Design and Future of Urban Biodiversity

Private Urban Garden Satisfaction and Its Determinants in Quito, Ecuador

“…Although the inclusion of exotic plants with unusual beauty may produce stronger curb appeal (Ignatieva, 2010), native and traditional plants promote greater satisfaction over time. This long-term advantage for homeowners could lead to more satisfied customers and more referrals.…”

Local Assessment of Rio de Janeiro City: Two Case Studies of Urbanization Trends and Ecological Impacts

“…As a result, in the last three decades, extensive areas of native ecosystems were almost completely transformed or suppressed to give place to high and medium income residential and commercial complexes as well as shopping malls (Pinheiro and Pinheiro 2001 ). The globalization trend of open public and private spaces led to manicured gardens (Ignatieva 2010 ) based on water-demanding green grass lawns, a few exotic ornamental species and palm trees, creating biotic homogenization or a decrease of biodiversity (Müller and Werner 2010 ). In approximately 7 years (1984)(1985)(1986)(1987)(1988)(1989)(1990)(1991)(1992)(1993)(1994)(1995)(1996)(1997)(1998)(1999)(2000)(2001), the Barra da Tijuca district lost about 13 % of its natural areas, restinga being the most affected, accounting for 41 % of the lost natural areas; followed by forest (19 %) and mangrove (6 %).…”

BIMBY’s first steps: a pilot study on the contribution of residential front-yards in Phoenix and Maastricht to biodiversity, ecosystem services and urban sustainability

“…These account for 26 % of all the analysed yards in Phoenix. However, the green English style picturesque or 'park' gardens (20.1 %) (Szilagy 2011) and the gardenesque-or Victorian gardens (Ignatieva 2010)-both garden types with lawns, shrubs and trees (and in the Victorian gardens flower beds with usually exotic flowers) together make up for 35.3 % of the yards in Phoenix. These gardens add biodiversity to the otherwise native desert environment, but bring along many sustainability problems like water shortages (Larsen and Harlan 2006;Martin 2008;Larson et al 2009;St.…”

“…Citizens can become important agents in creating thriving, well-connected living environments (Rudd et al 2002). Still, residential garden designs and maintenance styles are often guided by aesthetics and ease more than by the aim to create habitat, to increase biodiversity, to build capacities for (urban) sustainability, or for the delivery of ecosystem services (Cranz and Boland 2004;Martin 2008;Ignatieva 2010;Beumer 2014;Beumer and Martens 2015).…”