Urban Planning, Ecological Transition, Urban Services and Housing

Created and published by the Municipal Institute of Parks and Gardens in 2019, the atlas is a digital tool offering citizens all the information available about the species of flora and fauna found in the city. Besides increasing the number of species included in the categories, six new sections have been created: spontaneous vegetation in tree beds, meadows and grasslands, plants in plant tubs, crustaceans and molluscs.

The Barcelona Biodiversity Atlas , the digital tool open to the public and offering extensive information on the flora and fauna in the city, has added over 450 new species, representing both a quantitative and a qualitative leap for the content of the atlas.  The new content is being opened up to the public to coincide with World Biodiversity Day on 22 May.

Firstly, the atlas has six new categories: spontaneous vegetation in tree beds, in meadows and grasslands, plants in plant tubs, crustaceans and molluscs. New species have also been introduced in existing categories on the platform. The additional content consolidates a tool that contextualises and shows the connection between the city’s morphology and its biodiversity.

Spontaneous plants in tree beds constitutes a diverse and extensive group. These avoid soil erosion, facilitate the infiltration of rainwater, retain dust in the air, produce pollen and nectar for butterflies and bees, attract auxiliary fauna and can also provide nourishment for some butterfly caterpillars or birds.

Meadows and grasslands are ecosystems with a high value for biodiversity in urban environments. These species are good candidates for replacing grass in some places, as they are easier to manage and need less water.

Vegetation in plant tubs also plays an important role in ecological dynamics on the city. The types of flora found here are conditioned by the limited amount of soil, direct exposure to sunlight and their location in the urban layout. The vegetation planted in tubs also attracts birds and pollinators.

Finally, the addition of the categories of crustaceans and molluscs provides an insight into a relatively unknown world of underwater life along the Barcelona coast, where there is a very broad and diverse range of species. These two categories were able to be developed in collaboration with EMBIMOS research group at the Institut de Ciències del Mar (ICM-CSIC), thanks to input from the public, with contributions from volunteers who photographed and identified some of these species.

The content of the atlas can be viewed by each of the city’s 73 neighbourhoods or using a specific address and each species, with its common and scientific names. Entries include a brief description, most of which are accompanied by a photo or an illustration.

The atlas was developed thanks to the work and collaboration of various scientific institutions, organisations and numerous individuals who take part in citizen science projects.