Cities as the Solution to the Biodiversity Crisis

Abstract

Abstract Cities and suburbs are built by people and primarily for people. Even so, a remarkable diversity of species exists in urban areas and there are increasing opportunities for new species to take up urban living. Some of these are species we purposefully plant and others make it in of their own accord. Some species are in regular conflict with people, whereas others are neutral neighbors that many of us rarely consider. Some are actively enticed into our yards and parks, whereas others are city-dwellers that surprise us because they are vulnerable and otherwise imperiled. Recent years have seen a tremendous interest in how we manage species in our cities and promote urban biodiversity. This work documents the increasing interest in urban conservation and the evolving paradigms of biodiversity in our cities. Beyond the value of urban areas for nonhuman species, nature—and especially biodiversity—are good for people. However, the same urban planning structures that have produced and continue to enforce racist, classist, and other exclusionary practices also limit native biodiversity and promote species that can be harmful to people. This underscores the need for an equitable approach to urban biodiversity management that centers social justice as a primary imperative. This work introduces these concepts and points to the intricate ties between advancing society and biodiversity in our cities. Ultimately this illustrates that urban conservation is necessary to meet our broader conservation goals and that equity underlies the success of conservation in cities.