Biodiversity “Built-up area”
Biodiversity is the variety of life on Earth. It includes all living organisms, from plants and animals to microorganisms. Biodiversity is essential for the functioning of ecosystems, providing us with food, water, medicine, and other services. However, biodiversity is under threat from human activities, such as land use change, pollution, climate change, and overexploitation.
One of the indicators of biodiversity loss is the “Built-up area”. This is defined as the presence of buildings (roofed structures). This definition largely excludes other parts of urban environments or human footprint, such as paved surfaces, commercial and industrial sites, and urban green spaces. The “Built-up area” indicator measures the extent and change of artificial surfaces that cover the natural or semi-natural land.
OECD “Built-up area” Indicator
The OECD “Built-up area” Indicator is based on the data from the Global Human Settlement Layer, which uses satellite imagery to map the spatial distribution and characteristics of human settlements. The indicator covers 29 OECD countries and 1 179 urban areas of different sizes, called Functional Urban Areas. The indicator shows the average built-up area per capita and the annual growth rate of built-up area for each country and urban area.
According to the latest data from the OECD, the average built-up area per capita in OECD countries was 375 square meters in 2019, ranging from 96 square meters in Korea to 1 013 square meters in Australia. The annual growth rate of built-up area in OECD countries was 0.7% in 2019, ranging from -0.2% in Japan to 2.4% in Turkey. The data also reveals that the built-up area per capita and the growth rate of built-up area vary significantly across urban areas within the same country.
Other Indicators of Biodiversity
The “Built-up area” indicator is one of the four indicators of biodiversity in the OECD Green Growth Indicators. The other three indicators are:
- Land cover change: This indicator measures the change in the proportion of land covered by forests, grasslands, wetlands, and other natural or semi-natural vegetation types. Land cover change reflects the conversion of natural habitats to agricultural or urban uses, which can reduce biodiversity and ecosystem services.
- Protected areas: This indicator measures the share of terrestrial and marine areas that are designated for the conservation of biodiversity and ecosystems. Protected areas can help preserve habitats, species, and genetic diversity, as well as provide ecological, social, and economic benefits.
- Threatened species: This indicator measures the number and proportion of species that are classified as critically endangered, endangered, or vulnerable according to the IUCN Red List. Threatened species are those that face a high risk of extinction in the wild due to various factors, such as habitat loss, overexploitation, invasive species, disease, and climate change.
These indicators provide a comprehensive picture of the state and trends of biodiversity and the pressures it faces. They can help monitor the progress towards the global and national targets for biodiversity conservation, such as the Aichi Biodiversity Targets and the Sustainable Development Goals.
How Can We Promote Biodiversity in the Built-up Area?
There are various ways to promote biodiversity such as:
- Planning and designing urban areas with consideration for biodiversity and ecosystem services, such as by integrating green and blue infrastructure, creating ecological corridors and networks, applying nature-based solutions and low-impact development, and avoiding or minimizing the conversion of high-value natural or agricultural lands .
- Managing and restoring urban green and blue spaces, such as by enhancing their habitat quality and diversity, controlling invasive species, reducing pollution and disturbance, and involving local communities and stakeholders in their governance and stewardship .
- Monitoring and assessing the status and trends of urban biodiversity and ecosystem services, such as by using indicators, mapping tools, citizen science and participatory approaches, and reporting and communicating the results and benefits to decision-makers and the public .
- Promoting awareness and education on urban biodiversity and ecosystem services, such as by engaging and empowering urban residents and visitors, especially children and youth, to appreciate, value and act for nature in their daily lives .
Conclusion
Biodiversity and built-up area are interrelated topics that have significant implications for the environment and human well-being. Urbanization can have negative effects on biodiversity, but it can also offer opportunities for conservation and restoration. By using the latest data and best practices, we can promote biodiversity in the built-up area and create more livable and sustainable urban environments.
