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Why Biotope Mapping in Populated Are a S ?

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Why Biotope Mapping in Populated Are a S ? Peter Werner Institut Wohnen und Umwelt, Darmstadt Why biotope mapping in populated are a s ? Werner, P. 1999 - Why biotope mapping in populated areas? - in: Reumer, J.W.F. & Epe, M.J. (eds.) - BI O TO P E MA P P I N G I N T H E UR B A N EN V I R O N M E N T - D E I N S E A 5: 9-26 [ISSN 0923-9308]. P u b l i s h e d 1 May 1999. The title ‘why biotope mapping in populated areas?’ is chosen because that is the main question local authorities and other people ask when money should be spent for biotope mapping in towns and cities. In order to answer this question two approaches are used, a theoretical approach, and a practical approach based on experiences in Germany. The theoretical approach is in line with a pro- gramme published by a German working group in 1993 and stresses the concept of an integrated nature conservation strategy. In addition, issues are presented such as ecological functions of bio- topes, different kinds of nature, and the relationship between man and nature. The practical ap- proach describes that around 200 towns and cities in Germany have carried out urban biotope map- pings, and explains the integration of biotope mapping in the planning system. The results of a mail survey are recorded concerning purpose and use of biotope mapping in populated areas. Biotope mapping has proved an important tool for nature conservation strategies because it offers a realis- tic and comprehensive view of urban nature. It has become an indispensable component of land- scape planning and the survey verified that the results of urban biotope mapping are used manifold by local administrations. Waarom biotoopkartering in bevolkingskernen? - De titel van dit artikel is gekozen omdat dit een door overheden en burgers vaak gestelde vraag is wanneer men geld gaat uitgeven aan het karteren van de stedelijke natuur. Om tot een antwoord te komen, worden twee benaderingswijzen gehan- teerd: een theoretische en een praktische. De theoretische benaderingswijze is gebaseerd op een pro- gramma dat in 1993 is gepubliceerd door een werkgroep in Duitsland en benadrukt een geïntegreerd beleid voor natuurbescherming in de stedelijke context. Daarbij komen zaken aan de orde zoals de ecologische betekenis van biotopen, de verschillende soorten stadsnatuur, en de relatie tussen de mens en de natuur. De praktische benadering is gebaseerd op de ervaringen van ca. 200 Duitse gemeenten met biotoopkartering en verklaart het gebruik van biotoopkartering in de praktijk van de ruimtelijke planning. De resultaten van een enquête naar het gebruik van biotoopkartering in bevol- kingscentra worden gepresenteerd. Biotoopkartering blijkt een belangrijk hulpmiddel bij natuurbe- schermingsbeleid omdat het een realistisch en overzichtelijk beeld geeft van de stedelijke natuur. Het is een onmisbaar onderdeel geworden van ruimtelijke planning en uit de enquête blijkt dat de gemeentelijke overheden dikwijls gebruik maken van de uit biotoopkartering naar voren gekomen resultaten. Correspondence: Dipl.-Biol. Peter Werner, Institut Wohnen und Umwelt, Annastrasse 15, D-64285 Darmstadt, Deutschland; e-mail: [email protected] Keywords: urban biotope mapping, urban nature, nature conservation strategy, ecological functions, landscape planning, urban planning. 9 BIOTOPE MAPPING IN THE URBAN ENVIRONMENT DEINSEA 5, 1999 I N T R O D U C T I ON evaluate biotopes worthy of protection and The heading ‘why biotope mapping in popu- thus of mapping. (2) The second category is lated areas?’, is chosen because that is the called the method of comprehensive biotope main question local authorities and other mapping. This means that biological and eco- people ask when money should be spent for logical features of all actual biotopes are biotope mapping in towns and cities. T h e y covered. It can either be done as (2a) overall fear that a lot of data will exist that nobody mapping in the entire urban area or as (2b) will know how to use, except for a few scien- representative mapping, in which examples tists who earn their living by this mapping. of all land use types are mapped and the M o r e o v e r, they think that biotopes are only results are transposed to all other areas of the interesting in the countryside and not in same type. In this way biologically and eco- towns and cities. Also, the local authorities logically characterised biotope types and bio- may be reluctant because they expect new tope type complexes are obtained. The evalu- duties and restrictions to further urban deve- ation of biotopes is not coupled to the regis- lopment as a result of biotope mapping. In tration. The representative mapping method order to answer the question mentioned and is the most widely used form of comprehensive in order to clarify the significance of biotope mapping; it is recommended in the program- mapping in populated areas for tasks of me mentioned above (Schulte et al. 1993), urban development, two approaches - a theo- because overall mapping of an entire urban retical and a practical approach - are made. area requires a lavish expenditure. In 1993 a completely revised version of a The presented two approaches deal with the programme for collecting, organizing and following items: (1) the theoretical approach analysing data relating to biotopes in popula- includes (a) nature conservation and environ- ted areas and their peripheres was published mental protection, (b) biotopes and their eco- in Germany. This programme was the result logical functions, (c) four kinds of nature, of discussions and papers of a working group and (d) man and nature; (2) the practical ‘Methods of Urban Biotope Mapping’ approach - experiences in Germany - inclu- (Schulte et al. 1993). Members of the wor- des (a) urban biotope mappings in the con- king group were scientists and representati- text of the German planning system, ves of nature conservation agencies. T h e (b) using the issues of urban biotope theoretical foundations for urban biotope mapping, and (c) involving the public. mapping are well explained in this program- me and the first part of the following para- THEORETICAL APPROAC H graphs, the theoretical approach, is in line Biotope mapping is to be considered a tool with it. In the mean time we can look back for nature conservation; in the meantime this on twenty years of experience with urban tool is well established in Germany. For tasks biotope mapping in Germany. Some of the such as area protection or maintenance and experiences are discussed in the second part, management of biotopes a survey is required the practical approach. In general it is to be of the location of biotopes and of their condi- noted that the methods applied to biotope tions, in other words a biotope mapping. mapping in settlement areas can be placed in Biotopes are defined as ecotopes in their spa- two categories (Sukopp & Weiler 1988). (1) tial dimension or as areas in which specific The first category is called the method of communities of plants and animals live, and selective biotope mapping. This method con- which can be marked by biotic and abiotic siders only biotopes worthy of protection, in features (Dahl 1908, Riecken et al. 1994, some cases also those potentially worthy of Wittig 1993). As animals and plants live protection. This presupposes a framework to everywhere, this definition of biotope is a 10 WERNER: why biotope mapping in populated areas? Figure 1 Urban biotope mapping in the context of landscape classifi c a t i o n , species surveys and biotope mapping of the country - side in Germ a ny. ‘ n e u t r a l ’ one including all habitats of animals biotope mappings was carried out in the mid- and plants, valuable or not for conservation, dle of the eighties. Scale and methods be- including urban areas as well as the country- came more accurate. The first urban biotope s i d e . mappings in Germany were realised in 1978 and, from this time on, they expanded rapidly Biotope mappings and urban biotope map- and continuously. Especially the method of pings have a twenty-five year old history in comprehensive mapping of biotopes - for an G e r m a n y. But they are not isolated, they are explanation of this method see below - was parts of a system of various surveys and developed and used for urban biotope map- mappings concerning nature conservation and pings (Sukopp & Weiler 1988). Complete landscape planning. Figure 1 shows that spe- lists of biotopes, using land use types as cies surveys, vegetation mapping and natural basic classification and covering the entire landscape mapping had started in the fifties landscape, were first worked out in the con- on both the national level and on the text of urban biotope mapping and influenced ‘ B u n d e s l ä n d e r ’ level. Countryside biotope both biotope mapping of the countryside and mapping of areas selected for nature protec- surveys of land use types (Bundes- tion first began in Bavaria in 1974. T h e s e ministerium für Raumordnung, Bauwesen mappings served the purpose to get a quick und Städtebau 1989, AG Naturschutz 1995). overview about important biotopes in order P r e s e n t l y, different kinds of surveys and to protect them. Neither methods nor the mappings exist next to each other and scientific foundation of this first generation influence each other, but unfortunately they of mappings were well developed at the time. are not coordinated. That changed when the second generation of 11 BIOTOPE MAPPING IN THE URBAN ENVIRONMENT DEINSEA 5, 1999 In order to obtain an answer to the question tion) cannot be seen detached from the other ‘why biotope mapping in populated areas?’, ecological functions of habitats or biotopes and while realising that biotope mapping is a (see next paragraph).
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