Nowadays, there is a population increase in both cities and urban areas. From the beginning of the XXI century, 85% of the Europeans live in cities, as well as more than half of the world population. Within this context, urban biodiversity plays a crucial role in the culture for sustainability. The future of a sustainable society relies on how biodiversity is structured and managed in cities. The common urban biodiversity management approach is based on the fact that cities and adjoining natural spaces have to be connected in order to promote the connectivity among urban and natural systems through a strategic distribution of the urban green. In order to transform cities into permeable urban areas, how recharge nodules that constitute habitats (urban parks) are connected through corridors (streets, alleys) needs to be studied. In favour of biodiversity level improvement, “naturation” is suggested. This term is designed as a process based in the implementation of actions and strategies on urban green, mainly adding vegetation and green spaces following socio-ecological criteria. The aim of this process is to “naturalise” the urban system by promoting the entrance of autochthonous flora and fauna. _x000D_ In the present doctoral thesis, the components of the urban green affecting non-pernicious biodiversity and quality of life are analysed. Precisely, it focuses in those components related with (1) “Genotop”, elements referring to tree size, pruning, leaves type, tree maturity and the capacity to create cavities; (2) “Trophotop”, components related to the trophic production that attracts granivorous and frungivorous fauna and the persistence of fruits on the plant; (3) species resilience to climate change and the hydric requirements, susceptibility to illnesses, resistance to drought, warmness and frost, as well as its invasion capacity; (4) Well-being and quality of life, related with allergies and toxicity of plants; (5) Ecosystems services referring to regulation (acoustic and thermal aspects, and GHG fixation), provisioning (shadow provisioning and olfactory aspects, as well as medical and culinary properties), and cultural (educational, social, aesthetical and cultural aspects). _x000D_ The analysis of the study cases is carried out in Barcelona and Valls and consists, firstly, in the characterisation of the vegetation and the calculation of the biodiversity indicators; secondly, in the characterisation of urban areas and their vegetation (Barcelona); and thirdly, in the creation of a vegetal species database (Valls and Barcelona). Finally, taking these components, the Urban Green Governance Index (UGI) is used to analyse the factors of the urban green (Valls and Barcelona). Specifically, ornithological biodiversity (genotop) (Passeriformes) is studied (Valls); nest structure and materials are examined (Valls), and the trophic performance of those fauna-attracting species (trophotop) is calculated. (Valls)_x000D_ Regarding the results obtained, it is concluded that, in order to promote urban biodiversity, it is needed to consider the components of the urban green that influence biodiversity, as well as the related socio-ecological aspects. In this sense, and to facilitate the management of biodiversity in green city areas under ecological and environmental criteria, the index UGI becomes a support tool for urban green managers that can be extrapolated to other Mediterranean cities.
| Date of Award | 17 Feb 2017 |
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| Original language | Undefined/Unknown |
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| Supervisor | Montserrat Pallarés Barberá (Director), Marti Boada Junca (Director) & Sonia Sanchez Mateo (Director) |
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