Abstract

VELEZ RESTREPO, Luis Aníbal  and  HERRERA VILLA, Mauricio. Contemporary Ornamental Gardens: Trans-Nationalisation, Landscaping and Biodiversity. An Exploratory Study in Medellín, Colombia. Rev. Fac. Nac. Agron. Medellín [online]. 2015, vol.68, n.1, pp.7557-7568. ISSN 0304-2847.  https://doi.org/10.15446/rfnam.v68n1.47844.

The incorporation of ornamental vegetal species into public green areas is an important feature within the renewal and spreading processes in the urban landscape. In developing countries such as Colombia, there is a lack of studies aimed at analyzing the set of species used in the urban gardening, where do these species come from and their potential environmental impacts. The non-arboreal ornamental vegetation found in public gardens such as: medians, front gardens, parks, public institutions and private companies in the Southeastern area in Medellín was analyzed. Through statistical sampling it was possible to identify the floristic composition and the vegetation landscape features. Within 143 analyzed spaces, it was found predominance from non-native species. From 198 species, 158 are exotic species; from these exotic species 68 have been incorporated along the last 10 years. From the total, 93 are mentioned in the literature as species with a potential risk: invasive, urticant or toxic. The results allowed questioning the landscape activity compared to the plant material used. These results show the weakness or inefficiency of the environmental public policy about the species entry and propagation criteria and mechanisms control in nurseries. It is evident the need to go further in researches about ecologically functional native and exotic species within the city.

Keywords : Invasive species; urban gardening; urban parks; urban vegetation.

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