Cancelled: Ecosystem services and Urban Biodiversity

In what ways can knowledge of biodiversity and ecosystem services contribute to ecologically and socially sustainable societal development? At this seminar we mix theory and practice. For example by listening to plantsman Peter Korn, who shares his experiences of creating sandy flowerbeds with a large amount of mainly introduced species resulting in a very long period of consistent flowering. What do we already know from research, and what should we do more research about when it comes to the ecological effects of this kind of urban plantings, which mostly are created to offer beauty and eye-catching experiences? This seminar is arranged for professionals, for interested colleagues and researchers at SLU, as well as for landscape architecture students, including those who follow the course Studio Urban Ecology, which this year is given for the first time here at SLU.

The program consists of short presentations mixed with time for questions. We get the opportunity to discuss how there can be a better balance between building and managing urban outdoor environments for human well-being and knowledge about ecological consequences and opportunities of urban soil and plant systems, for example how to handle the fact that climate change affect the dispersal of alien species. The aim for this seminar is to contribute to developing the dialogue between the various professions all needed in the development of sustainable future cities.