It all began during a walk in Vienna's Augarten... at least the research for this article. In this historic city garden, which was originally a species-rich meadow landscape, you can immerse yourself in the world of biodiversity. A QR code leads to short audio clips that provide interesting facts. I came across an important aspect of species conservation that was new to me:
We need infrastructure for our nature!
Infrastructure? Well-developed, safe roads, hospitals and shopping facilities nearby, good cell phone and Internet reception? No, "green" infrastructure! So wind turbines and public transport connections? Neither. Connected natural landscapes and ecosystems in which animals and plants can migrate, spread and maintain their symbiotic relationships!
Imagine an endless concrete desert on your doorstep, where you can theoretically walk, but it's far too hot and too far to get to the nearest supermarket alive. But you absolutely have to leave, because you can't turn off the heating in your house. It's getting unbearably hot. The tap runs dry and you run out of food in the fridge. That's roughly what's happening to countless plants and animals at the moment.
Global warming and the destruction of habitats - the two main reasons for the current drastic extinction of species - are forcing many species to leave their habitats and migrate to cooler areas. In the last 50 years, half of all natural habitats have been lost.
Natural network instead of road network
"Biodiversity is best served when it has habitats ... and these are connected to each other," explains zoologist and biodiversity researcher Christian Raffetseder in an audio contribution at Augarten. In the future, this could become a small but important point in a "Global Safety Net" spanning the planet - a global safety net for biodiversity. Just as a transport network connects settlement areas, this network would consist of nature conservation areas and sustainably used ecosystems, connected by "nature roads"(Science).
Just as we humans depend on good infrastructure to cope with our everyday lives, animals and plants also need "green" infrastructure to survive.
The principle is simple:
- The more nature, the better!
- Available building materials ... Everything that nature has to offer!
- A place where living creatures can live undisturbed, even with people!
The rule of thumb for the urban habitat: less English lawn, more wilderness!
Hedges, flowering meadows, old trees, house greening, "breathable", water-permeable paving instead of asphalt surfaces. Rainwater could thus replenish the groundwater reserves instead of running off(green city climate).
If road infrastructure were replaced by green corridors, an Augarten wilderness could be connected to the Prater or the Danube Island - many small and large natural bridges over which insects, animals and plants can migrate from one natural habitat to another.
Cities may not be centers of nature like large nature reserves, but they are an important component of green networks. Numerous species have adapted excellently to the diverse urban habitats(Umweltdachverband Vielfalt Entdecken):
The swift feels just as at home in the recesses of buildings as it does on rock faces. The city dipper is more stress-resistant to the hustle and bustle than its forest counterpart and has even adapted its digestive tract to the exotic food supply in the city. Endangered species often find it easier to find a habitat in urban gardens than on agricultural land: Orchids, snowdrops, hedgehogs or butterfly species such as the sail butterfly.
Urban space has doubled in the last 30 years. Urban ecosystems therefore play an important role when it comes to the conservation of species.(IPBES).
Plants - service providers and climate savers
Did you know that the Augarten is equipped with excellent air conditioning? In one of the audio clips, I am asked to feel the cooling effect of trees by consciously perceiving the difference in warmth between a sunny spot and a shady spot. On hot summer days, trees can reduce the temperature in the shade by 11 to 25 degrees Celsius. Water evaporates from the leaves of the tree, which absorbs the ambient heat and cools the air, explains the voice in my headphones. Green houses and roofs have similar cooling effects. Biomass also acts as an important CO2 reservoir(Science). Green infrastructure is therefore extremely relevant for mitigating and adapting to global warming(CCCA).
So what does a city that is part of the Global Safety Network look like?
Take a virtual city trip and see famous places that are quickly transformed into green oases in animations by visual designer Jan Kamensky: Visual Utopias!
Lino Zeddies, author of Utopia 2048, takes us into the green urban jungle in his books: Time travel to the year 2048
Read the exciting story about the 100-year-old who created Barcelona 's first roof garden over 60 years ago, where more than 40 fruit trees thrive: The Guardian - The centenarian who built Barcelona's first roof garden
Anyone can help build this infrastructure network for nature. Start by looking out of your apartment window: Where in your residential street or courtyard could concrete be replaced by greenery? Is there space for green facades, which are even financially supported in some cities (e.g. Vienna)? Work in your municipality to promote biodiversity and urban greening in public spaces. If you have a garden or balcony, fill it with plants or leave part of it completely to nature. By the way, gardening close to nature also makes less work(NDR)! Or you can start like me with a walk in the park...
