Biodiversity refers to various living beings found in an ecosystem at all levels. A lot of people associate biodiversity with rural environments where you can find various species of plants and animals alive and thriving together. Urban biodiversity conservation helps minimize heat island effect in urban areas. It also helps moderate the temperature in big cities. In the recent years, green roofs and living walls have been added to buildings to provide habitat for various creatures. These green roofs enhance the appearance of the building and also don’t take up as much space as conventional green spaces.
There are many benefits to conserving urban biodiversity, such as getting access to clean air, reducing heat, increasing workplace productivity, lowering rates of heart disease, and improving mental health. As the human population is constantly growing, it is leading to a decline in urban biodiversity. To overcome this, it is important to understand the challenges and opportunities associated with urban conservation actions.
Most urban spaces in the current era are facing the challenge of poor air quality. Urban biodiversity conservation helps improve air quality by removing carbon dioxide from the atmosphere and releasing oxygen, reducing the incidence of respiratory problems. Planting trees can be an effective way to overcome all such challenges in urban areas.
When biodiversity is preserved in the cities, rainwater is also able to reach aquifers and reservoirs. With urban biodiversity conservation, cities are able to create safe and healthy spaces for all living beings. There are many organizations across the world engaged in implementing various methods to conserve urban diversity. These organizations conduct workshops, tree plantings, presentations, outreach programs, and educational activities to achieve sustainable living goals. Here are some of the methods popularly used for urban biodiversity conservation:
Tree plantation
Urban tree planting is an effective means of urban biodiversity conservation. These programs involved a planned group of activities to reduce carbon footprints and promote and conserve urban forests and trees. Most countries are implementing urban tree plantation programs to tackle climate change and its consequences.
Miyawaki forest
Miyawaki forests in India are viable solutions for making cities resilient. Miyawaki forests are capable of growing 10 times faster than normal forests. They are also 30X denser and contain 100x more biodiversity. These forests can be established within minimum span of time. Also, these forest don’t require maintenance after two to three years.
Kitchen garden
Kitchen garden designs in urban areas are also great means of reducing carbon footprints in urban areas. Apart from that, these kitchen gardens help preserve and promote organic farming by reducing the use of harmful chemicals and preserving soil health. In this way, kitchen garden plays an effective role in enhancing urban environment.
Agroforestry
Agro forestry involves integrating trees into fields used for crop production. It is especially ideal for dry regions with soils susceptible to desertification.
In this way, biodiversity can be preserved by using many innovative methods. It is good to associate with organizations engaged in implementing ways to conserve urban biodiversity through various means, such as tree plantations, kitchen garden design, and Miyawaki forests in India. Most of them also provide knowledge and resources to help students and other people understand how to incorporate urban biodiversity into their environment. They also conduct workshops and seminars to teach the various ways of implementing it. They use a multifaceted approach encompassing practical conservation efforts, research, community involvement, and innovative methods for promoting biodiversity in urban areas. These organizations are playing a significant role in integrating biodiversity goals into urban area plans and policies.