Landscape approach to the conservation of floral diversity in Mediterranean urban coastal landscapes: Beirut seafront

Abstract

Floral diversity in Mediterranean coastal cities is in decline, the result of a rapidly urbanizing coastline. This study proposes a landscape approach for the assessment of urban floral diversity, arguing that it combines scientific and socio‐cultural dimensions and so offers comprehensive assessment and practical solutions in conservation planning. The paper describes a landscape approach applied to a segment of the Beirut coastline to characterize the state of urban floral diversity and as a first step towards nature conservation. The survey findings indicate that even though only 7% of floral species surveyed in the 1930s were identified, landscapes with spontaneous vegetation continue to dominate the urbanized coastline. The study team noted that there was a marked reduction in floral diversity and composition as well as altered patterns of floral distribution. The paper discusses the reduction in floral diversity and proposes guidelines for conservation.