BiodiverCity

The degree of variation of life forms within a given species, ecosystem, biome is called biodiversity. In other words, it’s the “variety of life”, the countless shades through which life shows up around us.

Within a certain habitat, either natural or artificial, biodiversity consists in the variety of ecological and genetic components, but also social, economic, scientific and cultural. Flowers, butterflies, plants change in species; morphological human features, i.e. eye or skin colors, change in genetic; culture and language represent again another way biodiversity can be expressed. 

All in all, it appears clear that not only natural and animal species, but even more the human one is truly integrated and interacts with the ecosystems that rule life on the Earth. With such of a meaning, biodiversity is surely a richness that has to be preserved, as losing types or varieties results in extremely serious risks, with severe damages on the habitats on Earth that host population and the other forms of life. Thus what happen when outer factor changes the biological richness in a certain habitat?  

Benetton advertising campaign

Lumberjacks, California woods

Originally, the Earth Planet was the untouched kingdom of wild nature, but – standing with what just said – we do know mankind is itself part of the biodiversity, and the fact that human settlements have an impact on the natural environment is unavoidable. On 1992, held in Rio de Janeiro, the Convention on Biolgical Diversities - more informally known as the Biodiversity Convention - took place. Among its main goals, it gave a remarkable importance to the conservation of natural habitat, maintaining and rebuilding as much as possible life species in their natural environment. Such of a policy works for the best as long as the effort of conserving is intended as a potential tool in man’s hand, who can badly influence the nature, but still has a great chance to minimize and compensate the effects of his impacts on it. 

Both the evolution and the progressive adaptation throughout centuries teach us that integration is possible and it is the target to pursue especially where human settlements give nature too little space: cities. The ways to integrate urban and natural environment can be several, thus the word “BiodiverCity” meaning the biodiversity in the city, in order to sustain and improve the cohabitation between man and nature that (sometimes) unpredictably resists to concrete, walls and street in the urban context. 

Brick habitat

A peculiar yet simple architectonical trick to help biodiversity in dwelling centers are the “green bricks” that give small birds and plants shelters while still keep working as construction components. The Chinese London-based designer Chooi-leng Tan and so do others, experimented modular brick habitat that can be positively used in both restorations, in enhancing vertical green walls, as water collectors, perches, nests and feeders for small birds. The same concept of keeping apart small habitat for the “urban wildlife” is the core idea of the Brick Biotype, by the Italian Micaela Nardella and the romanian Oana Tudose, presented at Milano during the Furniture fair 2012. This special brick, evoking a strong craftsmanship, is made of sand, soil and plaster and it takes its inspiration from birds nest inside cracks of masonry buildings. In fact, it can be used as nesting, water bowls, a place to grow grass. Look at the video.

Brick Biotype

As all those examples are type of exposed bricks, it could be a problem if other types of wall finishing are chosen, nevertheless those ideas are interesting and give the opportunity to explore this theme experimenting similar strategies even in our terraces or backyards. 

Another form of integration between urban and natural component that is currently meeting people’s favor are urban gardens, portions of land to be used to grow crops – within urban boundaries – for citizen use and care. Gardens and orchards care has its roots in the knowledge of nature, with its life cycles, and particularly of the native species of places we inhabit. Taking this component into the cities by means of urban garden - self made agriculture landscapes – not only is having a remarkable ecological rule, but it is also a chance for social gathering, proving again that biodiversity happens also in such cases. Furthermore, this agriculture urban system could, partially, answer to the need of short distance food supply, activating a virtuous circle and allowing citizens to actively win their land back. 

Urban gardens, Rome

One of several events as far as urban gardens are concerned, takes place in Rome – Parco Alessandrino – with the “Urban Gardens” competition that put together participants for the growing of 33 portions of land, 40sqmt each (around 430 sqf): three years growing licence, 10€ per month (12$, 8.5£) is the rent fee for water and electricity supply. Ridiculous costs that have scared nobody! 

Not to forget which is the category of people that can mostly and successfully understand how important is respecting nature: children. At the Natural Science of Bruxelles, there is a section for kids where thay can have a “urban adventure”, a exploratory expedition through the city which does not only consist of setts, walls and concrete, yet it is filled with animal life and vegetation. 

BiodiverCITY exhibition, Bruxelles

By means of specimens, photos, films and interactive games, the exhibition helps to explain what the biodiversity in the city entails. Divided in different areas, it starts in the street that may not look like a suitable environment because of the concrete, the asphalt, and the glass, but it is home to several animal and plant species; next kids discover the biodiversity in the soil; thereafter they are in charge of designing a garden with as much biodiversity as possible, considering which species can survive in the city; at the end of this “urban safari” they called to take an active role, as if they were politicians or urban planners, and make a challenging decision on how to make the city greener and more sustainable. 

Moreover, “Wild Wednesday” is a summer event sponsored by Friends of Highline - the 1-mile (1.6 km) New York City linear park built on a former railroad which runs along the lower west side of Manhattan, redesigned and planted as an aerial greenway– that allows kids to explore the natural world on the High Line, looking inside a leaf, watching a butterfly fly, or hold wriggly worm in the palm of their hand. Ages 4+ …go for it!

Highline, NYC

Wild Wednesday kids program