Green Urbanist - Sustainable Placemaking, Planning and Urban Design #110: Wild Cities - Lessons from cities where biodiversity thrives
Mar 31, 2025
Chris Fitch, a writer and geographer, discusses his upcoming book, Wild Cities, shedding light on urban environments that embrace nature. He shares fascinating case studies from around the world, including Tallinn's pollinator corridors, Tokyo's mini forests, and Flagstaff's efforts to preserve its night sky for astronomy. Fitch emphasizes the importance of urban biodiversity, community collaborations, and the health benefits that nature brings to city life, advocating for a harmonious coexistence between urban areas and their wild counterparts.
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Nairobi National Park
- In Nairobi, Kenya, the Friends of Nairobi National Park advocate for the park's protection.
- They conduct citizen science surveys and engage the local community, highlighting the park's importance.
Tallinn's Pollinator Highway
- Tallinn, Estonia, reduced grass cutting in public spaces, resulting in a 'pollinator highway'.
- This encouraged wildflowers and pollinators, creating an urban ecosystem on an abandoned railway line.
Medellin's Green Corridors
- Chris Fitch visited Medellin, Colombia, to observe the city's green corridors.
- These corridors connect small urban forests, providing wildlife with greater resilience and movement.