Biodiversity - Green infrastructure

Title

The Robustness and Restoration of a Network of Ecological Networks

Reference

Science  Vol. 335 no. 6071 pp. 973-977

Author(s)

Michael J. O. Pocock, Darren M. Evans, Jane Memmott

Study type

Peer Review Journal    

Abstract

Understanding species' interactions and the robustness of interaction networks to species loss is essential to understand the effects of species' declines and extinctions. In most studies, different types of networks (such as food webs, parasitoid webs, seed dispersal networks, and pollination networks) have been studied separately. We sampled such multiple networks simultaneously in an agroecosystem. We show that the networks varied in their robustness; networks including pollinators appeared to be particularly fragile. We show that, overall, networks did not strongly covary in their robustness, which suggests that ecological restoration (for example, through agri-environment schemes) benefitting one functional group will not inevitably benefit others. Some individual plant species were disproportionately well linked to many other species. This type of information can be used in restoration management, because it identifies the plant taxa that can potentially lead to disproportionate gains in biodiversity.

Policy theme(s)

Biodiversity >> Habitats >> Green Infrastructure
Biodiversity >> Habitats >> Habitat management

Keywords

Entry Source:

Shortlisted for Science for Environment Policy News Alert

View this study at:

http://www.sciencemag.org/content/335/6071/973.abstract
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Contact the study author at:

michael.pocock@ceh.ac.uk

Title

The carbon footprint of urban green space—A life cycle approach

Reference

Landscape and Urban Planning
Volume 104, Issue 2, February 2012, Pages 220–229

Author(s)

Michael W. Strohbach, Eric Arnold, Dagmar Haase

Study type

Peer Review Journal    

Abstract

Cities play an important role in the global carbon cycle. They produce a large proportion of CO2 emissions, but they also sequester and store carbon in urban forests and green space. However, sequestration by urban green space is difficult to quantify and also involves emissions. The carbon footprint analysis is an established method for systematically quantifying carbon sinks and sources throughout the lifetime of goods and services. We applied this method to an urban green space project in Leipzig, Germany. To the best of our knowledge it is the first application in this field. We simulated carbon sequestration by growing trees and contrasted it with all related carbon sources, from construction and maintenance over the lifetime of 50 years. In addition, we explored alternative design and maintenance scenarios. Total net sequestration was predicted to be between 137 and 162 MgCO2 ha−1. Park-like design and maintenance is less effective than forest-like design and maintenance. Much uncertainty is linked to tree growth and tree mortality. Increasing annual tree mortality from 0.5 to 4% reduces sequestration by over 70%. In conclusion, urban green space can act as a carbon sink and the design and maintenance have a strong influence on the carbon footprint. The carbon footprint analysis is a valuable tool for estimating the long-term environmental performance of urban green space projects. Compared to emissions from people, the overall potential for carbon mitigation is limited, even in cities such as Leipzig with widely available space for new urban green space.

Policy theme(s)

Biodiversity >> Habitats >> Green Infrastructure
Climate change and energy >> Climate change mitigation >> Carbon sinks
Urban environment >> Urban biodiversity

Keywords

Carbon sequestration; Urban forestry; Life cycle assessment; Urban decline;
Urban reconstruction

Entry Source:

Selected for Science for Environment Policy News Alert

View this study at:

http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S016920461100301X
There is a fee to view this study in full    

Contact the study author at:

strohbach@eco.umass.edu