ABSTRACT
Until recently, aquatic ecosystems and green areas in cities have often been considered as independent and relatively expensive sub-systems. This chapter suggests taking a broader look at the urban environment in the context of its integration with city functions. Urban ecosystems are considered as vital assets, providing not only environmental values, but also services for society, thus improving the quality of life and development of the city of the future. The chapter also proposes an alternative perception of the interplay between the aquatic habitat (especially its hydrological properties) and biota, not only as a target of protection, but also as a tool for better water management and for enhancing habitats’ defence mechanisms against urban impact. The key principle of ecohydrology is the ‘dual regulation’ of biota by hydrology and hydrology by biota, for enhancing the absorbing capacity of ecosystems against impacts.
