BIMBY’s first steps: a pilot study on the contribution of residential front-yards in Phoenix and Maastricht to biodiversity, ecosystem services and urban sustainability

Carijn Beumer,Pim Martens

doi:10.1007/s11252-015-0488-y

Abstract

Large parts of urban space around the world exist of small-scale plots such as domestic gardens. These small-scale urban spaces carry potential for enhancing biodiversity, sustainability and ecosystem services in and beyond cities. However, domestic gardening and residential garden designs are often guided by aesthetics and ease more than by the aim to create habitat and biological diversity. Yard-management decisions impact socio-ecological systems in various ways, for example through irrigation patterns, fertilization or the use of pesticides or through the choice for exotic species that may become invasive over time. Yard-management decisions can also positively influence the presence of pollinators, improve soil quality or even foster small scale ‘Wildlife Habitats’ that can function as ecological stepping stones to the wider environment. In this paper a pilot assessment is presented of the contribution of residential front-yards in Phoenix (Arizona) and Maastricht (The Netherlands) to biodiversity, ecosystem services and sustainability by applying the BIMBY (Biodiversity in My (Back) Yard) framework.

Highlights

As more than half of the world population lives in cities (UNEP 2014) it will be increasingly important to reconcile ecological aspects, design, and human lifestyle-practices in urban environments (Rosenzweig 2003; Cilliers 2010)
Residential garden designs and maintenance styles are often guided by aesthetics and ease more than by the aim to create habitat, to increase biodiversity, to build capacities for sustainability, or for the delivery of ecosystem services (Cranz and Boland 2004; Martin 2008; Ignatieva 2010; Beumer 2014; Beumer and Martens 2015)
Et al 2010; Tzoulas and James 2010; Beatley 2011; Farinha-Marques et al 2011; Müller and Kamada 2011; Cook et al 2012; Jaganmohan et al 2012; Jim 2012; Jorgensen and Keenan 2012; Kendal et al 2012; Kurz and Baudains 2012; Shin 2012; Qviström 2013), the results presented in this paper deliver insights into patterns of yard-contributions to biodiversity, related ecosystem services and disservices, and the sustainability of the urban and even regional environment

Summary

Introduction

As more than half of the world population lives in cities (UNEP 2014) it will be increasingly important to reconcile ecological aspects, design, and human lifestyle-practices in urban environments (Rosenzweig 2003; Cilliers 2010). In this paper a pilot assessment is presented of the way front-yards in Phoenix (Arizona, US) and Maastricht (The Netherlands) contribute to biodiversity, ecosystem services and sustainable (urban) environments through applying the BIMBY indicator framework (Biodiversity In My (Back) Yard) (Beumer and Martens 2015). With this framework we intend to contribute to a young field of study that aims to bridge ecological and socio-cultural disciplines (Chowdhury et al 2011; Cook et al 2012; Uren et al 2015). The framework aims to foster a transformational dialogue (Lang et al 2012; Wiek et al 2012) on the question: how can we reconcile living comfort, aesthetics and ease at the one hand and the protection of biodiversity, ecosystem services and a sustainable living environment at the other hand, in the way we design our residential areas (Rosenzweig 2003)?

Methods

Results

Discussion

Conclusion