The Azores archipelago is rich in natural resources and beautiful scenery, but the involvement of humans in the harvesting of natural resources, the introduction of invasive species, and other factors have had several negative effects on the Azores. My project is in the Southeast of Faial Island, which is one of the area most affected by humans. Non-point source pollution and coastal erosion are the most significant problems in this area.
In recent years, the loss of mixed agriculture has led to a loss of habitat diversity and a consequent decrease in bird numbers. Due to human influence, soil and water have been polluted to a certain extent, resulting in reduced biodiversity in large areas of pastures. At the same time, these pollutions flow into the ocean and affect coastal habitats, especially some limpets and fish used as food for birds. Re-intervening with moderate disturbance and changing the homogenous landscape pattern is one way to increase biodiversity. Based on challenges, my strategy focuses on establishing new mechanisms on plants and the environment through human’s Intermediate disturbance. Through transpiration, degradation, filtration and the energy of nature, plants purify water and soil, and create various habitat types. At the same time, the increase in coastal habitat can also mitigate the effects of seawater erosion to some extent.
Ultimately the large patches Monte Da Guia, the vacant urban green spaces, and the large area of coastal pastures will be a dynamic network connect protected area, providing migration corridors and habitats for many creatures. And this also respond to government’s plan, the protected area Monte Da Guia and reserve area of Lapas in the coast.
Project description
Condition of Horta
The area of non-point pollution overlaps with large areas of the pasture and farmland. The Azorean flora species are sowing amoung the archipelago through different media, with birds accounting for more than half. Extensive pastures and farmland occupy large areas of Faial and use.However, the number of farmland birds still declinning in these years, which lead negative impacts on the spread of native plants and biodiversity. Meanwhile, it faces flooding and erosion in coastal area.
Integrate bird and human needs
Monte Da Guia is an important habitat for birds, and the site's shoreline is the lapas(one of the limpets)recovery area. Limpets, vegetation, insects and much marine fish form the food chain for birds. Birds are an essential link in spreading plant seeds in the Azores. Therefore, a virtuous circle is created by enhancing the food chain of birds to increase biodiversity and add to the richness of habitat types. Education, rest and other function of the landscape will be designed based on the current situation.
The disturbance is applied in different areas through different measures depending on the condition. The two sites and the protected areas together become a dynamic green network. I retained the existing road and farmland texture, transformed the allotments into a native plant nursery to provide raw materials for the transplanting of surrounding. In pastureland and urban vacant space, I introduce wetland system and rain garden system, in the coastal area, I both introduce soft landscape to reduce coastal erosion.
Dynamic changes in two sites
Section1: I improve pasture vegetation and introduce different species in different area.Diversify habitat types by intervening in different areas of disturbance to provide more space for birds to survive.
Section2: Rationalize the use of existing vacant green space at risk of flooding through a series of drainage measures and transform it into an educational rain garden. At the same time, rain gardens with colourful vegetation can attract more creatures; the presence of bird feeders can also attract more birds that like to live in the city limits.
Water purification design
I have designed 4 stages to mitigate non-point source pollution due to livestock manure and fertilizers: degrading hedges, wetland bubble systems, floating islands, and brackish marsh formed by sediments. There processes will reduce the pollution of habitats for creatures while providing richer habitat types for birds. At the same time, a series of excursion systems have been formed, considering the attributes of the landscape to serve people.
Degradation hedge of pastureland
Degrading fence: After growing for a period, the vegetation in the area enclosed by the fence has formed a certain scale and the destructive power of livestock on the vegetation is reduced; while the fence form made by plant cuttings will gradually disappear, with some branches growing into shrubs and some degrading into nutrients, with no impact on biological migration.
Function of hedge: 1. Through metabolic action, plants absorb nitrogen and phosphorus produced by livestock and fertilizers, converting them into non-polluting gases to be released into the air, or degrading organic matter directly through root secretions.2. The protection belt can intercept some surface water and regulate the groundwater level.3. Slow down the wind speed to some extent.
Floating islands
The plant use rhizosphere filtering to adsorb algae and various organic substances in the water, reducing the concentration of nitrogen, phosphorus and the chemical oxygen demand for purifying the water flow; at the same time, it serves as a link in a diverse habitat, providing habitats for small fish.
Wetland system
On the one hand, abundant aquatic plants degrade and transform nitrogen and phosphorus, purifying the water body. On the other hand, wetlands also provide habitats for birds. At the same time, people can interact with nature by engaging in bird watching activities in these areas.
The native species Carex Pendula is used as an example of plant propagation by division from the nursery, the growth process, and the human management of this plant. Its seeds spread through water, bird, and wind. All in all, the wetland provides rich habitats for creatures, and provide place for people connect the nature.
Brackish marsh
The sediments in Faial have rich biological components and potential to form habitats in the ocean, they deposited on the shore by wind and ocean currents. I intercept the sediment with a harpoon-shaped device, each of the interception device consists of multiple sediment capture units. The vegetated installation will be a landing place for some birds attracted to the food of limpets and fish. The grids and eco-concrete crevices can retain sediments. Over time, multiple installations placed on the beach together form a brackish marsh that provides living space for various creatures.
Rain garden
Site 2 is much closer to the city. The exsiting condition was a vacant green space surrounded by a sports club and an oil storage plant. The overall topography was low and vulnerable to flooding. Therefore, I designed a rain garden, hoping to make full use of the vacant green space and achieve water purification while mitigating the effects of flooding through a series of draiange measures.
Purification woodland area: The water flow to the site through the through the oil storage plant may be polluted. Using deep-root-plants for pollution control will prevent the spread of polluted water by polluted backflow on the one hand, and plants will degrade some organic elements on the other hand.
Bird feeder area: The colourful vegetation of the rain garden attracts insects and birds from the city. The bird feeder installation sets up more stopping points for birds, while the device can receive rainwater and provide birds with drinking places.
The device in the middle area is the planting box, is a raised container which show the rain garden vegetation. Part of the container is transparent, people can see the rain garden planting medium layer. It can educate people how the rain garden work.
