Integrating Nature Into the Urban Landscape a Design Guide
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Integrating Nature into the Urban Landscape A Design Guide FEBRUARY 2018 Integrating Nature into the Urban Landscape 1 | INTRODUCTION 2 | ECOLOGICAL APPROACH 3 | GOALS AND PRIORITIES 4 | DESIGN PARAMETERS 5 | LANDSCAPE MANAGEMENT 6 | BIRD-SAFE DESIGN GUIDELINES 7 | PLANT PALETTES AND PHOTOS 8 | REFERENCES APPENDIX A | DESIGN CHECKLISTS Acknowledgements We would like to thank the following parties for their thoughtful feedback on the draft document: Google’s Ecology Team California Native Plant Society, Santa Clara Valley Chapter; Committee for Green Foothills; Living Classroom; Santa Clara Valley Audubon Society; Sierra Club Loma Prieta, Sustainable Land Use Committee; and Canopy. The funding sponsor for this document is Google, Inc. All photos were provided by H. T. Harvey & Associates staff. Native planting area in San Jose, CA Integrating Nature into the Urban Landscape: A Design Guide February 2018 | iv Introduction 1 2 In our increasingly developed world, wildlife substantial landscapes to manage are the primary habitat is being lost to development at an alarming intended users of this document. However, even 3 rate, putting native plant and wildlife populations small landscapes that prioritize habitat creation at risk and reducing overall ecosystem health. will provide benefits to wildlife, increasing habitat Who are these Incorporating wildlife habitat into urban and structure and resources (including shelter, nesting, Guidelines primarily for? 4 suburban systems can help counteract these forces, and foraging). Every landscape project – regardless Any person or organization sustaining native plant and wildlife populations of size – offers valuable opportunities to incorporate that manages or makes decisions while enhancing the human experience. More and habitat elements and add to the overall urban 5 about landscapes at a substantial more companies, educational institutions, public habitat matrix, maximizing benefits to wildlife. scale, including: agencies, and municipalities are recognizing that 6 there is significant value in implementing ecological Increasing urban habitat benefits people by • Local Agencies design in urban and suburban areas. Entities with increasing interaction with and connection to • Municipalities nature, including multi-sensory experiences. • Corporations 7 People experience a more profound sense of place, • Academic Institutions increased ecological awareness, and improvements • Commercial Developers in physical and psychological well-being. Urban • Non-Governmental 8 habitat can also offer a unique opportunity for Organizations environmental education in the city, and fosters a greater appreciation of natural spaces. Integrating Nature into the Monarch Urban Landscape: A Design Guide butterflies February 2018 | 1 Introduction Urban habitat can be implemented in many ways. on projects of all sizes across the urban matrix, 1 Projects will need to be assessed on a case-by- substantial habitat will be created. case-basis to determine the level of priority given to habitat creation. In some areas, opportunities for These guidelines are intended to promote and People 2 valuable habitat areas may lead design teams to explore opportunities for urban habitat creation Nature give habitat creation a high priority. In other areas, in areas throughout the South San Francisco Bay & As humans, we have an “innate tendency to a delicate balance will need to be struck that allows region, where the creation of urban habitat areas focus on life and life-like processes” (Wilson 3 for habitat creation in areas designed to maximize would restore some of the ecosystem features that 1984), and depend on nature in ways that are human use. If habitat design can be implemented have been lost through development. In order to essential to our physical and psychological help users understand how to implement this vision, 4 health and wellbeing. In addition to material these guidelines discuss how to leverage plant and physical resources, nature can provide us selection and layout to maximize wildlife habitat with intellectual, cognitive, emotional, and value. While the habitat design principles may be 5 spiritual meaning and satisfaction. Humans applicable to Central California and beyond, the are part of, rather than separate from, nature, plant list features species that will be most suitable to S a n and consistent exposure to the natural world F the San Francisco Peninsula, the South San Francisco ra 6 n c is benefits us in myriad ways. co B Bay, and the East San Francisco Bay areas. ay 7 For the purposes of this document, “wildlife” should be considered to mainly refer to birds and expertise and project implementation experience be insects, who are the primary animals benefiting involved throughout the design process — from site 8 from urban habitat plantings. The plant palette assessment to final design — to ensure habitat value also provides guidance on plants that are is maximized. Good habitat design is very site specific, beneficial to pollinators. and it is not possible to capture all of the ecological Although many of the principles in these Guidelines are applicable considerations that should be incorporated into the to Central California and beyond, the plant list features species that are most suitable for the South San Francisco Bay area. These guidelines are intended to give users general design process in these guidelines. A recommended Integrating Nature into the direction on native habitat design. However, it is checklist to assess and guide the design of urban Urban Landscape: A Design Guide recommended that advisors with local ecological habitat projects can be found in Appendix A. February 2018 | 2 Ecological Approach 1 2 The following premises are fundamental to a science-based ecological approach (an 3 “ecological philosophy”) for urban planning do ecological and design. The approach articulated in this What enhancements achieve? document seeks to establish sensitively designed, Nature and people are joint beneficiaries of ecological enhancement. The immediate beneficiaries are 4 functional wildlife habitat that allows for human the native fauna and flora and their constituent ecosystems. As natural ecological systems and processes use and enjoyment of these habitats. are established, benefits accrue to the local human community directly and indirectly (experiences with nature, cleaner water and air, moderated temperature, shaded and restful environments, etc.). 5 6 is it important to invest in ecological 7 Why enhancements such as habitat planting? The establishment of sustainable habitat areas, intelligently interwoven into the urban setting, is mutually beneficial to ecosystems and humans, and therefore is an enterprise worthy of 8 investment (i.e., of time, money, and limited physical resources such as land and water). The challenge is how to invest limited resources wisely to achieve the maximum benefit. Despite the challenges, we assert that the potential of urban and suburban landscapes to be beneficially transformed can be realized through locally appropriate restoration and management projects. Integrating Nature into the Urban Landscape: A Design Guide February 2018 | 3 Ecological Approach 1 2 can science-based design be successfully implemented? 3 How The goals and priorities for incorporating habitat Project longevity should be taken into account when elements in urban settings should be driven by a planning habitat development projects. Shorter term 4 sound understanding of biological science and the projects that may be disturbed within 20-30 years local and regional ecological and physical context. will benefit from the establishment of fast growing This understanding should encompass local historical shrub and understory plantings, while projects that 5 ecology, existing ecosystems, and anticipated may remain undisturbed for 30 to 50 years or longer changes in the ecosystems over time. A science- should prioritize creating urban forest/overstory. based approach is the best way to ensure that habitat This is reflective of the time it takes for forested 6 development projects, including retrofitting existing habitats to achieve a level of vegetative maturity landscapes with native plantings in an urban setting, that can support significant wildlife and aesthetic are selected and designed objectively. Ideally, projects values, while shrub and understory plantings can 7 would include a monitoring program to assess the be established quickly and produce a measurable effectiveness of urban habitat improvements to benefit in the near term. contribute to a broader understanding of how urban 8 habitats function over time. Integrating Nature into the Urban Landscape: A Design Guide February 2018 | 4 Ecological Approach 1 2 resources and investments are to be anticipated, and how can return on investment be tracked? What 3 In creating self-sustaining habitats (i.e., habitats subjected to cost/benefit analyses during the that persist and regenerate over time with design process. Likewise, post-implementation minimal intervention), initial investments may analyses should be conducted when the resources 4 be large, but long-term costs will be low. Initially, are available. Restoration ecology is a newly funds would be needed for site assessment, emerging science, and it is particularly challenging development of healthy soils, management of to accurately anticipate what wildlife benefits new 5 hydrology appropriate to the habitat type (and habitats might provide in an urban environment.