Designed Ecologies

Research and design for enhanced urban social-ecological systems

This field is about how we plan and design green infrastructure (GI) to help combat challenges of biodiversity loss, climate adaptation and food security. The Designed Ecologies research programme aims to foster the human nature relationship through social and ecological pathways. Several existing and potential research projects within the programme have both quantitative and qualitative approaches: integrating multifunctional green infrastructure to enhanced social and ecological systems; design experiments that test novel planting schemes and technologies to enhance urban biodiversity and ecosystem services; the refugia abilities of planting palettes; cultural relationships with urban nature; the role of native plant species in place perception and identity; environmental justice perspectives;  the selection of species for climate change adaptation; and the food security potential of indigenous species in vertical planting systems.

Keywords: nature values; urban biodiversity; green infrastructure; ecosystem services; place perception; native species; environmental justice; climate adaptation; food security;

Key people:

Dr C A Breed (view profile), Karen Botes, Dayle Shand

 

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