About this Research Topic

Background

Over the last decade, research focusing on the ecology of green roofs has shifted from relatively simple horticultural studies to a suite of approaches highlighting green roofs as complex dynamic ecological systems positioned within the larger urban ecosystem. Similar to some types of urban green spaces, green roofs help to mitigate some negative effects of urbanization such as stormwater run-off, the urban heat island effect, habitat fragmentation, and loss of biodiversity. Additionally, emerging research highlights the potential psychological and social benefits of green roofs. However, the range and extent of the socio-ecological benefits associated with green roofs compared to other types of green spaces is not yet clear. Moreover, green roofs are overwhelmingly installed in affluent localities of affluent cities where the range of and the relative degree of socio-ecological benefits experienced by community members may be different than in more densely populated economically poor areas that lack greenspace.

Municipalities across the world are proposing, and increasingly passing, legislation aimed at encouraging the installation of green roofs with some focusing added monetary incentives on construction in economically poor communities (e.g. H.R. 7693, Green Roof Public School Program, USA). The expansion of green roofs, especially in economically poor urban areas that lack greenspace, is promising and provides an opportunity to re-integrate beneficial ecosystem services into systematically oppressed urban areas lacking greenspace. While some research indicates that local and regional factors influence long and short-term ecological dynamics of green roofs and emerging research highlights positive psychological outcomes from interactions with green roofs, a more integrated socio-ecological research approach is warranted. How, for example, might the design, management, and use of green roofs influence the organismal composition and function, and what, if any, might be the subsequent phycological and social impacts within the human communities connected to that green roof? Moreover, to what extent, if at all, do ecological, social, cultural, economic, and political contexts influence the design, construction, installation, use, and perception of green roofs at local and regional scales?

Although we acknowledge that alone, green roofs likely cannot redress the current inequitable distribution of greenspace in cities, as the installation of green roofs, and other green infrastructure, continues to expand it is essential to more comprehensively address the socio-ecological questions that underline the design, management, use, and function of green roofs. The scope of this Research Topic extends to any research addressing topics related to the design, construction, study, perception, experience, function, or use (occupational, educational, recreational, etc.) of green roofs that incorporate a socio-ecological framework into their research approach, including, for example, themes around social, racial, or environmental justice. In addition to original research articles, we welcome case-studies, perspectives, brief research reports, hypothesis and theory articles, reviews, mini-reviews, and methods as contributions to this Research Topic. Possible titles include but are not limited to:
• Current state of the green roof industry
• The green roof classroom: a perspective
• Green roofs: the grass really is greener on the other side
• Case Study: Community science and green roofs
• Los techos verdes: green roofs of Latin America
• The effect of cultural identity on perception and use of green roofs
• Maintenance and management of green roof parks
• Regional differences in green roof plant pallet preferences
• Successional and phenological dynamics of Bronx green roofs
• How visitor needs and design shape experiences on green roofs

Keywords: Green roof, Environmental justice, Education, Urban ecology, Psychology

Important note: All contributions to this Research Topic must be within the scope of the section and journal to which they are submitted, as defined in their mission statements. Frontiers reserves the right to guide an out-of-scope manuscript to a more suitable section or journal at any stage of peer review.

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