Predicting habitat functionality using habitat network models in urban planning

Oskar Kindvall, Meta Berghauser Pont, Ioanna Stavroulaki, Emy Lanemo, Lena Wigren and Monika Levan

Environment and Planning B, 2025, vol. 52, issue 6, 1482-1497

Abstract: Recently, the European Union adopted a Nature restoration law that aims to stop the ongoing decline of biodiversity and even bring back nature to cities. This is challenging as urbanization is an ongoing process that thrives for more land and densification. In this paper we describe a new Open-Source GIS-tool that automates habitat network analyses and simultaneously generates several maps that can be used for assessments, targeting species survival in urban environments. One result of particular interest is the habitat functionality map that combines values of habitat quality and connectivity. We tested the tool’s ability to predict habitat functionality using amphibian occurrence data observed from the city of Gothenburg in Sweden. Our evaluation shows that habitat functionality was generally a good predictor of amphibian distribution. However, the predictability was sensitive to the cartographic representativity of the input biotope map used. Also, predictions of habitat functionality improved when estimating dispersal probabilities using the Cost-distance algorithm, compared to when using Euclidean distance from reproductive habitats. This finding supports the need to use connectivity models that are responsive to variation and changes in roads, traffic volumes and buildings when performing effect analyses on biodiversity in cities. Finally, we demonstrate how the tool can be used to easily identify areas where restoration measures can effectively increase habitat functionality for target species. This can help planners to find efficient solutions for increasing biodiversity within urban areas.

Keywords: Habitat connectivity; restoration; habitat quality; animal dispersal; road barrier; green infrastructure; GIS; cost-distance; Amphibia; place syntax tool (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2025
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Persistent link: https://EconPapers.repec.org/RePEc:sae:envirb:v:52:y:2025:i:6:p:1482-1497

DOI: 10.1177/23998083241299165

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