Residential Garden Design for Urban Biodiversity Conservation: Experience from Panama City, Panama

Abstract

AbstractUrban expansion encroaches on natural areas causing habitat and species loss. However, cities can offer ecological spaces that harbor high proportions of regional and local species. In addition to public urban green spaces, private residential gardens are important for biodiversity conservation particularly if spatially arranged to maximize habitat-patch sizes and minimize isolation from remnants of native habitat in the city. Urban growth is projected to increase considerably, including in biodiversity hotspots, many of which are in developing tropical countries. In urban areas of these countries, residential “ornamental” gardening is not as widespread as in temperate developed countries where a multimillion-dollar industry supports garden design and maintenance. This case study discusses residential garden design frameworks for tropical biodiversity conservation that, if adopted at scale, could channel private finance to conservation in urban areas. It documents the establishment and management of a residential ornamental garden designed to protect native fauna and flora in an urban landscape in Panama City, Panama. It describes the design elements and records the positive impact on biodiversity over 15 years in a 1700 m2 property. Grass areas were reduced by 80%, and 64% of the property was planted, increasing vascular plant species from 10 to at least 180 and birds from 9 to 157 species. Management approaches, and challenges of increasing habitat alongside human wellbeing benefits from the garden, are presented. Recommendations and required attitude changes are outlined for garden practitioners, urban planners and policymakers to replicate the design elements of this biodiversity garden island in Panama City, and beyond.KeywordsAttitude changesBiodiversity gardensGarden practitionersTropical gardensUrban green spacesUrban policy and planning