Cities have been encroaching, and continue to encroach, on nature in a disrespectful way, which leads to a loss of biodiversity -an indicator of the overall wealth or loss of biological species-, with us being complicit in this deterioration -light pollution, noise, chemicals, etc.-. Strategies are currently being sought to repair or mend this divorce, such as green corridors, superblocks, biodiverse tree planting, soil permeabilisation, urban agriculture, and any infrastructure that can support biodiversity, but buildings act as barriers, obstacles that prevent the development and conservation of species and habitats. According to SEO Birdlife, 10% of the bird species living in Spain are found in urban environments. In fact, some of them, such as the sparrow, depend on human presence. Despite this, these species are in decline. On the other hand, for many animals and insects, night is the time of greatest activity, and darkness is an advantage, but darkness is hard to find in cities. Furthermore, the WHO recommends that cities have between 10 and 15 m2 of green space per inhabitant, and that residents have a green space within 300 m of their home, which helps combat cognitive fatigue and stress and increases the resilience of the environment. In addition, these green spaces moderate temperature -important for reducing the urban heat island effect-, purify the air and capture CO2.
Nature should be at the centre of urban development and planning.
For this reason, buildings must help green the city, with citizens actively taking part and letting nature in as connectors, whether of trees, squares, parks, gardens, riverside spaces, among others; in this way, connectivity is what allows organisms to move without disrupting ecological processes and their relationship with the water cycle, the flows of food, waste and energy, and air, all intrinsic to the urban system.
Among the interventions that can facilitate and promote the conservation of species and habitats are: creating nests for birds or preserving existing ones -some protected by law, such as those of swallows or house martins-, bat boxes, insect hotels, and shelter corners. Green façades or green roofs, which also help cool interior spaces in summer. The use of native trees and plants for pollinators, which also bring health benefits at every level (aromatic and medicinal plants that absorb large amounts of CO2 and VOCs, and require little water). Bird feeders -especially in winter- and clean, fresh water on terraces or balconies, among other interventions. Finally, the community that maintains and manages it all, contributing to caring for oneself, the group, the building and the surrounding environment.
This permeability in buildings, together with our active and persistent involvement, will help give nature continuity and, therefore, contribute to the conservation of urban biodiversity.
We do not realise how important and valuable our attitude is.
