Thread by @sbekessy

1/10
Cities around the world are confronting unprecedented challenges to liveability - extreme weather, exponential population growth, stress, anxiety, pandemics - Everyday nature is a key solution (a thread)
#SCBMelb20 @CAULHub @TSR_Hub @ICON_Science @CitiesWNature @urbangreenUP

2/10
The benefits of every day nature in cities are remarkable and compelling ... lowering the temperature, improving air quality, reducing risk of poor mental health, increasing sales in retail strips, generating sense of place etc etc etc
#SCBMelb20

3/10 It's possible to fill a city with trees with little benefit for biodiversity - A HUGE missed opportunity as cities can be hotspots for threatened species, but also given the incredible added co-benefits that BIODIVERSE greening delivers
nespurban.edu.au/wp-content/upl……
#SCBMelb20

4/10 The problem is that our planning and regulatory systems still see biodiversity as a problem/constraint rather than a massive opportunity to be maximised - and our urban developments tend to reflect this
#SCBMelb20

5/10 Instead of offsetting nature away from cities we need BIODIVERSITY SENSITIVE URBAN DESIGN that aims to
enhance on-site biodiversity, embedding nature in the urban fabric and delivering all of those remarkable benefits to people
conbio.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/full/10.11……
#SCBMelb20

6/10 BSUD requires explicit objectives for focal species/ecosystems, including species to 'bring back' to a site. BSUD can apply to plans for singe house, a precinct or an entire city. Focal species can tell compelling cultural stories
besjournals.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/abs/10.100……
#SCBMelb20

7/10 The key is explicitly linking the needs of species to design - Focus on three considerations: RESOURCES, THREATS & CONNECTIVITY.
Resources can include natural features or habitat analogues,
like this brick that allows residents to watch birds nesting
#SCBMelb20

8/10 We can mitigate threats through bird friendly glass, road underpasses, 'catios', shielded lighting... Create connectivity through green spines but also by carefully planning streetscapes - nature strips, roundabouts, rooftops, green walls
renew.org.au/sanctuary-maga……
#SCBMelb20

9/10 You'll hear that nature is "stinky", "noisy", "trees are a safety risk", "roots damage infrastructure", "leaves get in my gutter"... sigh
But ALL CONCERNS CAN BE DEALT WITH THROUGH CAREFUL DESIGN - they really can!
#SCBMelb20

10/10 The future of our cities may well depend on this new conceptualization of the urban fabric, where nature can thrive and people can enjoy – every day – the remarkable range of benefits that nature can deliver.
#SCBMelb20