Seeking Shade: A journey through Zurich's Urban Biodiversity
Cities are often thought of as concrete deserts, but they are also home to a surprising number of species . Trees, shrubs, insects, birds, and even small mammals all try to make a living in the urban fabric. At the same time, cities are hotspots of the so-called urban heat island effect: built surfaces absorb and store heat during the day and release it slowly at night, keeping temperatures higher than in surrounding rural areas. As summers become hotter, this creates growing challenges for both urban biodiversity and for how people experience heat in everyday city life. Why green corridors matter As cities continue to grow worldwide 1 , urban green spaces are becoming more than just places to relax or walk the dog. They are increasingly seen as ecological infrastructure: networks of parks, street trees, riversides, and vegetated strips that allow species to move, survive, and adapt in a changing climate 2 . Previous research has shown that connected gr...