EPD 2 M1: Ecology for Architects

Handouts 1-3

Ecosystem

interacting biotic and abiotic components and flows of energy and matter

Ecosystem

dynamic complex of living communities and non-living environment interacting as a functional unit

Built Environment

human-dominated modification of biotic and abiotic relationships and drivers of structure and function

cities

socio-ecological systems where biophysical & social processes co-evolve

Building and its site

must be recognized as part of a modified urban ecosystem

Solar (in situ)

primary energy source of natural ecosystems

Mostly imported (fossil, grid)

primary energy source of built environments

Largely closed / cyclic

material cycles of natural ecosystems

Predominantly linear

material cycles of built environments

High, functionally diverse

biodiversity of natural ecosystems

Low, simplified, human-dominated

biodiversity of built environments

Infiltration, storage, slow release

hydrology of natural ecosystems

Rapid runoff, reduced reharge

hydrology of built environments

Local, relatively rapid

feedbacks of natural ecosystems

Often delayed, displaced, social

feedbacks of built environments

High within limits

self-organization of natural ecosystems

Dependent on continuous human input

self-organization of built environments

peri-urban landscapes, urban green spaces, restored rivers, and green roofs

sit at intermediate points between natural systems and built systems

linearisation and simplification

Every design decision can intensify ___

circularity and resilience

Every design decision can work toward greater ___

urban design and land conversion

ecological modification in Philippine coastal and peri-urban landscapes arre driven by ___

Ecological footprint

quantifies the biologically productive area required to support consumption and absorb waste

global hectares

unit of ecological footprint

Biocapacity

capacity of ecosystems to produce materials and absorb waste

ecological overshoot

demand exceeds biocapacity

ecological deficit

demand exceeds domestic biocapacity

carbon, food, and materials

often dominate total footprint components

Built-up land footprint

footprint component especially relevant to architetcure; impermeable/developed surface

~1.3 gha

Philippine EF per person

~2.6-2.8 gha

World average EF per person

~0.4 gha

Philippine biocapacity per person

~1.5-1.6 gha

World average biocapacity per person

-230% deficit

Philippine percent of ecological balance

overshoot of 1.73 Earths

Global context of ecological balance

Density

does not guarantee a smaller footprint by itself

project-scale design choices

affects regenerative capacity at planetary-scale

Urban metabolism

analyzes the flows of energy, water, materials, and waste through urban systems

Buildings

nodes within larger metabolic networks

extract–use–dispose

linear metabolism model

linear

predominant metabolic system of most cities

circular metabolism

seeks to close loops and reduce virgin throughput

Metabolic thinking

connects project design to footprint reduction and natural capital conservation

Natural capital

stock of ecosystems and resources that generate flows of ecosystem services essential to human well-being

short-term economic gains vs. long-term ecosystem services loss

trade-offs from developmental decisions

expendable

conventional development has often treated natural capital as ___

National Adaptation Plan 2023–2050

frames ecosystems and biodiversity as central to climate adaptation and sustainable development

site selection, land conversion, and ecological performance

How architects and urban designers influence natural capital

Global assessments

established the scientific and policy foundations for ecosystem service and natural capital thinking

integrated socio-ecological approaches and nature-based solutions

growing trend in urban contexts

Costanza et al. (1997)

key global framework on global valuation of ES, ES constitute a major component of the economic system

33 trillion US dollars

estimated average annual value

Millenium Ecosystem Assessment (2005)

multi-stakeholder global assessment that systemized the 4-category ES typology

The Economics of Ecosystems and Biodiversity (TEEB, 2010)

focused on policy-oriented valuation guidance and economic values of biodiversity and ES

Intergovernmental Science-Policy Platform on Biodiversity and Ecosystem Services (IPBES)

emphasizes transformative change and the interdependence of biodiversity, ecosystem functions, and human quality of life

Biocapacity

capacity of ecosystems to produce useful biological materials and absorb waste under current management; measured in global hectares

Circular metabolism

urban or industrial system designed to maximise recovery, reuse, and regeneration of materials and energy, minimising virgin extraction and residual waste

Ecological footprint (EF)

biologically productive area required to support a population’s consumption and absorb its waste; expressed in global hectares

Ecological overshoot

condition in which demand on ecosystems exceeds their regenerative capacity within a given period

Ecosystem

dynamic complex of plant, animal, and microorganism communities and the non-living environment interacting as a functional unit

Ecosystem services

benefits people obtain from ecosystems, commonly classified as provisioning, regulating, supporting, and cultural

Global hectare (gha)

A hectare of biologically productive land or water normalised to world-average productivity (unit)

Linear (throughput) metabolism

system that extracts resources, uses them, and discards residues as waste, with limited recovery or cycling

Natural capital

stock of natural assets that yield flows of ecosystem services to people

Urban metabolism

study of energy, water, material, and waste flows into, through, and out of urban systems

Modified ecosystem

An ecosystem in which human design and management have become dominant drivers of structure and function; the built environment is treated as such

forests, coastal/mangrove, freshwater/watershed, and urban green-space systems

Ecosystem categories relevant to design practice

interconnected

Ecosystem categories and their impacts are ___

Urban and residual systems

are ecosystems and not merely residual/decorative space

Categorization of ecosystems

guides which services, legal instruments, and design strategies are prioritized

in close proximity

The Philippine archipelagic and megadiverse context places multiple ecosystem types ___ to expanding urban areas

Ecosystem Approach

integrated strategy for managing land, water, and living resources that balances conservation, sustainable use, and equity

Ecosystem Approach

complements (rather than replaces) EIA, rating systems, and land-use tools

Ecosystem services

benefits people obtain from ecosystems

Ecosystem services

organised by the MA into provisioning, regulating, supporting, and cultural categories

supporting services

underpin other services; often the first to be overlooked in design analysis

direct and indirect drivers

shape service capacity

trade-offs

design must engage in ___ rather than assume all ecological processes are beneficial

Upland forest condition

directly influences downstream flood risk, baseflow, and sediment loads that affect urban areas

retaining canopy, soil, and connectivity

Site strategies in forest ecosystems that can moderate service loss even when some development occurs

1m sea-level rise

risk of future exposure of remaining mangroves (according to NAP 2023–2050)

setbacks, buffers, and nature-based elements

Site strategies in mangrove/waterfront ecosystems that can moderate service loss and retain protective function

watersheds

integrate water yield, sediment regulation, water quality, flood control, and habitat services across elevational gradients

Upland and riparian land cover

high-leverage determinants of downstream service levels

Philippine InVEST applications (Balanac)

quantify how land-cover scenarios alter water and sediment services

Site-scale impervious cover and vegetation removal

aggregate into catchment-scale hydrograph and sediment changes

maximise infiltration, retain buffers, and minimise connected imperviousness

Site strategies in watershed ecosystems that contribute to watershed service maintenance

~0.62 m²

Metro Manila’s per-capita provision

9 m²

WHO indicative standard per-capita provision

canopy, structure, soil, and connectivity

influences service magnitude of urban green spaces

Infilling, privatisation, and residual treatment

primary pressures of urban green spaces

equity

central concern of urban green spaces

Direct drivers

factors that unequivocally influence ecosystem processes

land-use change, over-exploitation, pollution, climate change, invasive species

direct drivers examples

Ecosystem Approach

strategy for the integrated management of land, water, and living resources that promotes conservation and sustainable use in an equitable way

Ecosystem disservices

harmful or unwanted functions/products (from a human perspective) generated by ecosystems

Indirect drivers

underlying factors that alter direct drivers

demographic, economic, socio-political cultural, technological, and governance factors

indirect drivers examples

Integrated Valuation of Ecosystem Services and Tradeoffs (InVEST)

suite of models used to map and value ecosystem services under alternative scenarios

Provisioning services

products obtained from ecosystems (food, water, timber, fibre, genetic resources, etc.)

Regulating services

benefits obtained from the regulation of ecosystem processes (climate, flood, disease, water purification, etc.)