3 © Springer Nature Switzerland AG 2021 B. Dvorak (ed.), Ecoregional Green Roofs, Cities and Nature, https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-030-58395-8_1 Chapter 1 Introduction to Ecoregional Green Roofs Bruce Dvorak Abstract This chapter introduces ecoregional green roofs by discussing the devel- opment of native plant communities, the history of modern green roofs, and some observations about ecoregional green roofs. It examines the development of the natural vegetation in the western U.S. and Canada and the kinds of plant communi- ties that make up ecoregions appropriate for different forms of green roofs. The history of green roof origins and the development of ecoregional green roofs pro- vide insight into the growth of the modern green roof industry in Europe and North America. Original intentions for green roofs can be misguided, as design decisions or maintenance practices can be out of line with the vegetation selected, or the microclimate of the roof. Several early examples of built ecoregional green roofs highlight successes and lessons learned. Although the conceptual framework laid out in Chap. 1 (and Chap. 2) can be applied anywhere, the climate characteristics for green roofs growing west of the 100th meridian provide background and rationale for the targeted regions of this book. Our knowledge and research literature is only beginning to include the analysis of ecoregional green roofs located in cities where plants experience prolonged exposure to heat and drought, or both. Keywords Holocene · Prescribed burning · Indigenous people · Sod house · Germany · Extensive · Pilot project · Research · Ecoregion · History 1.1 Introduction A major goal of this book is to introduce the concept of ecoregions, and how ecore- gions can be useful for green roofs. It aims to provide diverse examples of how vegetation from various ecoregions can inspire designs and support a great diversity of ecosystem functions. This chapter establishes a basis for understanding the origins of green roofs and their longstanding correlation with native or adapted vegetation from local or adjacent ecoregions. B. Dvorak () Department of Landscape Architecture and Urban Planning, 305A Langford Architecture Center, Texas A&M University, College Station, TX, USA e-mail: bdvorak@tamu.edu