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Chapter 3: Biodiversity and the Restoration of the Urban Forest Ecosystem1
Eliana Kämpf Binelli2Welcome to Chapter 3 of the publication Restoring the Urban Forest Ecosystem. This publication consists of 10 chapters available only in PDF format. The chapters explain basic ecological principles for the urban forest's water, soil, plant and animal communities. They discuss problems common in the urban forest such as aquatic eutrophication, soil aeration, invasive plants and loss of biodiversity. Solutions, strategies, examples, and additional resources are presented to help make urban forest restoration projects successful.
Abstract
Biodiversity is the variety of life and all the processes that keep life functioning. Global biodiversity provides many ecosystem services, such as protection of water resources, nutrient storage and cycling, and pollution mitigation. These ecosystem services have recently been estimated to provide $33 trillion per year. Biodiversity occurs at many levels from genetic diversity to species diversity to ecosystem diversity. Biodiversity has been reduced in urban areas through ecosystem destruction, degradation and fragmentation of remaining ecosystems. Biodiversity can be increased in urban areas by managing the landscape as a whole and improving connectivity between ecosystem fragments. Biodiversity can also be restored by (i) leaving stumps, leaves, snags and logs to improve nutrient cycling and for wildlife, (ii) planting native species that mimic composition of nearby ecosystems, (iii) controlling invasive plants and animals, (iv) enhancing the ecosystem's natural structure, and (v) creating multi-age ecosystems in several stages of succession. Ecological processes to restore include natural disturbances (e.g., fire), ecological succession, nutrient cycling and hydrological cycling.To view the complete chapter, click here .
Footnotes
1. This document is FOR 92, one of a series of the Entomology and Nematology Department, Florida Cooperative Extension Service, Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences, University of Florida. Original publication date August 19, 2001. Revised February 1, 2008. Reviewed February 1, 2008. Visit the EDIS Web Site at http://edis.ifas.ufl.edu.2. Eliana Kämpf Binelli, former Extension Forester, School of Forest Resources and Conservation, Cooperative Extension Service, Institute of Agricultural Sciences, University of Florida, PO Box 110410, Gainesville, FL 32611.
The Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences (IFAS) is an Equal Opportunity Institution authorized to provide research, educational information and other services only to individuals and institutions that function with non-discrimination with respect to race, creed, color, religion, age, disability, sex, sexual orientation, marital status, national origin, political opinions or affiliations. For more information on obtaining other extension publications, contact your county Cooperative Extension service.
U.S. Department of Agriculture, Cooperative Extension Service, University of Florida, IFAS, Florida A. & M. University Cooperative Extension Program, and Boards of County Commissioners Cooperating. Larry Arrington, Dean.
Copyright Information
This document is copyrighted by the University of Florida, Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences (UF/IFAS) for the people of the State of Florida. UF/IFAS retains all rights under all conventions, but permits free reproduction by all agents and offices of the Cooperative Extension Service and the people of the State of Florida. Permission is granted to others to use these materials in part or in full for educational purposes, provided that full credit is given to the UF/IFAS, citing the publication, its source, and date of publication.