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| 2. |
- Eliasson, Ingegärd, 1961, et al.
(författare)
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Climate and behaviour in a Nordic city
- 2007
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Ingår i: LANDSCAPE AND URBAN PLANNING. - : Elsevier BV. - 0169-2046 .- 1872-6062. ; 82:1-2, s. 72-84
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- Four urban public spaces, representing various designs and microclimates, were investigated in Gothenburg, Sweden, in order to estimate how weather and microclimate affect people in urban outdoor environments. The research strategy was both multidisciplinary and interdisciplinary and included scientists from three disciplines: architecture, climatology and psychology. The project is based on common case studies carried out during four seasons, including measurements of meteorological variables, interviews and observations of human activity at each place. Multiple regression analysis of meteorological and behavioural data showed that air temperature, wind speed and clearness index (cloud cover) have a significant influence on people's assessments of the weather, place perceptions and place-related attendance. The results support the arguments in favour of employing climate sensitive planning in future urban design and planning projects, as the physical component of a place can be designed to influence the site-specific microclimate and consequently people's place-related attendance, perceptions and emotions.
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| 3. |
- Johansson, Lotten, et al.
(författare)
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Semi-natural grassland continuity, long-term land-use change and plant species richness in a local agricultural landscape on Öland, Sweden
- 2008
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Ingår i: Landscape and Urban Planning. - : Elsevier BV. - 0169-2046 .- 1872-6062. ; :84, s. 200-211
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- The study characterizes historical land-use change and the development of semi-natural grassland habitats, over 274 years, within a mosaic agricultural landscape (22 km2) on the island of O¨ land (Sweden). We also explore the relationship between previous land-use, habitat continuity and present-day vascular plant species richness in grassland patches.Land-cover maps, based on cadastral maps and aerial photographs, wereproduced for six time-periods between 1723/1733 and 1994/1997. In 1723/1733, the landscape was dominated by grasslands, with arable land surrounding the villages. The grassland area decreased throughout the study period and grassland patches became progressively more fragmented.Present-day grasslands represent 18% of the grassland area in 1723/1733. The land-use structure of the early 18th century is still evident in the modern landscape. The majority of the present-day grasslands are situated on former common grazing land and have had a continuity of at least 274 years: the remaining grasslands are younger and developed during the 20th century on arable or forested land.The proportion of plant speciesthat depend on grazing and are characteristic of semi-natural grasslands significantly reflects the continuity and previous land-use of grassland sites. The study illustrates the way in which information on historical land-use and habitat continuity can help to explain the structuring of plant assemblages in semi-natural grasslands within the modern landscape.
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| 4. |
- Käyhkö, Niina, et al.
(författare)
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Change trajectories and key biotopes : Assessing landscape dynamics and sustainability
- 2006
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Ingår i: Landscape and Urban Planning. - : Elsevier. - 0169-2046 .- 1872-6062. ; 75:3-4, s. 300-321
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- This paper presents a methodological synthesis of two congruent approaches into a common landscape change trajectory analysis and the assessment of landscape dynamics and sustainability. The emphasis of the analysis is on the retrospective relationship between the past and the present-day landscape patterns and associated key biotopes. The example key biotopes, oak woodlands and grasslands, represent valuable habitats in the hemiboreal landscapes of Finland and Sweden. The paper presents a conceptual stepwise approach for change trajectory analysis utilising multiple spatio-temporal data and techniques available in image processing and geographical information systems (GIS) including the following steps: (I) specification of spatio-temporal data and their representation of target objects, (II) the choice of direct or indirect change trajectory analysis, (III) hierarchical structuring of landscape information, (IV) compilation of landscape information into a GIS database, and (V) identification of paths for landscape change trajectory analysis. In this case study, we have focused on three interlinked trajectory analysis approaches, and their role in the assessment of landscape sustainability from a potential biodiversity perspective. We conclude that proposed landscape change trajectory analysis can improve the assessment of the key biotopes as well as present day landscape characteristics, in maintaining biodiversity and related ecological values by providing information on landscape stability, continuity, change processes and boundary dynamics. This approach can be useful in the assessment of natural capital, but requires data-specific and context sensitive data processing and analysis solutions. The results should be interpreted as an approximation and generalisation of the spatio-temporal complexity of landscape reality and therefore be used in conjunction with additional habitat function measures.
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| 5. |
- Käyhkö, Niina, et al.
(författare)
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Retrospective land cover/land use change trajectories as drivers behind the local distribution and abundance patterns of oaks in south-western Finland
- 2008
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Ingår i: Landscape and Urban Planning. - : Elsevier. - 0169-2046 .- 1872-6062. ; 88, s. 12-22
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- Valuable cultural landscapes are challenging to sustain. They are usually rare and reflect unique histories of nature–human interactions. We have studied the influence of environmental factors on the present distribution, age and abundance of oaks in a unique forest site in south-western Finland. The Landscape Change Trajectory Analysis (LCTA) approachwas tested to improve management strategies at a local level. We used geospatial analysis in GIS on existing data from a recent forest inventory, a multi-temporal land cover/land use analysis, and a digital elevation model. The results show that mature Pendunculate oaks (Quercus robur) are restricted to the eastern parts of Ruissalo island and their present abundance patterns can be linked with change trajectories as opposed to physical conditions. While the prevailing strategy of strict protection seems to lead to an increasing amount of dead wood, the lack of management hampers the regeneration of oaks. We suggest four principles for future management of these sites that could be applied throughout the hemiboreal region of Europe with similar historical development: (1) management regimes should be spatially explicit in terms of land cover history instead of treating valuable oak biotopes as one homogenous unit; (2) management units should be determined by biotope dynamics and development rather than present status and distribution; (3) management should allow strict protection of sites with long duration of protection and high abundance of decaying oak wood to support biodiversity; (4) alternative management regimes should be introduced in sites with high potential for re-establishment of light-abundant favourable conditions.
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| 6. |
- Sandstrom, Ulf G., et al.
(författare)
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Ecological diversity of birds in relation to the structure of urban green space
- 2006
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Ingår i: Landscape and Urban Planning. - : Elsevier BV. - 0169-2046 .- 1872-6062. ; 77:1-2, s. 39-53
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- A functional network of green space is important for the maintenance of the ecological dimension of a sustainable urban landscape. We used avian ecological diversity as a proxy for evaluating the functionality of different types of urban green space. The urban landscape of the municipality of Orebro in Sweden was stratified into four strata (City centre, Residential, Greenway and Periphery). Bird species found in these strata were classified into four ecological groups with decreasing degree of specialisation (woodpeckers, hole-nesters, forest birds and urban birds). Overall there was lower bird species richness in the City centre and Residential areas compared to the Greenway and Periphery. Woodpeckers, hole-nesters and forest birds showed an increasing trend in the number of species as well as individuals from the City centre to the Periphery while urban birds showed the opposite trend. The amount and quality of green space as well as natural vegetation increased from the City centre to the Periphery. Species richness of woodpeckers, forest birds and hole-nesters were positively correlated with tree density while urban birds showed an inverse correlation. There was no dead wood in City centre, Residential and Greenway in contrast to the Periphery, which held some dying trees, stumps and old windthrows. Our findings emphasise the importance of urban green space with natural structures to maintain high ecological diversity. Finally, we discuss how conflicts between habitat for biodiversity maintenance and other functions of green space could be handled by zoning. (c) 2005 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.
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| 7. |
- Sandström, Ulf G., et al.
(författare)
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Urban comprehensive planning - identifying barriers for the maintenance of functional habitat networks
- 2006
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Ingår i: Landscape and Urban Planning. - : Elsevier BV. - 0169-2046 .- 1872-6062. ; 75:1-2, s. 43-57
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- Maintaining biodiversity requires a wise combination of protection, management and recreation of habitats to secure representative and functional habitat networks. As urbanisation is increasing worldwide. town and cities are becoming the most common habitat for humankind. Accordingly, the urban landscape is becoming increasingly important for maintaining biodiversity on site, as well as for understanding the concept of biodiversity in general, and its maintenance in urban landscapes. We evaluated the extent to which Swedish urban planners experience barriers when using comprehensive planning as a tool for the maintenance of biodiversity through the provision of sufficient quantity and quality of green space. All of the six large Swedish cities, having had constant relative population growth since the beginning of the 19th century were chosen as case studies. We first defined a normative model for planning urban biodiversity and operationalised this concept by using landscape ecological principles. Structured in-depth interviews were then carried out with three planners in each city. The respondents were asked about their interest, ability, and knowledge concerning planning for functional networks of green spaces in relation to the normative model. The in-depth interviews with 18 urban planners indicated that legislation was an important driver for green space planning that they paid attention to new knowledge concerning recreation values and public health, but that biodiversity maintenance was not a high priority. There was a general agreement that local governments lack necessary resources to plan for biodiversity. A majority of the respondents mentioned geographical information systems (GIS) as an important tool to integrate knowledge about biodiversity in the planning process, and to evaluate likely consequences caused by deviations from current structure plans related to an efficient use of urban green spaces to maintain biodiversity. However, an evaluation of the answers revealed that the respondents had actually overestimated their capacity to implement the normative model. To conclude, the unanimous view was that planners were interested in the maintenance of biodiversity, but were limited by knowledge and by personnel lacking suitable qualifications, as well as by inadequate organisations. Only a minority of the respondents thought that local governments should have resources for biodiversity conservation planning. Finally, we discuss how the implementation of biodiversity policies could be improved by better integration of natural and social sciences in education and policy implementation.
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| 8. |
- Öckinger, Erik, et al.
(författare)
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The importance of fragmentation and habitat quality of urban grasslands for butterfly diversity
- 2009
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Ingår i: Landscape and Urban Planning. - : Elsevier BV. - 1872-6062 .- 0169-2046. ; 93:1, s. 31-37
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- Parks, remnants of natural habitats and other green areas are important for preserving biodiversity in urban areas. Here, we investigate the relative importance of habitat type and connectivity for butterfly species richness in the city of Malmo, Sweden. Further, we compare species richness and composition in the urban habitats with that in the surrounding agricultural landscape using previously published data. Both butterfly species richness and density increased with decreasing connectivity, measured as the proportion of urban green areas within I km, and were higher in ruderal sites than in traditional and semi-natural parks. Species richness was only slightly lower in the urban habitats than in semi-natural grassland remnants in the agricultural landscape surrounding the city and there was only a small difference in (between site) diversity between urban and semi-natural landscapes. This study highlights the importance of "townscape" composition for species richness in urban habitats but also, demonstrates clearly that urban habitats, especially those characterized by an early-successional stage, can be of relatively high conservation value in regions dominated by intensive human land use. (C) 2009 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.
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| 9. |
- Gidlöf-Gunnarsson, Anita, 1957, et al.
(författare)
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Noise and well-being in urban residential environments: The potential role of perceived availability to nearby green areas
- 2007
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Ingår i: Landscape and Urban Planning. - : Elsevier BV. - 0169-2046. ; Available online 10 May 2007
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- A growing body of literature indicates that contact with nature influence people's health and psychological well-being both directly and by moderating processes. A questionnaire study was conducted in urban residential settings with high road-traffic noise exposure (LAeq, 24 h = 60–68 dB). Out of 500 residents, 367 lived in dwellings with access to a quiet side (LAeq, 24 h ≤ 45 dB free field value; “noise/quiet”-condition) and 133 had no access to a quiet side (“noise/noise”-condition). The present paper examines whether perceived availability to nearby green areas affects various aspects of well-being in these two noise-condition groups. For both those with and without access to a quiet side, the results show that “better” availability to nearby green areas is important for their well-being and daily behavior by reducing long-term noise annoyances and prevalence of stress-related psychosocial symptoms, and by increasing the use of spaces outdoors. In the process of planning health-promoting urban environments, it is essential to provide easy access to nearby green areas that can offer relief from environmental stress and opportunities for rest and relaxation, to strive for lower sound levels from road traffic, as well as to design “noise-free” sections indoors and outdoors.
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