# Urban Ecology

In highly urbanised environments, it is important to maintain and enhance the health of our urban ecosystems, not only for local flora and fauna but also for ourselves.

There is much we can do in our metropolitan areas to overcome the loss of natural processes and improve liveability for people, flora and fauna. One of the easiest actions involves decreasing the areas of hard or impervious surfaces and at the same time increasing vegetation and landscaping. Research indicates that landscaping in metropolitan environments can reduce air conditioning costs by up to 50%, just by providing shading. What's more, green spaces in cities have been closely linked with improved physical, social and mental well-being.

In the Urban Ecology category, BESS includes actions regarding communal spaces, vegetation, food production and green walls, roofs & facades.