Can Biomimicry Be a Useful Tool for Design for Climate Change Adaptation and Mitigation? - Biotechnologies and Biomimetics for Civil Engineering - page 105

Table 4.4 (continued)
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

4. Climate regulation High High High at a global

scale

Development should contribute to
regulating climate by: sequestering
carbon; providing protection from
decreased ozone; and remediating
the heat island effect.

Mitigation of the causes of climate change.
Mitigation of the urban heat island effect.
More adaptable communities.
Improved health of living organisms
Improved ability of ecosystems and the organisms within
them to adapt to climate change.

Provisioning
Services

5. Provision of fuel /
energy for human
consumption

High Medium High at a global

scale

Development should capture
rainwater and conserve water to
meet its own needs are and
preferably more so that excess can
be distributed to neighbours.
Design should encourage effective
energy use.

Reduced transport and energy generation related GHG
emissions.
More self-reliant and therefore robust urban
environments.
Reduction of air, water and soil pollution.
Reduction of fossil fuel mining, drilling and
transportation impacts on biodiversity.

6. Provision of fresh water High High High at a regional

scale

Development should capture
rainwater and conserve water to
meet its own needs are and
preferably more so that excess can
be distributed to neighbours.
Design should encourage the
conservation of water.

Reduction of water pollution.
Increased health of riparian systems.
Reduction of the urban heat island effect.
Increased quality of water.
Increased health of living organisms.
Reduced wastage of water through pipes.

7. Provision of food
(including: provision of
biochemicals)
Medium

Medium Medium High at a global

scale

Development should produce food. Reduced transport and energy generation food related

GHG emissions.
More self-reliant and therefore robust urban
environments.
Reduction of air, water and soil pollution.
Reduction of fossil fuels needed to produce the products
of large scale agriculture.
Healthier humans
Reduced land use transformations (i.e. from natural
ecosystems to agricultural systems).