Design Strategies to Bring Back Life: A Blueprint for Increasing Biodiversity in Architecture

60% Gone: Why We Can't Afford to Ignore Biodiversity in Architecture and Design Any Longer

Imagine this: Since 1970, we've lost 60% of the world's animal populations. Sixty percent! That's not a statistic to gloss over; it's a wake-up call. Our ecosystems are being decimated by habitat destruction, climate change, pollution, and neglect. Every corner of the planet is affected—from the rainforests that once thrived with exotic species to the coral reefs that were home to thousands of marine creatures. Today, 1 million species face extinction if we do not act.

But all hope isn't lost. The importance of restoring our ecosystems has never been clearer—and landscape design can be a powerful tool to help. The world needs a new vision, a way to harmonize human development with natural habitats. It’s not just about protecting what’s left; it’s about actively restoring what’s lost and building a future where all forms of life can thrive. We need people, communities, and decision-makers to rally behind this cause.

Biodiversity: It's Not Just a Buzzword—It's Our Survival

What is biodiversity? For some, it’s a new buzzword. For others, it's the cornerstone of our planet's survival—the variety of all life that breathes, grows, and thrives on Earth. Biodiversity includes everything from the smallest microorganism in the soil to the majestic animals that roam our forests. It encompasses the interconnected systems that allow life to flourish and adapt. Without biodiversity, we lose not only species but also the resilience of our ecosystems. The food we eat, the air we breathe, and the water we drink are all part of this delicate web.

Landscape architects have been nurturing biodiversity for decades, using their skills to design spaces that benefit both humans and nature. But the rest of us have a lot to learn from their work. Imagine urban parks that are not just for relaxation but are also thriving habitats for birds, insects, and plants. Imagine roadways designed to accommodate not just cars but also wildlife crossings that reconnect fragmented ecosystems. The opportunities are endless if we open our minds to the potential of thoughtful design.

Four Strategies to Supercharge Biodiversity

Here are four powerful strategies to increase biodiversity—strategies that anyone involved in design, planning, or conservation can implement.

• Preserve What We Have

• Restore What's Broken

• Connect and Create Networks

• Measure Your Impact

  
  

Preserve or Perish: Why We Must Protect Our Last Wild Places

First things first: preserve what we already have. You can't replace centuries-old ecosystems overnight—believe me, relocation isn't the magic solution it sounds like. Ecosystem mitigation often fails to replicate the intricacies of nature. When you disturb natural habitats, you disrupt the very essence of life they support. The balance that has taken hundreds or thousands of years to establish is incredibly difficult to reconstruct.

Take the Sacred Groves, for instance—protected forests deeply intertwined with culture and spirituality. These are living treasures filled with rare plant and animal species, and they are preserved by local communities because of their sacred beliefs. This ancient wisdom offers inspiration for our preservation efforts today. Sacred Groves are natural sanctuaries—examples of what happens when people decide to protect rather than exploit. They serve as pockets of untouched nature that provide habitats for countless species, maintain genetic diversity, and offer vital ecosystem services like water purification and climate regulation.

The Osun-Osogbo Sacred Grove is a UNESCO World Heritage Site in Nigeria.

The Osun-Osogbo Sacred Grove in Nigeria is a prime example. This lush forest, with its shrines, sculptures, and flowing Osun River, is more than just a UNESCO World Heritage Site—it is a testament to the enduring relationship between humans and nature. The community-driven preservation of this grove holds lessons for us all. As cities densify and urban sprawl encroaches on natural landscapes, we must prioritize the preservation of such irreplaceable areas. Urban nature is not just a luxury; it is a critical part of our spiritual, cultural, and environmental heritage. Protecting these areas is crucial for maintaining biodiversity and fostering a deeper connection with the natural world.

But we can't stop at preservation.

Nature's Second Chance: How to Bring Broken Ecosystems Back to Life

Restoration is the next chapter. When nature has been broken, we must mend it. This is where landscape architects partner with ecologists, delving into the nuances of soil health, native plant selection, and habitat structure. Restoring ecosystems isn’t just about planting trees; it’s about creating environments where life can flourish again. It involves understanding the delicate relationships between species, ensuring that pollinators have the plants they need, that predators can keep herbivore populations in check, and that the soil is rich enough to support diverse plant life.

Look no further than the Penguin Parade Visitor Center in Victoria, Australia. Here, designers didn't just create a center for people; they expanded habitats for penguins and restored native wildlife—all while enhancing the visitor experience. A perfect blend of human enjoyment and ecological responsibility. The project applied a “first principles” approach to design, which meant starting with the ecological needs of the penguins and working outward to create a space that allowed both nature and people to coexist harmoniously. The restoration of native grasses and the careful design of viewing platforms ensure that visitors can marvel at the penguins without disrupting their natural behavior.

Imagine if every urban development project had a similar approach—one that prioritizes restoration, not just compensation. When we restore what has been lost, we are giving nature the tools it needs to heal itself. We are also giving future generations the chance to witness the wonders of biodiversity.

Connecting the Dots: Why Wildlife Corridors Are the Missing Link

Our work doesn’t stop at preservation and restoration—we must connect these isolated pockets of life. Picture nature as a jigsaw puzzle; right now, we have scattered pieces that need connection. Without connectivity, populations become isolated, genetic diversity diminishes, and the resilience of ecosystems weakens.

Highways and roads carve up habitats, leading to the destruction of natural systems and deadly wildlife collisions. Enter the ‘Hypar-nature’ Wildlife Bridge—a simple yet profound solution to reconnect what we've divided. These wildlife bridges are game-changers, providing safe passage for animals and maintaining ecosystem continuity. They are cost-effective, elegant, and scalable—a true victory for humans and nature alike. By providing safe corridors, we not only reduce animal fatalities but also ensure that species can move freely in search of food, mates, and new territories. These bridges are designed with the animals in mind, incorporating natural elements like soil, vegetation, and even water features to mimic their native habitats.

Gathering Place Instagram

Consider the Gathering Place in Tulsa, Oklahoma—an urban park that incorporates land bridges to connect green spaces. These bridges are not only functional but also beautiful, enhancing the park's aesthetics while providing safe passage for wildlife. Connectivity is key to creating resilient ecosystems that can adapt to change, whether that change comes from urban development or the shifting climate. We need more of these solutions—designs that acknowledge and respect the movement of life across landscapes.

How to Know If You're Winning: Measuring Biodiversity Success

Finally, we have to know where we stand. In 2020, the Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework set a bold goal: protect at least 30% of the world’s land and oceans by 2030. But to make that happen, we need to measure our impact. We need clear, trackable goals. Tools like the Pathfinder 3.0 help project teams assess biodiversity impacts—both positive and negative—so we know we’re heading in the right direction.

Biodiversity measurement isn’t just a bureaucratic checkbox—it’s essential to understanding whether our actions are making a real difference. Are the species we’re trying to protect actually increasing in number? Are restored areas sustaining themselves over time? We need to hold ourselves accountable and ensure that our projects are delivering tangible results. Governments, NGOs, and private developers all have a role to play in setting these standards and ensuring compliance. The recently launched Pathfinder 3.0 provides a framework for assessing biodiversity impacts, helping project teams to design with nature in mind and prioritize the health of local ecosystems.

We also need to support initiatives like the UN Decade of Ecosystem Restoration, which encourages biodiversity-positive projects that achieve at least 10% biodiversity net gain. This aligns with mandates like those in the UK, which require a 10% increase from pre-development biodiversity levels. Imagine a world where every development project had to leave nature better off than it found it—that’s the future we need to create.

Ready, Set, Act: What You Can Do Today to Save Our Planet

So, where do we go from here? It's simple: Start. Whether you're a landscape architect, a community leader, or just someone who cares about our planet, every action counts. Protect what's left. Restore what we can. Connect the dots. Measure the results.

Plant a tree. Support local conservation efforts. Advocate for wildlife corridors in your community. Work with developers to integrate green spaces into urban plans. Educate others about the importance of biodiversity and what they can do to help. The time to act is now. We have the tools, the knowledge, and the opportunity to reverse this trend and restore the balance of life on Earth. Every small effort contributes to a larger movement that can bring about real change.

Are you ready to design a better future? Are you ready to make a difference?

Let's create a world where life thrives again—starting today. Let’s work together to bring back the beauty and resilience of nature, one project at a time. We are the designers of the future, and it’s up to us to ensure that future is vibrant, diverse, and full of life.