TY - JOUR
T1 - Conserving urban biodiversity
T2 - Current practice, barriers, and enablers
AU - Soanes, Kylie
AU - Taylor, Lucy
AU - Ramalho, Cristina E.
AU - Maller, Cecily
AU - Parris, Kirsten
AU - Bush, Judy
AU - Mata, Luis
AU - Williams, Nicholas S.G.
AU - Threlfall, Caragh G.
PY - 2023/5/1
Y1 - 2023/5/1
N2 - Urban biodiversity conservation is critical if cities are to tackle the biodiversity-extinction crisis and connect people with nature. However, little attention has been paid to how urban environmental managers navigate complex socio-ecological contexts to conserve biodiversity in cities. We interviewed environmental managers from Australian cities to identify (1) the breadth of conservation actions undertaken and (2) the barriers and enablers to action. We found current practice to be more diverse, innovative, and proactive than previously described (318 actions across nine categories). Conversely, priority actions identified by the literature are yet to be “mainstream” in practice (e.g., designing for human–nature connection, securing space for nature in cities). Further, we identified a suite of levers to overcome barriers. Our research provides scientists and practitioners with an understanding of the multiple facets of conservation in cities and emphasizes the importance of interdisciplinary approaches in future research and practice.
AB - Urban biodiversity conservation is critical if cities are to tackle the biodiversity-extinction crisis and connect people with nature. However, little attention has been paid to how urban environmental managers navigate complex socio-ecological contexts to conserve biodiversity in cities. We interviewed environmental managers from Australian cities to identify (1) the breadth of conservation actions undertaken and (2) the barriers and enablers to action. We found current practice to be more diverse, innovative, and proactive than previously described (318 actions across nine categories). Conversely, priority actions identified by the literature are yet to be “mainstream” in practice (e.g., designing for human–nature connection, securing space for nature in cities). Further, we identified a suite of levers to overcome barriers. Our research provides scientists and practitioners with an understanding of the multiple facets of conservation in cities and emphasizes the importance of interdisciplinary approaches in future research and practice.
KW - cities with nature
KW - ecological restoration
KW - environmental management
KW - governance
KW - human–nature connection
KW - novel habitats
KW - qualitative research
KW - science–practice gap
KW - urban ecology
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=85150621982&partnerID=8YFLogxK
U2 - 10.1111/conl.12946
DO - 10.1111/conl.12946
M3 - Article
AN - SCOPUS:85150621982
SN - 1755-263X
VL - 16
JO - Conservation Letters
JF - Conservation Letters
IS - 3
M1 - e12946
ER -