ABSTRACT
This chapter presents guidance about possible tools that can help to undertake an ecological assessment with a simple, integrated and systemic approach using sets of indicators. Agro-environmental indicators allow efficient assessment of the state as well as the trends and rate of change of environmental status or ecosystem services. Indicators for the quality of a garden’s suitability as a habitat depend on selected species and their demands. Gardens located near the sea shore require coping with difficult environmental conditions. Water requirements vary a lot according to different climatic zones and according to the evapotranspiration rates of different crops. In general, the improvement of physical and chemical soil conditions will allow better crop growth and reduce the risks of erosion, compaction, and poor drainage. Urban gardening can widen the habitat areas of particular animal species of nearby green areas. The chapter provides information on the importance of minimizing the main risks from urban environmental pressures on urban gardening.
