Priority analysis for fieldwork assessment

Having classified spaces into the typology this study needed to assess the quality of spaces for their possible inclusion into a green network for the city. Given the immense number of spaces in each typology, it is essential to justify the priorities for selecting those spaces which will be further assessed through site visits and field work activity.

One method would be for assessment of biodiversity to be performed using a suitable method for each of the identified space types. The number of sampling points, location, and other technical aspects would be considered in line with which biodiversity assessment method is to be used. However, preference could be given to types which have significance in terms of their potential for inclusion into a green or ecological network for the city. Therefore some consideration needs to be given to determining which identified spaces possess such significance. Table 5.4 presents aspects of such consideration and how they relate to the space typologies.

Figure 5.21. Typology of spaces in the city of Makassar

Table 5.4. Comparison between identified spaces and aspects for making priorities for fieldwork

Mostly private space Mostly private with some owned

Accessibility Visual and physical access is either limited

General size ^Small Small to medium Small to medium Small to large Small to large Small Small to medium Medium to large Large Medium to large

Table 5.4. Continued

Unlikely Unlikely Unlikely Less likely Likely but

depends on the

Very likely Likely Likely to very likely

Table 5.4. Continued

Using the typology and comparison of each type of green space, it is important to set up a matrix of priorities. Although sometimes the application on the ground regarding the final site selection does not often reflect the priorities identified through analysis,

‘prioritization’ has become a part of scientific application (Corlett, Richard T., 2009).

This matrix will help to determine levels of priority for deciding which types of patch and corridor are more feasible to be part of a green network for Makassar City. By having patches and corridors which are assumed to have a high priority, the next stage of the study will be more focused on those particular patch and corridor types, including undertaking field observation and biodiversity assessment of them. The following matrix scores the ease by which an aspect will lead to the incorporation of the type into a green network, using low L=1, medium M=2 and high H=3. The overall score is given in the final column.

Table 5.5. Matrix of priority

Typology Type

Level of possibility to be part of green network in terms of some comparable aspects Overall Level of Priority

From Table 5.5, there are 6 typologies which will be given priority in the fieldwork because they score high in the priority analysis. Institutional space is certainly important as according to the government inventory, some institutions have given up their space to be part of an official urban forest in the city. Wetlands and urban farms comprise a significant area of the city, and should therefore also be a point of focus. Corridors considered important in the fieldwork observation are primary roads and river corridors, and both are also important features in green networks already implemented in other places.

Having worked out the priority level, the field data collection stage can be more focussed on the typology of patches with high priority level. Although it would be ideal to assess all spaces identified in the typology equally, given the limited time and resources available, sampling and field data collection should be more intense for sites of high and medium priority. However, the other typology types are also visited and assessed.

The target for the fieldwork is not only assessing the extent to which these spaces are really available and have the potential to be part of a network, but also how much they could serve as an ecological spot (somewhere where species can have a permanent home). A sufficient number of such spots could then form a network of spaces with ecological quality. Therefore an assessment of current biodiversity was chosen for the purpose and the method used is appropriate for the urban context, as described in the next chapter.

5.4. Summary

The process of typology development as an important stage in this research has been described in this chapter, as well as the background behind assessing spaces for the typology development and reflection on priority determination for fieldwork activities.

The typology was developed through a detailed mapping inventory in one sample district in the city. The selection of sample district as a measure for simplifying the detailed mapping work was based on it being representation of the whole city, as no on-the-ground preliminary observations were performed before fieldwork. The developed typology was then used in identifying green spaces for the whole city. The typology also distinguished between green spaces (patches) and green corridors, mapping both.

The chapter ends by considering factors with which to analyse fieldwork priorities. This is important to ensure that the fieldwork is both practicable and efficient given the limited time and resources.

Chapter 6

Biodiversity Assessment and Biodiversity Scoring

This chapter deals with biodiversity scoring, this being one of main aspects of this research. After a general introduction about biodiversity, there is an explanation of why it is important for the green space analysis and how the assessment of biodiversity can be performed, especially in an urban area. The most important part of this chapter is the detailed description of the chosen biodiversity assessment method which was adapted for this research. The reasons for choosing it and how the method was made to work for the context of the study location are explained.

This chapter is closely related to Chapter 7, which presents the results, and to Chapter 8 which explains how the results of the biodiversity assessment are taken into consideration in assessing the quality of green spaces. The description of the detailed application of the chosen method also relates back to Chapter 3 about the research methodology chapter and the discussion of the stages of the research.

Assessment of biodiversity is one important way of gaining knowledge and understanding about the current ecological stage of a site or location. The results from such an assessment often become an essential consideration for the development of an action plan and further policy making. This is mainly because over the last decade, biological diversity has not only been a concern for ecologists and environmentalists, but has also become a public preoccupation and political debate (Magurran, 2004).

The introduction of an ecological network into urban areas in Europe as a method of ecology preservation was initially triggered by awareness of the degradation of the natural realm and all its contents, which was part of a concern for the general condition of European biological diversity (R. Jongman & Pungetti, 2004). Furthermore, ecological networks cannot be based entirely upon species distribution data but have to be based on a more general long term strategy, which accounts for species change and dynamics (R. H. G. Jongman et al., 2007). At this point, some ecologically related concepts for human functions, such as ‘carrying capacity’ and ‘ecological stability’, became the basis for the creation of an ecological network (Rob H. G. Jongman et al., 2004).

This research investigation has not revealed any reports about the current, general biodiversity state of the city of Makassar, let alone any detailed reports of each type of green space as identified in this research, or other natural remnants of open space around the city. In order to consider the establishment of any type of network of green spaces it is important to have that knowledge for each typology level, in order to assess the ecological feasibility of the spaces identified. Therefore biodiversity assessment becomes an important stage in this research.