Urban Green Space and Urban Biodiversity: Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia

Urban green space plays an important role in enhancing the quality of environment especially for urban biodiversity. Declining biodiversity around the world has received much attention among academics, professionals and citizens. The United Nations has declared year 2010 as the ‘International Year of Biodiversity’. Urban biodiversity movement is important to ensure healthy city environments. Despite this ongoing movement, urban dwellers have little knowledge about conservation of biodiversity particularly wildlife. Moreover, biodiversity has received little attention from built environment practices (Brown & Grant, 2005; Niemela, 1999). In general, urban wildlife habitat is protected as reserved forest. Many species of wildlife are generally found in such reserved forests. In comparison, the scale of urban parks in Kuala Lumpur is massive, much larger than protected forests. This paper presents the situation of urban wildlife species and the quality of habitats in Kuala Lumpur. It is found that many factors contribute to the healthy conservation of urban wildlife such as quality and variety of habitats, ornamental versus native vegetation and ecological design. The findings highlight that common urban birds are dominant in urban green spaces regardless of the size of the green spaces. However, only larger urban green spaces help protect species. Finally, the study concludes that urban wildlife in Kuala Lumpur is rapidly declining and that there is a greater need for the community and stakeholders to promote programs and activities to preserve and enhance urban wildlife. Development of comprehensive acts, policies and guidelines are vital for urban wildlife protection.


Introduction
There is strong relationship between green open space, peoples' mental and physical wellbeing and presence of biodiversity and wildlife habitats within established built environments.Biodiversity refer to all living things, from the largest species down to the smallest micro-organisms.Rapid urbanisation has threatened the natural habitats for plants and animals, resulting in the loss and elimination of some species and habitats.
Rapidly increasing rates of urbanization in developing countries has resulted in considerable reduction in green open space because of pressure for provision of housing and related essential infrastructure.This has underlined a need for protection and preservation of green open spaces.Some developing countries did not learn from others which have lost their natural resources, native vegetation and exotic wildlife species.This is due to lack of appropriate environmental management and accountability from the government or lack of expertise and knowledge (Baharuddin et al., 2009).
Rising urban populations mean increase in the demand for urban parks and green spaces.Good quality urban parks and green spaces need to be conceived as outdoor room within a neighborhood, somewhere to relax and enjoy the urban experience; a venue for a range of varies activities such as passive and active recreation.Thus, peoples' demands for more sustainable planning and development should occur in cities where they can live in comfort, safety and enjoyment.On the other hand the urban biodiversity (fauna & flora) should be enhanced to conserve and manage appropriately in order to maintain ecological benefits.
Loss of habitats such as in the conservation of Panthera tigris (Sumatra Tiger) in Malaysia have received worldwide attention.In the last 30 years, forest cover in Malaysia has declined by 19.3% and the land has been converted to agriculture mainly for rubber and palm oil plantations (Ministry of Science, 1998).Physical development activities in the future will affect about 300 species of wild mammals, 750 species of birds, 350 species of reptiles, 165 species of amphibian and others including invertebrates and microorganisms (Ministry of Science, 1998).
The United Nations has declared 2010 as the "International Year of Biodiversity".The biodiversity movement will initiate many activities such as conferences and debates on world biodiversity (UN, 2010).This movement promoted fresh commitments since the United Nations Conference on Environment and Development at Rio de Janeiro in 1992.Malaysia has been strengthening conservation policies through the Convention on Biological Diversity 1994 with visions to operate national policy over the conservation programs (Ministry of Science, 1998).
Despite the focus on mega fauna, there is less concern and effective management in relation to less popular wildlife species especially in urban areas.There is little research on the impact and relationship between urbanization and urban wildlife.Thus it is important to understand the human ecosystem in relation to urban vegetation and urban wildlife.Urban wildlife has adapted in new environments through the urbanization process.Despite decreasing species richness, urban wildlife has somehow increased and is homogeneous in species-dominated urban spaces (Loss et al., 2009;McKinney, 2008;Chace & Walsh, 2006;Savard et al., 2000).
Species richness and density can be associated with the quality of urban environment.There are many studies that have studied birds as a biological indicator.Most of the studies reflected that urban centres record lower species richness and this increases from suburban areas through to agricultural, rural and natural land (Chace & Walsh, 2006;Savard et al., 2000;Zalewski, 1994;DeGraaf et al., 1991).
Urban development faces greater challenges and plays an important role in protection and conservation of urban biodiversity.Awareness of conservation is important as cities grow rapidly to fulfill physical and social needs.Thus, the aim of this paper is to present the pattern of urban wildlife and its habitat characteristics in urban parks in the City of Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia.

Theoretical Background
Recently, landscape and urban green space planning has been gaining prominence in urban planning, design and development (Chiesura, 2004;Balram & Dragicevic, 2005).According to Balram and Dragicevic (2005) limited literature exists in environment and planning that discuss the importance of landscape and urban green space planning.
Urban green space and biodiversity are crucial to sustainable cities because it involves social, economic and environmental issues, and if managed properly result in ecological benefits for its inhabitants.Professionals and citizens are aware of the value of urban green space and its capacity to promote of social integration, community development and environmental protection (Swanwick et al., 2003;Balram & Dragicevic, 2005;Chiesura, 2004).Balram and Dragicevic (2005, p. 149) argue that "a desire to improve the quality of community life; environmental protection; participation in decisions that will affect their lives; concerns for social conditions; need for satisfaction with their surroundings; pride in their inter-generational legacy and mistrust of representation made by elected official"."Human dimension" involves the relationship between social information and biodiversity information.Usually it is about understanding of values, attitudes, knowledge and behaviors (Miller & McGee, 2000).According to Miller and McGee (2000) the most comprehensive study investigated human relation with wildlife was done by Stephen Kellert in 1970s.
In many countries there is little awareness about conservation of environment and biodiversity (Niemelä, 1999;Miller & McGee, 2000) and there is little agreement of this concept among built environment professionals (Brown & Grant, 2005).This is also supported by Balram and Dragicevic (2005, p. 147) who state that the "Attitude influence behavior towards urban green space.But determining attitudes towards urban green space is not well operationalized in urban planning research".There are very few studies on urban parks and its biodiversity especially by the built environments professionals.Most of the studies are focused towards wildlife managers and concentrate on reserved forest or conservation areas (Miller & McGee, 2000).It is therefore important to understand the relationship between biodiversity and built environment.
Urban green space planning has been implemented to fulfill predominantly the social needs of people and little consideration given to environmental aspects such as wildlife and biodiversity, woodlands and wetlands.Thus, fragmentation and isolated patches of green space that exist in cities is the result of disjointed land use planning that affect urban biodiversity population.Because of low priority given to improve green space many towns have gradually reduced their budget for green space maintenance (Chiesura, 2004;Balram & Dragicevic, 2005) or virtually ignored the importance of green space planning.Thus, it is important to investigate the huge demand for green spaces including peoples' attitudes towards urban green space and urban biodiversity for more responsible city planning.In Malaysia there is very limited research in field of biodiversity such as wildlife.
In most of the large cities in developing countries urban green space is declining because of the pressures of rapid urbanization, residential and commercial developments.If this trend continues it will invariably affect the health and sustainability of the urban environment and lead to long-term damage and loss of natural habitat, fragmentation and disturbance (Pauleit, 2003;Brown & Grant, 2005;Tratalos et al., 2007;McKinney, 2008).The decline in the amount of urban green space has led to many problems such as floods, air and noise pollution and social and health issues.Therefore, it is important to study green space planning and develop suitable strategies that will lead to the creation and conservation of healthy living environments.
Despite the focus on mega fauna, there are less concern and effective management of less popular wildlife species especially in urban areas.There is little research on the impact and relationship of urbanization on urban wildlife.Thus it is important to understand human ecosystem in relation to urban vegetation and urban wildlife.Species richness and density can be associated with the quality of urban environment.Thus, many studies have studied birds as a biological indicator.Most of the studies conclude that urban centers have recorded lower species richness and it was increasing towards suburban areas to the agricultural, rural and natural land (Chace & Walsh, 2006;Savard et al., 2000;Zalewski, 1994;DeGraaf et al., 1991).
City managers face greater challenges and play an important role in protection and conservation of urban biodiversity.Awareness of conservation is important as cities grow rapidly towards meeting physical and social needs.

Methodology
A case study method was adopted to present the current pattern of urban wildlife and its habitat characteristics in urban parks in the city of Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia.Kuala Lumpur aims to promote and improve the quality of its living environment and develop a sustainable approach for the development of urban green space.Therefore it was an appropriate case study to study the pattern of biodiversity especially wildlife and how it relates to planning and development.
An urban wildlife observation survey was conducted between November 2009 and January 2010.The objective of the survey was to identify the abundance of birds, mammals and reptile species in the urban parks of Kuala Lumpur.The survey captured species name, number of species, habitat, observation time and date, and remarks for reference notes.
The survey used transects line for observation and species.This approach used the "Distance Sampling Method" introduced by Buckland et al. (1993).The transect lines consist of 1 to 4 lines depending on the size of the urban parks.Each of the transect lines was recorded twice a day; in the early morning between 7.30am to 10.00am and in the evening from 4.00pm until 6.00pm.Observation was used to identify the species within 30 meters distance perpendicular to the transect line.Identified species were validated with the species database provided by the Department of Wildlife and National Parks (DWNP).To conduct observation survey urban parks in Kuala Lumpur were selected as case studies.Following section will describe the selected case studies.
The research was conducted in selected urban parks in Kuala Lumpur.There are nine urban parks consisting of three categories of urban parks viz.city parks, district parks and neighborhood parks.Table 1 depicts

Results
The results  The most (n=27), tra around the Garden.

Jalil Park
and Bukit Jalil provides recre on survey ident es which were  wildlife in urban parks and provide shelter and food.It is also suggested that the urban green space in Kuala Lumpur be protected by enforcing the existing legislation governing the protection of wildlife and no new legislation is required.
size and hierarchy of open spaces and Figure 1 shows the locations of the parks.The hierarchy of the open space is adopted from GP005-A 9th edition, Planning Guideline for Open Space and Recreation, Department of Urban and Rural Planning, Ministry of Housing and Local Authorities (2013).