A Solution for Sustainable Development and Biodiversity Conservation
When we think about developing infrastructure in cities, protecting and enhancing nature and biodiversity isn’t always a priority. It’s easy for us to view the natural and man-made as separate and incompatible, but in fact they are deeply intertwined and often depend on each other.
While development can be a driver in habitat destruction and biodiversity loss it also represents an opportunity for achieving environmental goals. Cities are at the forefront of planning for climate change, and because of this the way we think about developing them needs to change.
Biodiversity net gain
The Uk government recently implemented a policy of biodiversity net gain. It is now a legal requirement for developers to achieve a minimum of 10% net gain in biodiversity in large scale developments after 12 February 2024.
Developers need to create or enhance wildlife habitats and adopt ecologically sustainable design practices.
Rather than being an added cost, this focus on biodiversity can actually reduce expenses, improve development efficiency, and extend the lifespan of buildings and infrastructure, benefiting both wildlife and developers alike.
Green infrastructure: a symbiotic relationship between development and nature
Green infrastructure leverages ecosystems to enhance urban developments, improving or in some cases, replacing traditional grey infrastructure, such as flood gates, drainage systems, and effluent treatment facilities.
While grey infrastructure addresses urban challenges through hard engineered solutions, green infrastructure uses both naturally occurring and man-made ecosystems, like forests, wetlands, and green roofs, to provide ecologically friendly solutions to these challenges, with additional benefits including supporting biodiversity and enhancing climate resilience.
Examples of green infrastructure and the ecosystem services they provide
Trees and urban forests
Trees and urban forests can help lower city temperatures, mitigating the urban heat island effect. Their respiration removes pollutants in the air and improves soil health. They also provide habitat for wildlife, and contribute to carbon sequestration.
Carbon sequestration is the process of capturing and storing carbon in environments like forests and marshes. By creating and supporting these carbon capturing environments developers can directly mitigate and offset contributions to global carbon emissions.
Green roofs
Green roofs insulate buildings, reducing energy consumption by keeping them cool in summer and warm in winter. They also provide habitats for birds, insects and small mammals.
Sustainable Drainage Systems (SuDS)
Floodplains and wetlands help attenuate water, preventing flood damage by limiting the speed at which water enters drainage systems. When integrated into urban water management plans, they can also improve water quality and support biodiversity.
Sustainable Drainage Systems (SuDS) mimic natural processes by capturing and filtering rainwater. Rainwater is then repurposed in engineered, ecosystem-supporting features like ponds. SuDS prevent sewage and drainage systems from becoming overwhelmed, reducing the risk of contaminated water being released into local environments.
Key SuDS components include: Permeable pavements, rain gardens, swales, ditches, ponds, and green roofs. These work together to improve water quality, reduce flooding and support urban biodiversity
Wildflowers
Wildflower meadows provide habitat for pollinators. By increasing the abundance of small insects like bees the need for strong fertilisers decreases. This leads to knock-on effects of improved soil health, and less polluted water systems.
Wildflowers can be purchased as seeds, plugs, mats or mixed with grasses in wildflower turf. And can easily be used for planting meadows, embankments and wildlife friendly gardens.
Green corridors
Wildlife corridors, bridges and green pathways create passages for animals to move between fragmented habitats. In addition to supporting biodiversity, these green corridors can improve soil stability with extensive root systems of trees and shrubs, as well as prevent wind and water erosion. They also have noise reducing effects, help manage surface water runoff, and improve air quality.
The economic benefits
Green infrastructure enhances the lifespan and efficiency of traditional infrastructure and delivers economic benefits. These include carbon sequestration as well as air and water filtration. In the London borough of Barking and Dagenham green spaces are estimated to provide £3.64 million in carbon storage alone. This is without including the value of stormwater management, temperature regulation and pollution reduction.
By developing and protecting these areas everyone can benefit, from the wildlife to the taxpayer.
The importance of biodiversity
Biodiversity directly affects the effectiveness of green infrastructure. Ecosystems rich in biodiversity are more resilient to environmental changes and provide more ecosystem services. Forests with a variety of tree and plant species absorb more carbon dioxide, while biodiverse wetlands regulate water quality and prevent flooding more effectively than ecosystems with lower biodiversity.
The human benefit
Green infrastructure enhances the quality of life in cities. Urban green spaces contribute to physical health by providing areas for exercise and improving air quality. In fact studies show that frequent park visits in the UK save the NHS an estimated 100 million pounds per year.
Spending time in nature has proven benefits to mental health. The act of forest bathing highlights how spending time immersed in nature can reduce cortisol and improve cognition and memory.
Designing cities with nature in mind
Green infrastructure solutions provide immediate benefits, with impacts extending well beyond the remit of town planning.
Green infrastructure provides environmentally friendly solutions to urban challenges, including climate change, pollution and biodiversity loss.
When we promote the symbiotic relationship between urban and nature, we create cities that are robust, sustainable and liveable. And in doing so we show that urban development and biodiversity protection don’t have to be mutually exclusive.
Some useful resources to learn more:
Natural England: What Is Green Infrastructure
Nature Scot: What Are Ecosystem Services
Devon County Council: What Is Green Infrastructure and Why Is It Important