The Role of Brownfields and Their Revitalisation for the Functional Connectivity of the Urban Tree System in a Regrowing City

Abstract

The connectivity of green infrastructure facilitating the movement of organisms is the key to strengthening biodiversity in cities. Brownfields are a valuable land resource, with their revitalisation as a Nature Based Solution high on the policy agenda. In supporting cities which simultaneously aim for densification and the maintenance or further development of greenery, this paper develops a model for identifying and prioritising the role of revitalised and prevailing brownfields for the connectivity of green infrastructure using the example of Leipzig, Germany. Comparing metrics between land use categories, brownfields have a central role as stepping stones, with a value of 13%, while revitalised brownfields substantially contribute to global connectivity, with a value of 87% being equally important, for example, with Leipzig’s central parks. This paper’s spatial-explicit network approach provides a complementary planning tool for prioritising brownfields and the added value of their renaturing by identifying (a) strategic functional corridors formed by brownfields, (b) the connectivity relevance and exposure of individual brownfields, and (c) how renatured brownfields would strengthen existing corridors and form alternative paths. This paper presents an approach using freely available software tools and high-resolution canopy data as a proxy for functional connectivity which serves as a standardised and comparable ex-ante evaluation of NBS strategies being implemented in other cities.

Brownfield-related studies in the context of climate change: A comprehensive review and future prospects

“…Simultaneously, brownfields, as essential components of urban ecological networks, influence the connectivity potential of specific nodes within the network. They serve as critical stepping stones for maintaining the connectivity of protective corridors and contribute significantly to the integrity and continuity of urban ecological processes [ 97 ]. In summary, under the context of climate change, integrating brownfields into the urban spatial system can shape adaptive and resilient spatial planning and management strategies and frameworks, mitigating the impact of climate change on urban development.…”

Instream barriers contribute to population isolation of a small‐bodied, benthic, headwater‐specialist fish (Percidae)

“…The result of isolation by resistance from habitat loss and fragmentation is well‐documented by landscape genetic studies for terrestrial organisms, and many of these studies have improved species conservation by identifying habitat fragmentation attributes that most influence population isolation (Burgess & Garrick, 2020; Draheim et al., 2021; Otero Jiménez et al., 2020), delineating structural connectivity pathways that facilitate gene flow and require protection (Connor et al., 2022; Kleißen et al., 2021; Wolff et al., 2023), and identifying populations of conservation concern (Borokini et al., 2021). Landscape genetics studies focused on freshwater species (termed riverscape genetics; Davis et al., 2018) are less common, but can provide similar positive outcomes for the conservation of imperilled freshwater taxa and improve our understanding of how aquatic and terrestrial species respond similarly or differently to various landscape features or habitat disturbances.…”

Urban Green Connectivity Assessment: A Comparative Study of Datasets in European Cities

“…Additionally, spectral data's precision allows for the identification and characterization of small patches within the urban landscape [27,35], a critical aspect for accurately estimating urban green connectivity and understanding its role in supporting biodiversity and ecosystem services. This level of precision is particularly important, as small patches and corridors play a crucial role in supporting urban biodiversity and promoting ecological functions [8,34,36]. Despite these advantages, most published studies continue to rely on less precise land cover classifications.…”