Urban Ecosystems That Can Save Cities

In the October issue of Urban Land, Charles Reith writes rebuilding New Orleans with a more protective urban landscape, and provides some best practices for the management of urban ecosystems.

"As the world becomes more populous, urban, and warmer, we must expect more from our cityscapes. Virtually every urban environment, no matter how densely populated, may be optimized relative to the ecological services provided." Reith stresses the importance of sentinel trees, deep organic mulches, and water-wise morphology and technologies.

"But the most important ingredient, that which is provided by the designer, is integration. ...For instance we've spoken of the way swales guide water, promote infiltration, and encourage deep rooting. The placement of fast-growing and sentinel trees relative to swales will enhance their wind tolerance. The placement of trees in turn should protect against solar heating, north-wind chill, and gale-force damage. And then back to the swales which must be keyed to downspouts and impervious surfaces. Such is the delightful circularity of thought that is design."

"Landscape architects can no longer design without striving for the broadest possible functionality, synergistically addressing such objectives as stormworthiness, water-use efficiency, wildlife accommodation, and more. Neither can they just design solely for conditions of climatic or geologic tranquility. The challenge is to design urban landscapes that beautify, perform, improve, and endure.

This article originally appeared in the October, 2006 Issue of Urban Land Magazine, and is typically available only to ULI members. Thanks to the author and with the permission of the Urban Land Institute, the full-text of the article is now also available to Planetizen readers.

Thanks to Mary Vogel