The Role of Ecological Connectivity and Urban Biodiversity for More Livable Cities
Risty Khoirunisa, Eka Permanasari, Michaela F Prescott, Maria Hallfors, Muhammad Risqi Saputra, Alex Lechner

1 Urban Design, Monash University Indonesia, Tangerang, Banten 15345, Indonesia,
2 Data Science, Monash University Indonesia, Tangerang, Banten 15345, Indonesia
3 The Nature Solutions, Finnish Environment Institute (Syke), Helsinki 00790, Finland
4 Monash Art, Design, & Architecture, Monash University, Melbourne, VIC 3145, Australia

Abstract

Urban biodiversity encompasses the diverse array of organisms inhabiting both natural and human-managed urban spaces, playing a critical role in city livability. It delivers essential ecosystem services such as carbon sequestration and urban heat island mitigation. Additionally, urban biodiversity supports social cohesion and recreational opportunities, thereby enriching the overall quality of urban life. Nonetheless, urbanization, particularly intense in biodiversity-rich areas like Indonesia, poses significant threats through habitat fragmentation, species loss, and ecological degradation. This review synthesizes the current understanding of urban biodiversity, the effect of urbanization on that, and highlights the advanced connectivity models as vital tools for identifying critical habitats and supporting informed urban planning to create a biodiversity-friendly environment. Implementing nature-based solutions and integrating ecological networks into urban strategies are essential for sustainable urban biodiversity management and creating inclusive, livable spaces for all species, particularly within rapidly urbanizing metropolitan areas like Jakarta Metropolitan Area.

Keywords: Urban, Biodiversity, Urbanization, Ecological Connectivity, Cities, Conservation, Nature-based solution

Topic: The Concept of Livable Space