Utilising exotic flora in support of urban indigenous biodiversity: lessons for landscape architecture

Evidence shows that in the absence of intact natural habitats, some exotic patches of vegetation may play a compensatory role in supporting indigenous biodiversity in urban environments. This paper suggests that in urban settings where landscapes already contain non-natives, both indigenous and exotic flora may be necessary to maintain indigenous biodiversity. The research was constructed based upon a review of the current literature combined with a GIS-based spatial analysis of urban landscape patterns, using Wellington New Zealand as a case study. The research provides evidence concerning different aspects of utilising indigenous and exotic plant species to argue that a balanced proportion of indigenous to exotic plants may be advantageous in order to respond to some aspects of biodiversity loss. The results have three immediate implications for landscape architecture practices at the urban scale and reveal important issues that should be addressed by future research.