ECOLOGICAL & ECONOMIC SUSTAINABILITY Lisa M. Dunaway, LEED AP Owner, Sensible Ecology, LLC Instructor of Urban Planning, Ball State University Melissa Begley, AICP Assistant Planning Director, City of Columbus, Indiana
Why does the environment work
the way it does?
Landscape Ecology
Biodiversity
“Life” + Diversity Biodiversity is the variation of life forms
within a given ecosystem, biome, or the entire Earth.
Biodiversity is often used as a measure of the health of biological systems.
The biodiversity found on Earth today consists of many millions of distinct biological species.
(Source: Wikipedia)
Web of Interdependence
Biodiversity
We discover 18,000 new species a year
26,000 species go extinct each year
Tree of Life Source: Audubon Nov/Dec 2010
Why we need Biodiversity
When biodiversity is high/healthy, nature can keep everything in balance: Clean air Clean water New soil Minimal soil erosion Resources for creatures, including
humans
Ecosystem services
Without biodiversity, our quality of life decreases rapidly.
Biodiversity provides: Plentiful & diverse food (veggies, fruits,
& fish) Lumber Oxygen Useable water Carbon sequestration Buffer large weather systems
Balance of nature
Nature keeps a balance but humans
overwhelm the system.
Why we need Biodiversity
Biodiversity = Ecological health Ecological health = Economic Sustainability Biodiversity = Economic Sustainability
=
Threats to Biodiversity
1. Non-native species 2. Fragmentation
Emerald Ash Borer Source: michigan.gov
Urban Sprawl Source: planningwithpower.org
Native Species
What are native species? A species whose presence in a region is the
result of only natural processes, with no human intervention.
Every natural organism (as opposed to a domesticated organism) has its own natural range of distribution in which it is regarded as native.
In the United States, native species are typically considered to be those who were present before European settlement (~1600s).
(Source: Wikipedia)
Non-native Species
Introduced, alien, exotic, invasive, aggressive, non-indigenous
A species living outside its native distributional range.
Arrived there by human activity, either deliberate or accidental.
Introduced species are damaging to the ecosystem they are introduced into; they negatively affect agriculture, natural resources, and health of animals and humans.
(Source: Wikipedia)
Why are they bad?
Non-natives are often aggressive (invasive) and outcompete the native vegetation.
They can hybridize native vegetation.
Natives usually don’t have defenses against alien invaders and will become ill or die.
Non-natives do not contribute to the food web.
They alter the frequency of wildfires.
Change the availability of surface and ground water.
Why are they bad? (con’t)
Decrease soil biota diversity.
Deplete soil nutrients.
Degrade aquatic systems.
Increase the threats to endangered species.
Increase soil erosion.
Introduced species of animals, plants and microbes cost the U.S. $123 billion a year
(Source: Scientific American)
Examples of Non-natives
Pear Tree
Zebra Grass
Daylily
Juniper
Ginkgo
Lilac
Hosta
Hostas Source: ligrows.com
Monocultures
Lawns are a monoculture
Do not contribute to biodiversity
All the lawns in the US add up to the twice size of Indiana! Lawns!
Source: americanconsumernews.com
Invasive Species
Emerald Ash Borer
Dutch Elm Disease
AIDS virus
Kudzu
Asian Carp
Zebra mussels
Rats
Feral cats
Cats! Photo: Lisa Dunaway
So what?
Natives
Non-natives
So what?
Every non-native planted takes the place of a native that could have lived there.
The more natives the better:
Safety in numbers
Food source for native wildlife
Provides ecosystem services
Food
If you don’t have insects – you don’t have anything.
Non-natives aren’t good for native wildlife: Don’t taste good
Our wildlife hasn’t had time to evolve with them Don’t recognize non-
natives as food
Haven’t evolved the means to digest them
90% of insects are specialists
Can’t use them as homes
Insect “damage”?! Source: harpercollege.edu
Scary Facts
Lawns in the US are the twice size of Indiana.
We’ve bought in ~50,000 non-native species.
There are 5,000 documented invasive plants in the “natural” areas of North America.
Introduced species of animals, plants and microbes cost the U.S. $123 billion a year.
(Sources: Tallamy, Milesi, Scientific American)
Native vs. Non-native
“Aren’t some non-natives okay?”
Play it safe
Not a matter of IF but WHEN
Supply & demand
i.e. Chestnut blight
Remember the global scale
If you’re truly interested in sustainability – plant natives ONLY
Best Natives for Wildlife
Source: Tallamy
North American Natives
Oaks: 80 species
Willows: 97 species
Cherries & Plums: 31 species
Birches: 16 species
Poplars, Aspens, Cottonwoods: 8 species
Crabapples: 4 species
The berries: 21 species
Maples: 9 species
Pines: 35 species
Elms: 7 species (Source: Tallamy)
Habitat Fragmentation
Urban Sprawl
Fishers, Indiana Source: Google Maps
Habitat Fragmentation
Fragmentation in Southern Indiana Source: newsinfo.iu.edu
Patches Areas of similar
habitat Often left after
disturbance Corridors
Connections between patches
Matrix The remainder of the
landscape
Patches
Areas of similar habitat Edge v. interior habitat
& species Local extinction
probability
Source: Dramstad, et al.
Edges
The perimeter of
patches
Edge structural
diversity: horizontal
& vertical
Edge as a filter
Source: Dramstad, et al.
Corridors
Connections
between patches
Stepping stone
connectivity
Distance between
stepping stones
Loss of a stepping
stone
Source: Dramstad, et al.
Corridors
Cluster stepping
stones (ideal)
Also called “linkages”
Source: Dramstad, et al.
Matrix
The remainder of
the landscape, the
context
Animal perception
of scale of
fragmentation Source: Dramstad, et al.
Local Extinction Probability
Local Extinction Probability
New species are created more rapidly in large habitats than small habitats.
Species go extinct slower in large habitats.
We have put all our wildlife into tiny islands.
Inbreeding
No genetic diversity
They are trapped
Extinction Debt
“Extinction debt”
We degrade habitat and there is a lag before species begin to die off.
When the “debt” is paid – we will lose all native biodiversity.
Restore habitat before it’s too late! (Source: Tallamy)
Scary Facts
1:1 correspondence
If we lose 50% of the habitat, we lose 50% of our species.
We have taken & modified 95-97% of all land in the lower 48.
Effectively shrank wildlife habitat down to 1/20 of its original size.
By the time our current “debt” is paid we will have lost 95% of the species that were here when the Mayflower landed.
(Sources: Rosenzweig, Tallamy)
Scary Facts (con’t)
Paved roads in the US cover an area 1.2 times the size of Indiana!
2 million acres – size of Yellowstone – were lost to development each year between 1982 and 1997.
Suburbia has increased as much as 5,909% since 1960.
(Sources: Hayden, McKinney, Elvridge, Tallamy)
Restoring Connectivity
Plan for restoration of corridors
Bolster existing patches
Find creative ways to link patches
Source: mw2.google.com Source: cache.marriott.com
Restoring Connectivity
Establish and maintain functional habitat:
Food
Water
Cover
A place to raise young (Source: Indiana Wildlife Federation)
Food
Supply as much food as possible through native vegetation in order to meet the year-round needs of a variety of species.
Trees, shrubs, herbaceous plants, succulents, and even grasses produce foods such as acorns and other nuts, berries, fruits, and seeds.
Buds, catkins, foliage, twigs, sap, nectar, and pollen are all other important wildlife food produced by plants.
Water
Like food, every living thing needs clean
water, for drinking, bathing, and sometimes
breathing!
Be sure to keep in mind the different types of
wildlife that might use your property when
selecting and designing your water feature.
An elevated birdbath is fine for flying and
climbing animals, but creatures like toads,
rabbits and turtles will need water provided
closer to the ground to meet their needs.
Cover
Wildlife needs protective
cover as protection from
predators as well as
extreme weather.
Plants play an important
role in creating this
component of habitat.
A variety of human-
designed wildlife housing
can be built or purchased.
Bat House Source: yardenvy.com
A place to raise young
The same plants that provide food will do triple-duty as a place to raise young.
Wildlife can engage in their courtship behaviors and where they can safely raise their young.
Without this unique type of cover, wildlife may pass through your habitat area but will not be able to take up a truly permanent residence in all stages of their life cycles.
Native Prairie Restoration Photo by: Lisa Dunaway
Factors to Consider
Urban Heat Island
Architecture
Pollution
Infrastructure
Urban Heat Island
Source: plg1.cs.uwaterloo.ca
Urban Heat Island Solutions
Plant trees! (and
other vegetation)
Reduce paving
Utilize green
infrastructure
methods
Limit sprawl
Utilize sustainable
building practices
Roof Garden @ Rice Plant Science Center Photo by: Lohren Deeg
Urban Heat Island Solutions
Rain Garden Source: mt.nrcs.usda.gov
Permeable Pavement Source: mytorontohomeimprovement.com
Bird Un-friendly Architecture
We lose one billion birds to building strikes every year
Building strikes are the #1 killer of our birds
Many species are not robust enough to recover those loses
Source: pictureninja.com
Bird Un-friendly Architecture
Lots of glass in close proximity to greenery creates lots of reflections that birds mistake for more greenery.
See-through buildings with a glass exterior and a lack of interior walls look like open sky to birds.
Open pedways, lobbies, and courtyards make birds think they can fly through.
Photo by: Lisa Dunaway
Bird Un-friendly Architecture
Buildings that are all reflective glass can reflect the skyline in the background and be virtually invisible to birds.
Buildings with large plants inside, either real or artificial, that can be seen from outside invite birds.
Trump Tower Chicago Photo by: Lisa Dunaway
Bird Friendly Architecture
Windows and walls set at
an angle don’t confuse
birds.
Window screens make
glass surfaces much less
reflective.
Unnecessary exterior
lighting should be turned
off at night and curtains or
blinds should be drawn on
lighted windows.
Aqua Building Chicago Photo by: Lisa Dunaway
Bird Friendly Architecture
Multiple panes &
external dividers
break up the
surface effectively.
Glass that reflects
wavelengths of
light invisible to
people but visible
to birds.
Source: designtopnews.com
Bird Friendly Architecture
Read more at
http://birds.suite
101.com/
Michigan Avenue Buildings Photo by: Lisa Dunaway
Pollution
Pollution is everywhere!
Look for sources of pollution in the eco-region
Some vegetation is good at removing pollution.
When in doubt: plant trees!
Source: euwfd.com
Water pollution
“Dead Zone” in the Northern Gulf of Mexico Source: dsc.discovery.com
Light pollution
Earth at Night Source: nasa.gov
Light Pollution Solutions
Keep them low
(close to the
ground).
Keep them
shielded, and
minimize light
trespass into the
night sky or
adjacent areas.
“Dark Sky”
compliance.
Dark Sky Compliant Lighting Source: floridahabitat.org
Light Pollution Solutions
Use long-wavelength lighting, as studies indicate longer wavelengths are less likely to impact aquatic wildlife.
Avoid using fluorescent and mercury, use LED.
Solar/LED Roadway Light Source: solarlightingitl.com
Infrastructure
Roads with high
speed limits are a
threat to migrating
wildlife.
How might wildlife
conflict with
transportation and
utilities
Power lines, cell
towers, and wind
turbines
Source: safety.wa.dot.gov
How do we make all this happen?
Planning Approaches
Getting Started
Leadership
Educate elected officials and public Public design workshops or charettes, guest
speakers
Integrate into a Comprehensive Plan
Highlight successful projects in other communities
Develop a pilot project
Create appropriate regulation or not
Benefits
Positive effects to humans and nature Health
Water quality
Reduce energy costs
Reduce oil dependency
Environmental aesthetics
Bioswale Source: bellewood-gardens.com
Methods/Approaches
Habitat Fragmentation Preserve Stream Corridors
Flood Plain restrictions
Steep Slope Ordinances
Open Space Ordinances (private)
Park Impact Fees - funding for open space acquisition (public)
Wetland protection/remediation ordinance
Tree Preservation Ordinances
Increase density levels in community
Methods/Approaches
Lighting Lighting Plan
Water Quality Stormwater Ordinances
Green roof
Erosion control Ordinances
Partnerships with local farmers – BMP’s
Barriers
People don’t see the need
Conflicts with existing codes – Building and subdivison codes
Reliance on traditional stormwater control devises
Maintenance
Decisions should be based on reason rather than dogmatism
Building infrastructure rather than preserving natural systems
Low-Hanging Fruit
Develop an Environmental Features map Floodplains, streams,
steep slopes, tree stands, parks, poor soils, wetlands
Site plan review
Modify open space requirements
Source: geology.isu.edu/geostac/
Low-Hanging Fruit
Conclusion
Think of the BIG picture!
Large scale
Long view
Biodiversity = Ecological health
Without biodiversity, there is no Economic
Sustainability.
Ecology + Economics = Sustainability
Sources
http://silvis.forest.wisc.edu/publications/PDFs/
Radeloff_etal_ConsBio2005.pdf
http://www.buildinggreen.com/auth/article.cfm/ 1998/3/1/Getting-to-Know-a-Place-Site- Evaluation-as-a-Starting-Point-for-Green- Design/
Dramstad, et al. Landscape Ecology Principles in Landscape Architecture and Land-Use Planning. 1996.
http://www.cfr.washington.edu/classes.esc.350/Suburban%20wildlife%20paper.pdf
http://www.elibrary.state.pa.us/dldoc.asp? fn=4204522584mcp0275.pdf
Adams, Lowell W. Urban Wildlife Habitats. 1994.
Sources
http://www.springerlink.com/content/u457w1372867k807/fulltext.pdf
http://depts.washington.edu/open2100/Resources/5_New%20Research/ UrbanEcosystems.pdf
http://www.ca.uky.edu/agc/pubs/for/for74/ for7 4.htm
http://www.az.itu.edu.tr/downloads/papers/ vol04-01/pdf/07sweeney-04n1.pdf
http://indianawildlife.org
Farr, Douglas. Sustainable Urbanism, Urban Design with Nature. 2008.
Slone, Daniel & Doris S. Goldstein. A Legal Guide to Urban and Sustainable Development for Planners, Developers and Architects. 2008.
Lisa M. Dunaway, LEED AP Owner, Sensible Ecology, LLC Instructor of Urban Planning, Ball State University Melissa Begley, AICP Assistant Planning Director, City of Columbus, Indiana
THANK YOU!