Cities

A climate shelter is a natural or an urban area with benign environmental conditions that offer protection from an unfavourable situation, such as too much heat, a shortage of water or a lack of access to suitable habitat. Climate shelters can be located in parks, promenades or avenues with trees and with fountains or access to natural water, such as a river or the sea. Each climate shelter’s conditions determine how well suited it is to different species — including humans — depending on their respective needs. 

Cities across Europe and China are preparing to green themselves. The Sino-European project Clearing House was officially launched and will be expanding the knowledge of trees and forests in urban areas.

We interviewed Yolanda Melero, holder of a PhD in biology, whose studies have revolved around the behaviour and dynamics of American mink populations. At CREAF she is continuing to investigate how animal populations function, but is now focusing on butterflies to learn about biodiversity-friendly city design.

A study led by Daniel Sol, CISC researcher based at CREAF, shows that cities preserve 450 million years less evolutionary history compared to natural environments. Birds capable of surviving in highly urbanized environments have undergone recent evolution. The arrival of exotic species does not compensate for poor urban evolutionary diversity.