Lastly, we chose to identify the green architecture already present around our focal bodies of water as a measure of the importance of green architecture in local construction projects. The hydrological environment of urban areas is markedly different from natural catchments, and is generally characterised by faster runoff process, shorter travel time for rainwater, and increased runoff volume (Sokac, 2019). Green rooves have served as the primary method employed to attempt to bring the hydrologic characteristics of urban environments closer to their natural counterparts (Cook, 2007). However, even though green rooves are often used to control runoff, their effectiveness has not been intensively researched (Berndtsson, 2010). Thus, we aim to document sustainable architecture structures around local small aquatic ecosystems: firstly in order to have another indirect measurement of their integrity, and secondly so as to determine whether or not local construction projects follow the trend of a growing importance of green building apparent in the construction market as a whole (Ahn & Pearce, 2007).
One way of addressing a potential lack in flora diversity around local small aquatic ecosystems has been to plant non-invasive, sustainable species as per the recommendations of the EBVs employed by GEO BON (Haase et al., 2018). In order to remedy deficiencies in the matter economy, ILTER’s EI framework has suggested that sustainable ecosystem conditions could be reestablished by reducing excess runoff and subsequently abnormal levels of nutrients and other molecules like phosphate, nitrate, and ammonia (Haase et al., 2018). Green architecture has been used as a way of bringing an aquatic ecosystem closer to its natural hydrological conditions by creating structures that reduce anthropogenic impact on ecosystem hydrology (Cook, 2007). Some of these sustainable architecture developments include: green rooves, green streets, permeable paving, and the use of bioretention/ biofiltration materials and spaces (Cook, 2007; Davis, 2009). As these methods have been previously applied to reduce anthropogenic effects on ecosystem integrity, they are good candidates for potential ways of ameliorating the health of local small aquatic ecosystems.
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