How can urban design measure and communicate the benefits and impacts of ecological restoration?

One way we can start to measure ecological restoration is to look at it through the lens of resilience in the face of climate change. So if a property is on a flood plain, are we designing for those flood waters that will arrive in certain years? Or are we designing to mitigate the wildfire risk if we are in a wildfire prone zone? These are larger meta-scale issues that we can see on maps. The smaller issues such as brownfield remediation, storm water filtration and infiltration. Beyond code requirements, for true ecological restoration we need to also look at biodiversity and how to support the existing species of the site. Protecting vernal pools, creek beds, ponds, wetlands, certain forest features, etc.

The biggest problem is the disconnect between commercial payback and green measures. I doubt that this disconnect will ever be made good, regardless of how many regulatory interventions. They will always be man-made and not inherent to the ecosystem(s) at any scale. And even if there were the political will there is very little spare capacity to conserve, heal or better the situation in any fundamental way.

It benefits neighborhood in many ways; restoring ecosystem, helps maintain microclimate, staying around green spaces benefit psychological well being. Acts as a rainwater reservoir, maintains ground water table. gives life to underground species.

Measurement: Quantitative data: Check changes in factors like air and water quality, biodiversity, and energy use. Compare pre- and post-restoration monitoring. Qualitative data: Conduct surveys and interviews to assess experience, sense of place, and community engagement. Communication: Visualization: Use maps, charts, and before-and-after photos to examine improvements and ecological changes. Tell the story: Craft compelling narratives that connect diverse audiences, highlighting the values and benefits of restoration. Engagement: Organize public events and workshops. Use educational programs to generate understanding and support for restoration initiatives.

There is an interesting project about bees in urban areas in my state called “Poliniza Paraná”. Most of the world's stingless bee species are Brazilian, but they are always threatened with extinction due to deforestation, pollution and climate change, and the decline in the bee population has a negative impact on our food production. The project, the idea of which was born in a school, has set up beehives all over the state of Paraná, including in parks and gardens. In the city of Curitiba, you might even be surprised to come across small public gardens with bee houses and flowers.

I think that, initially, the positive impacts involving ecological restoration are more perceptual and sensory, and that it can take a while to prove them with verifiable data. For example, the installation of a project that includes rain gardens is unlikely to provide objective data on improved drainage until heavy rain comes. Of course, you can install detectors and measuring technology, but in a real-world project carried out by the public authorities and susceptible to theft and vandals, this is not going to happen.

In the project I mentioned above, “Poliniza Paraná”, the didactic part of communicating with children is very strong, and I believe it is essential to the project's success. Like me, it's probable that other adults have already been surprised by the presence of bees and bee houses in urban flowerbeds, and there's nothing better than a child to show them how cool this is.

Communication is the most challenging part of any urban project. Urbanism for ecological restoration comes with many layers, and effectively communicating its impact and benefits to a layperson so they can understand its long-term impact is difficult. So, we as designers must employ techniques such as designing infographics, illustrating findings in GIS maps, or creating narrative reports with case studies and testimonials so that the stakeholders can understand a design's long-term impacts. Creating before and after comparisons of an area can also engage the public in realising the importance of ecological restoration.

No map, image or data can replace communication with the community involved. That means literally sticking our foot in the ground, because no ecological restoration project will go ahead if the population doesn't embrace into the idea.

Green Infrastructure: Look at green spaces like parks, rain gardens, and bioswales. These capture rainwater, filter pollutants, and provide habitat for wildlife. Urban Forestry: Plant trees strategically to create shade, reduce heat island effect, and create natural corridors for wildlife movement. Permeable Pavements: Utilise porous materials to allow water infiltration, reducing runoff and promoting healthier soil. Blue Infrastructure: Integrate natural water features like ponds, wetlands, or rain harvesting systems to manage stormwater and enhance urban biodiversity. Sustainable Building Design: Promote green roofs, vertical gardens, and energy-efficient building practices to create a more sustainable urban environment.

Linear parks are an excellent excuse to expand a network of bike paths. Linking valleys, streams and green areas helps us to reprogram the choices of modes of transport, as we bring something environmentally valid to society to cushion the strangeness that a new mode of transport (in this case, the bicycle) tends to bring in certain communities

I totally agree and never disregard the scale of the project, a small restoration area can serve as a model for replication and trigger a whole new trend in the city.

I like a rather unknown example from a Brazilian city called Arapongas: with 28 water springs in the urban area, Arapongas made a Water Spring Recovery Plan in partnership with the State University of Londrina. It was a long process, which involved everything from recovering the degraded area to culturally valuing this environmental wealth

In the city, we deal with divergent interests. I'd like to hear about practical examples of where ecological restoration won out over economic interests.