Biodiversity is a priority for European municipalities
As urbanization spreads worldwide, the loss and fragmentation of habitats are driving the global decline in biodiversity. At the same time, urban green spaces like parks, meadows and forests have the potential to contribute significantly to biodiversity conservation at the local and regional levels.
Biodiversity conservation is gaining prominence in European urban planning and management of green spaces, as revealed by a study published in Nature Cities. With urbanization accelerating worldwide, urban green areas like parks, meadows, and forests are crucial for preserving biodiversity at local and regional levels. Cities, which make up 40% of European capital land cover on average, are increasingly recognizing the importance of ecological quality in their green spaces.
The EU Nature Restoration Regulation and other legal frameworks emphasize the need to improve urban nature's ecological value. However, past research has largely overlooked the role of municipalities, which are essential actors in managing and designing urban green spaces.
To better understand the priority given to biodiversity in public urban green spaces, researchers surveyed 574 municipalities across 18 European countries. The questionnaire focused on the motivation, management goals, and measures taken by municipalities to promote public acceptance of species-rich green spaces. The study found that 85% of the surveyed municipalities identified biodiversity as a key motivation for green-space planning and management.
Additionally, 82% reported having received biodiversity training, and 75% actively promoted public acceptance of biodiversity-friendly green spaces. More than half of the cities also involved local residents in the planning process, which can foster bottom-up initiatives for urban biodiversity.
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