Can Biomimicry Be a Useful Tool for Design for Climate Change Adaptation and Mitigation? - Biotechnologies and Biomimetics for Civil Engineering - page 104

Table 4.4 Ecosystem services for urban/architectural design
Ecosystem services for the built
environment to mimic

Applicability
to the built
environment

Ecological
significance

Negative
environmental
impact caused by
the built
environment

Climate change / biodiversity implications

Supporting
Services

1. Habitat provision
(including: provision of
genetic information;
biological control;
fixation of solar energy;
and species maintenance)

Medium High High at a local

scale

Plan for habitat for non-human.
Consider reducing fragmentation
of habitat.

Increased/maintained biodiversity may have links to
increased ecosystem resilience, and allow for better
adaptation to climate change; reduction of the urban heat
island effect; sequestration of carbon; increased air, water
and soil quality; and more fertile soil meaning greater
potential for the growth of biomass and food production
and therefore increased human health and resilience.
Remediation of some forms of water, air and soil
pollution through increased urban vegetation.
Possible protection from wind or wave surges; reduced
erosion; more adaptable ecosystems as the climate
changes; reduction of stormwater peak flows; and cooler
urban temperatures (due to increased urban vegetation.

2. Nutrient cycling
(including:
decomposition; soil
building; and provision of
raw materials)

Medium High High at a

regional/global
scale

Nutrients (materials) should be
able to be biodegraded or recycled
in closed loops and retained in the
system.
Development should contribute
actively to soil formation and the
renewal of fertility. Development
should be considered a potential
source of future building materials.

Reduction of waste and ecosystem pollution caused by
materials production and transportation.
Reduced need for mining / growing / production /
transportation of materials and energy leading to
reduction in GHG emissions, waste and ecosystem
disturbance.
Decreased use of energy and therefore GHG emissions.
Increased health of ecosystems and humans and reduced
biodiversity loss.

Regulating
Services

3. Purification High High High at a local/

regional scale

Water, air and soil should be
purified on site before return to
non-human ecosystems.
Water and air should be cleaner
leaving the development than when
it entered.
Surrounding soil should become
more fertile over time.

Increased health of ecosystems and living organisms
within them (including humans).
Increased terrestrial, riparian and marine productivity.
Reduction of air and water pollution.
Eutrophication reduction.
Remediation of polluted sites.
Reduced ozone damaging gas emissions and reduced
GHG emissions
Reduced biodiversity loss.