A methodological framework to create an urban greenway network promoting avian connectivity: A case study of Curitiba City

Integrating landscape models into urban planning can promote the use of green infrastructure tools in cities, which are essential for meeting future sustainability requirements. The city of Curitiba, the capital of Paraná State, Brazil, provides an opportunity to research methodologies related to habitat connectivity in urban areas. Our study aims to propose a network of greenways that connect the most ecologically relevant green areas. Our methodology integrates avian movement and environmental indicators to enhance urban ecology by leveraging the spatial characteristics of the landscape. In designing the path network, we adapted the parameters to fit the minimum cumulative resistance model, which was based on studies of birds in the urban environment and their dispersion behavior. Our findings indicated that impervious surfaces were the predominant land cover class in the city landscape, while larger forest fragments were primarily situated in the south and northwestern regions. By utilizing least-cost paths, we identified twenty-six priority areas that could be connected to form an ecological network spanning the landscape. Our analysis revealed that the path network was more densely distributed in peripheral areas, where the largest habitats were located, primarily within the city's green belt. Regarding land cover classes along the paths, we found that 39% consisted of forest, 25% of impervious surface, 19% of grass, 16% of bare soil, and 1% of water. Despite being highly urbanized, Curitiba possesses significant potential for restoring avian-related functional connectivity through the urban forest. To aid in the recovery and conservation of ecological corridors along the greenways, we developed a set of guidelines. The information gathered from this study may prove useful for future interventions in the city, and the proposed methodology could serve as a model for greenway planning in other urban areas.