Why percent of greenspace is a false mediation of common land development practices. The better solution is soil biodiversity.

For many years, communities have been lulled into believing that planting anything and a predetermined percent of green space on a finished developed parcel was good environmental practice. This has been proven false. In terms of actual environmental benefits, this is wasteful. Once the soil has been disturbed, the biome beneath suffers and is diminished.

Everything Biodynamics illustrates is that the Earth is resilient if not overwhelmed. Its systems, like ours, can repair themselves but need time. We establish a baseline if we require a soil biodiversity test at the onset of a building development application. If we require whatever happens on that site, at the very least, to maintain that baseline biodiversity measure, the paradigm shifts from fast money development decisions to contemplative long-term impact. In other words, the soil integrity remains, so it continues to absorb water. The hydrology remains intact. There is less need for costly remediation down the road. Why disturb what is working? Like redeveloping an old established building and its periphery infrastructure saves money and increases cash flow, working with existing natural systems has a better return on investment.

Biodynamic agriculture is based on the concept that soil regeneration can most rapidly sequester CO2. Farms worldwide present scientific evidence proving and surpassing this thesis. Scientists are testing soil periodically on certified biodynamic farms over time and locating their data geographically. Although suburban and urban development will not actively implement strategies to encourage soil regeneration, “No Dig” has proven to sustain soil structure and biome.

Carbon dioxide (CO2) sequestration in soil is measured through various methods, including direct measurements of soil organic carbon content, respiration rates, and indirect assessments of soil health and ecosystem functioning. Once a baseline measurement is established, carbon content is easily measured.

• Soil Stability: Undisturbed soil is characterized by its stability and resistance to erosion, compaction, and degradation. The natural arrangement of soil particles and organic matter helps maintain soil structure and integrity, preventing soil loss and degradation.

• Soil Moisture: Undisturbed soil retains natural moisture levels, with water distributed evenly throughout the soil profile. This balanced moisture regime supports plant growth, microbial activity, and ecosystem functioning.

• Soil Structure: Undisturbed soil typically maintains a natural soil structure, which consists of various aggregates or clumps of soil particles. These aggregates create pore spaces within the soil, allowing for proper drainage, aeration, and root penetration.

Each of these attributes supports:

• Vegetation which acts as a natural carbon sink, absorbing carbon dioxide (CO2) from the atmosphere during photosynthesis and storing it in biomass and soil organic matter.

• Green areas often maintain diverse plant communities, which contribute to improved soil health. Healthy soils have a greater capacity for carbon sequestration as they support the growth of microorganisms and fungi that help stabilize organic carbon in the soil.

• Green areas help mitigate the urban heat island effect by providing shade and evaporative cooling. Cooler urban environments promote better soil microbial activity, enhancing carbon sequestration rates.

• Green area planning often uses permeable surfaces like grass, pavement, or green roofs. These surfaces allow rainwater to infiltrate the soil, reducing runoff and erosion while facilitating carbon storage.