Climate change, species extinction, water scarcity 327Figure 12.2Koala, a rare species feeding on eucalypt (gum tree) leaves that is
threatened by urbanization and climate warming. The much beloved animals are
subject to dog, fox, and other predators on the ground, and thus have difficulty
moving between habitat patches in urban regions. Gary M. Stolz photo courtesy of
US Fish and Wildlife Service.at the same time providing flooding and biodiversity benefits (Kellert and Wilson
1993,PeckandKuhn2003,Hienet al.2007). Analogously, an extensive transfor-
mation of streetscapes using stormwater swales, porous pavement, biodiverse
plantings, and other solutions could reduce heat buildup and provide other
benefits (Beatley2000,France2002,Brandtet al.2003,Hough2004). More tree
and shrub cover in greenspaces would also help.
Atabroader scale, a hotter, drier climate is likely to leave some species
‘‘ imprisoned” in fragmented patches of nature, and subject to slow decline and
disappearance (Figure12.2). Theemerald network solution(Chapter4)isanimpor-
tant step against climate change. A batch of large natural-vegetation areas spread
across the region is the most important component. The emeralds are distributed
across gradients from high to low temperature and much to little moisture,