Madrid flora as a model system for engaging biodiversity conservation in urban planning

Abstract

The conservation of urban floras has not been of special concern in the past. We analyzed some of the most important tools that Conservation Biology currently offers to protect urban plant biodiversity: protected areas, species reintroductions, man-made habitats management and horticulture. Then, we use the flora of the city of Madrid as a model to test conservation measures usually employed in more natural settings. We document some of the best-known examples of local extinctions in the city. We proposed three types of micro-reserves for urban plant conservation: strategic micro-reserves, de novo micro-reserves and, outskirts micro-reserves. We conclude with a new urban biodiversity conservation strategy proposal that focus on the biotic fit in urban planning. Among other objectives, we stress the need to incorporate conservation biologists into public urban agencies.