Urban biodiversity is enhanced by horticulture

Durban’s Community Reforestation Programme is restoring indigenous forest and woodland ecosystems by employing local community members who propagate indigenous trees at their homesteads. Photo by eThekwini Municipality.

The world continues to urbanise at an unprecedented rate. Cities are both drivers of biodiversity loss and habitat fragmentation and critical contributors to nature conservation and restoration.

On the one hand, the rapid growth of cities presents a myriad of challenges for local governments, with current levels of loss of biodiversity undermining ecosystem services that are vital for human well-being, such as air and water purification, climate regulation, and food security. On the other hand, it is well-known that many of the solutions to these challenges lie in nature and it is in cities where the global biodiversity agenda will ultimately play out.

Integrating plants and nature into urban planning and development, positions cities to lead on policies and actions that protect, conserve, and restore biodiversity. The role of cities is increasingly recognised as critical for achieving the goals set out in the Global Biodiversity Plan. Supporting this role is the power that plants play in helping biodiversity to flourish in the urban context.

AIPH, through their Green City Initiative, advocates to position horticulture as a key champion of the global biodiversity agenda. Cities can only achieve their biodiversity targets and realise the full extent of their contributions to the global biodiversity agenda by harnessing the multiple benefits that plants provide, particularly in the urban environment. Urban greening is undisputedly one of the most effective ways to advance the notion of a world where humans and nature live in harmony. Urban green spaces, such as parks, gardens, green roofs, and urban forests, provide habitats for wildlife, support pollinators, and facilitate species movement across the urban matrix. Additionally, these areas offer recreational and health benefits to residents, improve air and water quality, and mitigate urban heat island effects.

Cities are increasingly taking urgent action to restore and enhance biodiversity through urban greening. Through the “Living Green for Biodiversity and Urban Ecosystem Restoration” category of the AIPH World Green City Awards, cities have demonstrated how bold and innovative urban greening initiatives are the cornerstone of urban biodiversity efforts, which, in turn, benefit people, nature, and the planet.

Chengdu has undertaken an ambitious project known as the Urban Green Heart, which involves the development of the largest urban park in the world. This initiative not only aims to enhance the city’s green coverage but also to create a massive biodiversity hub within the urban setting. The park is designed to support a wide range of plant and animal species in the heart of the bustling city. Ecological restoration and biodiversity protection are implemented across 1,275 square kilometres. Approximately 70.6 million square metres of new forests has increased the number of plant and animal species from 1,147 in 2020 to 1,724 in 2023, demonstrating how large-scale urban greening through holistic horticulture planning can provide substantial ecological benefits and improve residents’ quality of life.

Durban’s Community Reforestation Programme is restoring indigenous forest and woodland ecosystems by employing local community members who propagate indigenous trees at their homesteads. The seeds, collected from nearby natural areas, are propagated, and then the seedlings are cared for until they are of a suitable size. To date, the project has created 247 jobs for members of the surrounding communities, 90 per cent of whom were previously in poverty. The programme promotes biodiversity while promoting environmental stewardship and equitable sharing of the benefits that biodiversity provides for urban residents. Through strategic plant selection, preparation, and planting, the project is both a model for biodiversity restoration, and has created opportunities for community upliftment, green jobs, and local livelihood improvement.

Town of Victoria Park’s Jirdarup Bushland in Western Australia. Photo by Derrin Kee.

The south-west of Western Australia (WA) is a global biodiversity hotspot, representing only 2.4 per cent of Earth’s land surface but hosting 60 per cent of its species. The Town of Victoria Park’s Jirdarup Bushland contains endemic flora species, contributing to this hotspot. However, rapid development and urbanisation have led to a decline in urban tree canopy, affecting both endemic species and residents’ well-being. In response, the Town developed an Urban Forest Strategy (UFS) with programs to increase canopy coverage. These initiatives include collecting seeds from Jirdarup Bushland, encouraging community involvement, and promoting biodiversity throughout the Town. Beyond these environmental benefits, the Urban Forest program fosters community bonding and appreciation for urban greening, emphasising the impact of local actions on global biodiversity

These examples illustrate how the horticultural components of urban greening projects significantly enhance biodiversity outcomes. They also illustrate that plants are not merely ornamental but play a crucial role in habitat creation, ecosystem restoration, and in providing benefits for urban populations. Through the AIPH World Green City Awards, AIPH is proud to showcase how cities can harness the power of plants to achieve positive biodiversity outcomes and shape a greener, healthier, and more resilient urban future.

This article was first published in the June 2024 issue of FloraCulture International.