The aim of the Biodiversity Programme is to safeguard the biodiversity of urban nature throughout the city, including in the immediate vicinity of city residents. Nature is not only located outside cities or in protected areas, but also yards, parks, wastelands, ditches, roofs, roadsides, street trees, and nearby forests provide habitats for a diverse range of species. This entity, consisting of different water bodies and green sites of different sizes, is called the blue-green infrastructure.
Increasing and diversifying urban nature promotes adaptation to climate change. By taking care of the blue-green infrastructure and thus also the biodiversity of the local nature, we take care of the ecosystem services they provide and secure the living conditions of both humans and other species in the city. Many measures to increase urban nature and its biodiversity also promote adaptation to climate change. Since the effects of climate change can no longer be avoided, in addition to mitigation measures, it must be ensured that preparations are made for extreme weather phenomena caused by climate change, such as heavy rainfall, floods, and heat waves.
Other benefits
- Economy: Urban nature provides ecosystem services such as water purification, pollination, and climate regulation, which are essential for economic activity. The costs of climate change will be high if preparedness measures are not taken now. For example, by investing in stormwater management, it is possible to avoid the costs that would be caused by stormwater floods. Controlled wildness not only improves biodiversity, but also reduces property maintenance costs, as leaves are not raked or grass is cut as often as before.
- Health and well-being: A diverse green environment in the city creates comfort and enables access to the green area close to one's own home. Easy access to nature supports the health and well-being effects of nature, such as stress relief and the strengthening of the immune system through exposure to nature's good microbes. Green spaces and urban forests promote physical health by providing opportunities for exercise and outdoor activities.
