EEA Issues Sixth Message for 2010 on Urban Ecosystems
May 2010: The European Environment Agency (EEA) has published the sixth issue in its series of '10 messages for 2010' to celebrate the International Year of Biodiversity, which focuses on urban ecosystems.
The publication highlights that green urban areas and biodiversity can provide basic ecosystem services, such as buffering climate extremes like heatwaves, thus playing an important role in adaptation strategies. Overall, the message shows that urbanization can be an opportunity or a threat for biodiversity, and that local and regional authorities should designate conservation areas and integrate biodiversity concerns into their urban and spatial planning. [The Sixth Message]