Flowering meadows, a biodiverse alternative to lawns in mediterranean urban spaces

Abstract

The rate of expansion of cities and the subsequent loss of biodiversity demand an approach with a strong focus on local ecology when tackling landscape architecture projects. The Mediterranean landscape is rich in flora and is characterised by a seasonal dynamic that confers on it a value which is unique in Europe. Green spaces are exceptional places that are not only able to accommodate a variety of user functions, but also favour natural processes that bring the public close to nature. This paper attempts to explore the role that green spaces can play in developing biodiversity in urban and peri-urban areas by means of alternatives to the extensive use of lawns, such as flowering meadows. Two cases studies of the implementation of this alternative in the heart of the Iberian Peninsula are presented. The monitoring of the evolution of these case studies throughout the year raises new questions and issues for landscape architecture projects in the Mediterranean context.