Urban Habitats Biodiversity Assessment (UrHBA): a standardized procedure for recording biodiversity and its spatial distribution in urban environments

Context Urban areas are traditionally overlooked by ecologists, but contain a wide range of biodiversity. The existing procedures for consistent recording of habitats and biodiversity are not sufficient to adequately describe urban environments in a fine scale. Objectives A method is required to provide information on biodiversity and its spatial distribution in urban areas, for scientific objectives and urbanplanning. A standardized procedure is presented for the classification and mapping of urban habitats, termed Urban Habitats Biodiversity Assessment (UrHBA), designed to capture the fine detail of urban ecosystems and provide spatial data suitable for analysis and communication. Methods Urban Habitat Categories (UHCs) have been developed based on plant life forms, and adapted to the requirements of urban areas; new Non-Life Form categories are used to define Artificial Built Elements. Site Descriptors, Vegetation Layers and species are used to add further detail. Guidelines are provided for the mapping process, with site visits being used to elaborate the initial interpretation of remote sensed images. Data are recorded on standard forms which are linked to the mapped units. Results Examples of the procedure are included for a park in Porto, Portugal. Because the units are defined according to consistent rules, sites can be repeatedly surveyed to monitor change. Conclusions The proposed methodology can be expressed in spatial formats and designed to inform urban planning processes and decisions regarding the conservation of green spaces and biodiversity. As the categories transcend species, the method is applicable in a wide range of urban areas.