving ecologists and disaster experts is imperative to address existing knowledge gaps and enhance the integration of ecosystem-based adaptation into disaster risk reduction strategies.

Biophilia beyond the Building: Applying the Tools of Urban Biodiversity Planning to Create Biophilic Cities

In response to the widely recognized negative impacts of urbanization on biodiversity, many cities are reimagining urban design to provide better biodiversity support. Some cities have developed urban biodiversity plans, primarily focused on improving biodiversity support and ecosystem function within the built environment through habitat restoration and other types of urban greening projects. The biophilic cities movement seeks to reframe nature as essential infrastructure for cities, seamlessly integrating city and nature to provide abundant, accessible nature for all residents and corresponding health and well-being outcomes. Urban biodiversity planning and biophilic cities have significant synergies in their goals and the means necessary to achieve them. In this paper, we identify three key ways by which the urban biodiversity planning process can support biophilic cities objectives: engaging the local community; identifying science-based, quantitative goals; and setting priorities for action. Urban biodiversity planning provides evidence-based guidance, tools, and techniques needed to design locally appropriate, pragmatic habitat enhancements that support biodiversity, ecological health, and human health and well-being. Developing these multi-functional, multi-benefit strategies that increase the abundance of biodiverse nature in cities has the potential at the same time to deepen and enrich our biophilic experience in daily life.