Urban Regions : Ecology and Planning Beyond the City

15 8Nature, food, and water

020406080100

20

40

60

80

100

Bra+

Bar+

Can•

Abe• Erz•

Te g•

Sap+

Por•

Ula•

Kag•

Sdt+ Rom+

Bam+

Nai+

Bei*

Te h*

Mex*

San*

Seo*

Proportion of surroundings with nearby slopes facing a

metro area (% of 45° arcs on land)

Natural vegetation cover on nearby slopes

facing a metro-area (%)

Figure 6.12Natural vegetation cover on nearby slopes surrounding a city relative to

theproportion of the surroundings with city-facing slopes. Proportion of

surroundings with nearby slopes is the percentage of the 45◦arcs on land (i.e.,

excluding major water bodies) (Color figures 2--39). Natural vegetation cover is the

average for hillslopes/mountain-slopes within approx. 15 km of a metro area in each

45 ◦arc. See Chapter5 fornatural vegetation types, and Figure 6.2 caption for city

information.

fine-scale improvements, gradually removing buildings, and perhaps establishing

large parks, isapriorityfor these scarce valuable sites.

Nearby major water bodies and coastlines

[W9]Amajor surfacewater body (river, sea, bay, lake) is adjacent to half the

cities(Figure6.13).

This is convenient for shipping/ferry transport, local recreation, and removal

of urban pollutants. But, if the difference in elevation between city and water