Working Group Nature Conservation: Difference between revisions
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The river Liesing is located in the South of Vienna. | The river Liesing is located in the South of Vienna. | ||
In Vienna river Lising has shaped the landscape through meanders, deposition of sediments and erosion earlier, but after a havy regulation in the 50ies followed by an even stricter regulation in the 70ies it was forced in the staight river bed, which lead to a low biodiversity and to the river running quickly. After housing development around the river in the 90ies, the City of Vienna decided for the revitalisation of a 5,5 km area of the river to be completely renewed and revitalised. The Policy background of this project is the implementation of the European Water Directive 1 The purpose of this Directive is to establish a framework for the protection of inland surface waters, transitional waters, coastal waters and groundwater. The aim of the project was to improve the situation at the river Liesing according to the EU Water Directive in order to archive “maximum ecological potential” of a heavily modified water body. Semi-natural riverbanks extend the green belt of Vienna A comprehensive habitat, offering different flow velocity has been created The area as a whole became an inviting area for users Citizens participation played a crucial role in the project Public Relations work accompanied the project, there were no major disputes despite major changes and a working period of more than 3 years. BUT: The space between the river and the accompanying street and buildings is still rather small, which gives neither the user much space nor does it offer a habitat without disturbance for animals. More space for the river in case of high water would have improved flood protection. | In Vienna river Lising has shaped the landscape through meanders, deposition of sediments and erosion earlier, but after a havy regulation in the 50ies followed by an even stricter regulation in the 70ies it was forced in the staight river bed, which lead to a low biodiversity and to the river running quickly. After housing development around the river in the 90ies, the City of Vienna decided for the revitalisation of a 5,5 km area of the river to be completely renewed and revitalised. The Policy background of this project is the implementation of the European Water Directive 1 The purpose of this Directive is to establish a framework for the protection of inland surface waters, transitional waters, coastal waters and groundwater. The aim of the project was to improve the situation at the river Liesing according to the EU Water Directive in order to archive “maximum ecological potential” of a heavily modified water body. Semi-natural riverbanks extend the green belt of Vienna A comprehensive habitat, offering different flow velocity has been created The area as a whole became an inviting area for users Citizens participation played a crucial role in the project Public Relations work accompanied the project, there were no major disputes despite major changes and a working period of more than 3 years. BUT: The space between the river and the accompanying street and buildings is still rather small, which gives neither the user much space nor does it offer a habitat without disturbance for animals. More space for the river in case of high water would have improved flood protection. | ||
[[Viikki]] | |||
'''2004 from City of Helsinki?''' | |||
Viikki is a district in the inner city area of Helsinki, near an extensive area of open farmland and wetland nature reserve of Vanhakaupunginlahti. It is situated 8 km to the Northeast of the centre of Helsinki. Viikki is a neighborhood of about 7 000 inhabitants. The eco neighbourhood blocks are the result of long-term work aimed at putting ecological principles into practice. The master plan is based on a finger-like structure with alternating buildings and green open spaces. There are a lot of people using green areas for recreation: on the nature reserve area they are guided to walk along the paths and routes and there are no visible signs of un-responsible use. Project has involved uses for storm water. The surface water run-off is collected in gardens for residents. The water element is necessary for the biodiversity but it is also a value in landscape. There is no recreational value of the water in Viikki, because the ditch is too small for example for swimming. The master plan is based on a finger-like structure with alternating buildings and green open spaces. Green spaces forms corridors for natural species to move. Ecological objectives have also been realised through projects related to gardens and green spaces: the range of vegetation used is large, there are several layers of vegetation, the variety of plants are selected based on the natural conditions of the place, the idea was to use domestic species as much as possible. | |||
'''Conclusion:''' | |||
As a part of the process of relation between humans and Nature, we can see in all these case study that we have three great way of treating it in the landscape projects: | |||
First we have the relation with the udge elements of nature: Lake, mountain, rivers, forests... (Great war Island, Hangzhou, High Island, Lake Morgan, River Liesing) | |||
The answers in these cases are often fisrt to use it as a ressource item, then to include it as a part of the city and finally to restore its ecological value (due to the actual politics). | |||
Often, we have the case of a natural element part of a urban process (High Island, Lake Mogan, Parque de Educaçao Ambiental Mello Barreto, River Liesing). These projects are often seen as recreational system, as well as a biodiversity item. We can see here the difficulties of the cohabitation, as reported by the Lake Mogan experience. High Island could be one of these not successfull experience, as the politics aims were to numerous (recreational, esthetical, ecological...) | |||
Then we have the exemple of Viikki, which is the typical example of the Nature seen as an element of contruction of the project. This modern way of built is a new form of the gardens-cities, with an ecological politic. This conception of relation between nature and humans is full of tecnicals solutions, presented as perfect answers to ecologicals problem. However, we still have few reports back from these experiences, and as an experience, we can't really say that is the miracle system to use everytime | |||
== Working Group Minutes== | == Working Group Minutes== | ||
Revision as of 14:54, 15 December 2008
Case Studies of this working group
The list includes all case studies categorised in this group and the respective answers to the first question "Rationale:Why is this case study interesting?"
Attention: this is a dynamic page list, do not edit this paragraph!
<DPL>
category=Working Group Nature Conservation mode=ordered include = #Rationale: Why is this case study interesting?
</DPL>
Core Questions of this Working Group
Core themes (as identified on 3rd of December 2008):
- User group
- City
- Urban nature
- Interaction
- Water
Core questions
- What is the role of user groups? (Emel)
- What is the role of the city? (Virpi)
- How do urban and natural structures interact? (Urban nature interaction, Daliborka and Jovana)
- What is the role of water? (Barbara)
Notes:
- The names behind the questions identify those people that take up a kind of editor's responsibility for the questions. All group members are asked to integrate all questions into their case study report. The respective question editors will then compile the different answers and report back to the group plenary on December 19th.
- People who did not attend the session on 3rd of December may have additional proposals for core questions. Feel free to add these questions as proposals to the list above and discuss it via e-mail or using the discussion page.
- Please integrate the questions soon and try to deliver some draft answers before December 15th - otherwise it will become difficult to create a synthesis report for December 17th.
Synthesis of Core Questions
What is the role of user groups?
Emel
<DPL>
category=Working Group Nature Conservation mode=ordered include = #What is the role of user groups?
</DPL>
What is the role of the city?
Virpi
<DPL>
category=Working Group Nature Conservation mode=ordered include = #What is the role of the city?
</DPL>
How do urban and natural structures interact?
Urban nature interaction, Daliborka and Jovana
<DPL>
category=Working Group Nature Conservation mode=ordered
include = #How do urban and natural structures interact?
</DPL>
What is the role of water?
Barbara <DPL>
category=Working Group Nature Conservation mode=ordered include = #What is the role of water?
</DPL>
What is the evolution of the urban relation between humans and nature?
Lolita & Chinyi <DPL>
category=Working Group Nature Conservation mode=ordered include = #What is the evolution of the urban relation between humans and nature?
</DPL> Great War Island
2002 from Government
The project "Great War Island" is a proposition for protecting the Great and Small War Island on the river Danube,in Belgrade as the V category of IUCN categorization. That this area is localized in the heart of the city center zone. But most of all this case study shows how a legal protection is applied to conserve a very fragile natural ecosystem in the city tissue and how this case can be used as a recommendation for the similar cases in urban environment throughout planning . There are three zones of protection on the island:
Special areas – Zone of nature protection Developed areas – Zone of recreation General areas – Zone of turism
City is the frame of the island, so therefore it leaves a big mark on the island. Considering the fact that the island represents a great natural resource and that the city structure is everything but natural, the role of this gigantic concrete living machine is mostly in conjunction with pollution, noise, light, bulky junk, drainage.. But also we must take into consideration that city represent one great political and directional tool that has protected the island and is trying to conserve and improve this natural habitat to the best possible level.
2006 from Government
Westlake, located in center of the city Hangzhou, boast one of the most prominent scenic spots in China. The coexistence of the city and the lake has gone through more than thousand years. The lake is surrounded by mountains from three sides and face with the dense urban construction on eastside. In this senses, westlake and the adjacent mountain played a critical role in prevent the sprawl and actually become the last oasis without being perished. However, the settlement of inhabitants in this area absolutely changed the fate of Westlake, as a result unravel the second phase of Westlake——from a natural lake to an artificial lake that is protected by dam and dredged consistently. Due to the need of drinking water for the increasing population, whereas all the water from river, even from well deeply digged in this region are all contaminated with the water from east China sea, the residents had to rely on the precious water from Westlake. The coexistence relationship was reinforced with the establishment of Hangzhou as a capital city of China in Song dynasty, to be continued
the lake is no longer used as a source of drinking water.The lake, with the mountain beside the lake, are enclosed by the city and actually doomed to be dependend on the development of the city.
2000 from Department of Seine-Saint-Denis (93) The High Island project in Neuilly-sur-Marne, next to Paris, is interesting as basis of reflexion around the debate of integration of nature in urban sectors. Hihg Island is a part of the natural site of the Marne river. It's an alluvionnary site, which has been forgotten from humans for 200 years. Before that, it was a cultivated part of an old property called "Ville Evrard". The construction of a canal cut this part of land from the other and tranforms it into an "Island". Therefore, this site took back is natural evolution, as a humid forest, part of the process of inondation with which the Marne river is familiar. During all this time of coming back ti nature, the rest of the land was very quickly urbanised as the extension of housing of Paris. High Islan is between two cities which have since the biginning of the operations of housing around Paris, turn back from the river and its natural sites. As part of the territoy, High Island is a way to meet again these cities and the river and its functions. However, the project that the Seine Saint Denis départment has chosen, using a lot the recreation potentiel of the site, may have long term issues that are not very interesting about the river wild life. Its evolution is to loo at, and maybe be an example of debate around what contact we want between Nature and Human!
2001 Ankara Municipality Lake Mogan and its surrounding is a Special Protected Area (SPA) which is very near to Ankara City centre. It has declared as a protected area because of having rich and internationally important biodiversity and fragile wetland ecosystems. The area is a part of a watershed system in Ankara and it is one of the important natural areas supporting the ecological sustainability of the city. In 2001, Lake Mogan Park Project has completed and began to serve as a very large recreational area in this protected area. This project has ignored the importance of the biodiversity and the fragile ecosystems of the area. Today, the area is being used only as a recreational area by very different and large user groups. Therefore Lake Mogan and its surrounding has lost nearly all its natural values because of the degradation caused by the Project. So, this case may be an example for damaging natural areas because of unwise management and short term benefits/objectives.
Parque de Educação Ambiental Mello Barreto
Date? Architect maybe from Governement? The project shows how a natural and protected area that suffered the impact of an illegal occupation can be restored through the called “ecogenesis”. It is therefore essential that these anthropic substitute ecosystems, through different from the original ones, maintain, preserve and convey to the future the values they once sustained so that they may endure in the environment reality
2005 from City of Vienna The river Liesing is located in the South of Vienna. In Vienna river Lising has shaped the landscape through meanders, deposition of sediments and erosion earlier, but after a havy regulation in the 50ies followed by an even stricter regulation in the 70ies it was forced in the staight river bed, which lead to a low biodiversity and to the river running quickly. After housing development around the river in the 90ies, the City of Vienna decided for the revitalisation of a 5,5 km area of the river to be completely renewed and revitalised. The Policy background of this project is the implementation of the European Water Directive 1 The purpose of this Directive is to establish a framework for the protection of inland surface waters, transitional waters, coastal waters and groundwater. The aim of the project was to improve the situation at the river Liesing according to the EU Water Directive in order to archive “maximum ecological potential” of a heavily modified water body. Semi-natural riverbanks extend the green belt of Vienna A comprehensive habitat, offering different flow velocity has been created The area as a whole became an inviting area for users Citizens participation played a crucial role in the project Public Relations work accompanied the project, there were no major disputes despite major changes and a working period of more than 3 years. BUT: The space between the river and the accompanying street and buildings is still rather small, which gives neither the user much space nor does it offer a habitat without disturbance for animals. More space for the river in case of high water would have improved flood protection.
2004 from City of Helsinki? Viikki is a district in the inner city area of Helsinki, near an extensive area of open farmland and wetland nature reserve of Vanhakaupunginlahti. It is situated 8 km to the Northeast of the centre of Helsinki. Viikki is a neighborhood of about 7 000 inhabitants. The eco neighbourhood blocks are the result of long-term work aimed at putting ecological principles into practice. The master plan is based on a finger-like structure with alternating buildings and green open spaces. There are a lot of people using green areas for recreation: on the nature reserve area they are guided to walk along the paths and routes and there are no visible signs of un-responsible use. Project has involved uses for storm water. The surface water run-off is collected in gardens for residents. The water element is necessary for the biodiversity but it is also a value in landscape. There is no recreational value of the water in Viikki, because the ditch is too small for example for swimming. The master plan is based on a finger-like structure with alternating buildings and green open spaces. Green spaces forms corridors for natural species to move. Ecological objectives have also been realised through projects related to gardens and green spaces: the range of vegetation used is large, there are several layers of vegetation, the variety of plants are selected based on the natural conditions of the place, the idea was to use domestic species as much as possible.
Conclusion:
As a part of the process of relation between humans and Nature, we can see in all these case study that we have three great way of treating it in the landscape projects:
First we have the relation with the udge elements of nature: Lake, mountain, rivers, forests... (Great war Island, Hangzhou, High Island, Lake Morgan, River Liesing)
The answers in these cases are often fisrt to use it as a ressource item, then to include it as a part of the city and finally to restore its ecological value (due to the actual politics).
Often, we have the case of a natural element part of a urban process (High Island, Lake Mogan, Parque de Educaçao Ambiental Mello Barreto, River Liesing). These projects are often seen as recreational system, as well as a biodiversity item. We can see here the difficulties of the cohabitation, as reported by the Lake Mogan experience. High Island could be one of these not successfull experience, as the politics aims were to numerous (recreational, esthetical, ecological...)
Then we have the exemple of Viikki, which is the typical example of the Nature seen as an element of contruction of the project. This modern way of built is a new form of the gardens-cities, with an ecological politic. This conception of relation between nature and humans is full of tecnicals solutions, presented as perfect answers to ecologicals problem. However, we still have few reports back from these experiences, and as an experience, we can't really say that is the miracle system to use everytime
Working Group Minutes
First Meeting
- Minutes First Meeting WG 2, 3rd of December 2008