Urban Tipping Points: Understanding Interaction Between Changing Land Use Patterns, Biodiversity and Economic Consequences To Enhance Liveable Cities (UTiP)

Urban ecosystems and related ecosystem services (e.g. climate regulation, recreation experiences, habitats for species) and biodiversity provide an important basis for the sustainable development of cities. They are an essential component for human well-being and contribute to the health of city dwellers. At the same time, as urban spaces are an important habitat for many animal and plant species, the question arises of how long-term protection of urban biodiversity can be maintained. Against the background of increasing (re-) urbanization and densification processes in growing cities, associated losses, degradations and fragmentation of habitats may exceed the adaptation and buffering potential of specific species and ecosystems. It is therefore of relevance to know to what extent changes in urban land use caused by densification and associated changes in species composition lead to a change in urban biodiversity and ecosystem functions and have a lasting effect on human well-being. In addition, the economic consequences of the loss of biodiversity and ecosystem services in this context are largely unclear. Against this background, the understanding of tipping points of urban biodiversity is crucial for implementing measures for biodiversity conservation and promoting a sustainable urban land use development. The aim of the interdisciplinary and transdisciplinary research project is to (i) better understand interactions between changing urban land use patterns, biodiversity and ecosystem services, and (ii) identify measures to avoid tipping points of urban ecosystems and biodiversity and related costs.