Urban ecology is a branch of ecology, also involved with the study of living organisms with each other and their surroundings, but in an urban backdrop. This environment would contain urbanized landscapes such as cities and towns, thus incorporating not only the environment point of view, but also the socio-economic aspect of the ecosystem.
Urban ecology depends on sustainable urban planning for its success. Ecological urban planning involves using green and blue elements, thus restoring nature in the ecosystem, while at the same time, making sure of technological and infrastructural prowess.
New concepts in urban planning
Difference between Green and Bio Urbanism
The new concepts used in green urban planning initiate that the city is, in fact, a living organism with complex metabolic systems. To achieve good health, it needs to be sustainable and must promote a healthy atmosphere to its cells, i.e., its residents. Synonymous concepts, thus, such as new urbanism, green urbanism, bio-urbanism, organic urbanism and green city are implemented.
Green urbanism creates beneficial urban communities, with social, economic, and environmental benefits. Bio-urbanism or organic urbanism, for that matter, introduces the idea that city and nature should meet. Biophilic cities contain large amounts of natural elements and aim at protecting, preserving, and restoring nature.
Difference between Sustainable, Smart and Green Cities
Sustainable cities or eco-cities are designed by taking into account their impact on the environment, in the sense of minimizing waste production and pollution, as well as the inputs of energy, water, and food. These targets constitute the principles of sustainable urban development.
A similar concept is the smart city, where the investments in socio-human capital, urban infrastructure, and rational management of natural resources encourage sustainable economic development and a high quality of life through participatory actions and commitment from community members.
A green city is a way to increase the sustainability of urbanized areas. It is a concept of urban planning relying on the ecosystem services that green infrastructure can supply. In essence, this concept includes the characteristics of all the urban concepts described previously.
Essential elements of green cities
Green abd Blue Oxygen
Green infrastructure is an interconnected network of green areas and hydrographic elements, contributing to the preservation and enhancement of biodiversity and the maintenance of the biotic processes within the urban environments close to their natural condition. Some elements of green infrastructure found in green cities are:
Green and blue oxygen-producing areas are the fundamental components of green cities. They are represented by trees, shrubs, and water reservoirs such as lakes and rivers. Their function is to control pollution, conserve water, protect soil systems, purify the air, mitigate urban climate and improve the aesthetic aspect of urban life. Moreover, infrastructure such as green, blue, and green-blue corridors (AMSTERDAM) also paves the role for all necessary functions.
Green Belts
Green belts (PARIS) and urban forests are also one component of green town planning, reserved for the restoration of vegetation. Furthermore, urban agriculture (COPENHAGEN) is also promoted in areas where agriculture is the main source of livelihood. Green buildings (FRANKFURT) are indispensable infrastructural components of green cities. They are built with respectable regard towards the environment, thus consume less energy, use renewable resources, don’t pollute the atmosphere, and conserve water.
Apart from urban forests and green belts, the urban city is filled with modern infrastructure. Thus, to incorporate greenery and thus clean oxygen-rich atmosphere everywhere, green walls and vertical/roof gardening (BOSCO VERTICALE, MILAN) are implemented. They are rather unconventional green area infrastructures, but quite beneficial anyhow.
A green street network is applied to conserve eco-mobility. This aims to reduce and mitigate impacts of transport on the health of an urban ecosystem. Thus, a green city’s architecture should reflect sane and clean environmental practices. The city of Curitiba has implemented a sustainable transport system, the Bus Rapid Transit (BRT). Bicycles (popular in EUROPE) may be encouraged. There is also an emphasis on carpooling and electric cars, too. Additionally, eco-friendly sidewalks in lieu of concrete pavements may encourage soil and water sub-systems to flourish, without hindering their nutrient cycles.
An example of a concept to promote eco-cities
The 15-minute city (‘la ville du quart d’heure’ in French) is a rising concept in the domain of urban planning and the uprise of smart cities, in which all citizens can to access their basic needs and wants within a short distance from their domicile. This concept, which worships the term ‘local’, has been proposed by Carlos Moreno, a French-Colombian urbanist and a professor at the prestigious Sorbonne Université.
In this city, one would be able to fulfil 6 essential functions: living, working, commerce, healthcare, education, and entertainment; at a radius of 5 minutes by bicycle and 15 minutes by walking. It is based on 4 components: density, proximity, diversity, and digitalisation. Other similar concepts include those of Weng and da Silva. Several implementations have started to be seen in cities in Canada, France, and Colombia, such as in Ottawa, Nantes, Paris, Seine-Saint-Denis, and Mulhouse.
The goal is to reduce the use of vehicles, as well as to reduce energy and time lost in traveling. Moreover, this concept aims at creating a healthy biosphere, where citizens may roam around freely around the city, on sidewalks, bicycle paths and thus aim at smart sustainable urbanism. There is a vision to implement this concept at least in districts and quartiers, before implying the project in huge metropoles. It promotes green spaces and components of green cities, thus promoting positive environmental impact in the form of increasing biodiversity and preventing invasive species.
Conclusion
The objectives of this concept are manifold. First of all, the concept is a great example of social evolution and betterment of human facilities. With easy access to all resources, the efficiency of the population will definitely increase. Secondly, the idea has been put forth, to restore the ecological, economic, and social balance in the society. Thus, as society ameliorates, so will the economy, with rising literacy rates and easy disposition of resources. Furthermore, there has to be a political willingness, to implement such town planning concepts. Carlos Moreno claims that this is no magic wand, it will take time, it must be cost-effective initially. The sole goal he wishes is that the city be liveable, viable and equitable.
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Written by: Shreya Patankar