The 21st century is often described as the urban century, with over half of the world’s population currently living in cities and more than 70% projected to do so by 2050[1]. In the EU, 75% of the population already lives in urban areas. Meanwhile, biodiversity faces severe threats: over three-quarters of all land is significantly impacted by human activities, and more than 70% of wildlife has been lost since the 1970s[2]. The Intergovernmental Science-Policy Platform on Biodiversity and Ecosystem Services (IPBES) predicts an unprecedented decline in biodiversity in the coming decades[3].
As urban areas expand, key natural spaces and species are disappearing. The growth of urbanisation and the loss of habitats due to increased consumption of land, water, timber, and energy are major drivers of biodiversity loss[4]. However, urban areas depend on healthy ecosystems for numerous benefits, such as oxygen production, pollination, and water filtration. They also host a high number of flora and fauna species, 70% of which are endemic to these areas[5].
As the largest coalition of youth-led networks – bringing together 381 national organisations across 46 countries in Europe – on climate and environmental issues at the EU level, Generation Climate Europe (GCE) is committed to making the voices of young people heard and believes that there is a need to restore nature in EU urban areas. With this fact sheet, we aim to provide a brief overview of the issue, empowering youth to become knowledgeable and active advocates for biodiverse cities within the EU.
EU Initiatives for Greener Cities
EU Biodiversity Strategy for 2030[6]:
- Seeks to reverse biodiversity loss and restore ecosystems by 2030.
- Requires cities with 20,000+ residents to implement Urban Greening Plans (UGPs) by 2030, integrating biodiversity into city planning and enhancing urban green spaces.
EU Nature Restoration Law[7]:
- Sets a binding goal of no net loss of green urban spaces and tree cover by 2030, with gradual increases thereafter.
These targets are still in progress and have not yet been fully achieved by all European cities.
1. The impact of urbanisation on biodiversity: threats & challenges
Key terms[8]
- Urbanisation refers to the process where large numbers of people become permanently concentrated in relatively small areas, forming cities.
- Biodiversity encompasses all the different living species on Earth that form various ecosystems, including plants, animals, microorganisms, and fungi.
Urban areas are often seen as detrimental to biodiversity. According to the European Environment Agency (EEA), urbanisation in the EU accounts for 13% of all pressures affecting habitats and species[9]. With over 75% of the EU population living in urban areas, the increasing rate of urbanisation poses significant threats to biodiversity. These threats include:
- ·Habitat loss, degradation, and lack of ecological connectivity[10]: Urban expansion leads to changes in land cover, fragmenting habitats and potentially isolating native species. This expansion occurs rapidly in biodiversity-rich low-elevation coastal zones.
- Pollution[11]: Chemical, plastic, air, and noise pollution negatively impact biodiversity. For instance, artificial light at night disrupts the biological rhythms of organisms, fragments habitats, and alters ecosystems, contributing to the decline of insect and bird populations worldwide.
- Negative impacts on plants and species abundance and richness[12]: Urbanisation reduces insect population abundance and species richness, causing extinctions and shifts in insect community composition.
- Hotspots for invasive species (IAS)[13]: While non-native species in cities can provide ecosystem services, invasive species often threaten native species by colonising their habitats, impacting their survival.
2. The role of urban areas in biodiversity conservation and protection
Urban areas can play a crucial role in enhancing, restoring, and protecting biodiversity[14].
- Creating green spaces such as parks, gardens, and nature reserves is vital for supporting diverse species.
- Incorporating green roofs and walls on buildings promotes native vegetation, sustains local wildlife, and helps curb invasive species.
- Wildlife corridors link fragmented habitats, enabling safe migration across urban landscapes.
- Converting underutilised spaces into natural habitats and restoring degraded areas promote rewilding.
- Developing wetlands and rain gardens help manage stormwater and protect aquatic ecosystems.
Furthermore, community engagement is essential, as public involvement and education spark collective efforts to preserve biodiversity. The inclusion of biodiversity in urban planning policies to protect natural habitats and species must be prioritised. For instance, regular assessments and support for research on urban ecosystems improve conservation methods and guide future initiatives.
How can we make a difference – successful initiatives[15]
- Guadalajara: The city has created green corridors along a network of cycle and pedestrian paths that connect parks.
- British Columbia: An action plan has been developed to protect the at-risk western painted turtle. This includes measures to enhance habitats, raise public awareness, and collaborate with local organisations to monitor and manage turtle populations.
- Milan: The Geoportale del Verde is an interactive, regularly updated map that inventories all arboreal and shrub species on public land. It provides details on the type, age, height, circumference, and environmental and economic benefits of each plant.
- Paris: The Oasis Schoolyard Programme aims to transform schoolyards into green spaces accessible to both students and the local community, enhancing the city’s climate resilience and educating children about nature.
3. The Positive impact of urban biodiversity on our lives
By focusing on the following strategies, urban areas can significantly contribute to biodiversity enhancement, restoration, and protection, benefiting human health, community cohesion, and climate resilience.
3.1. Health and Wellbeing
- Physical Health:
- Access to green spaces in cities can improve physical health by reducing risks of obesity and type 2 diabetes, improving cardiovascular health, and encouraging higher rates of physical activity[16].
- Parks, trees, and other green areas also help mitigate noise and air pollution[17].
- Mental Health:
- Exposure to natural environments reduces psychological stress and blood pressure and decreases the risk of psychiatric disorders, including depression, anxiety, dementia, schizophrenia, and ADHD. For example, the risk of developing depression and anxiety is 71% lower in residents who live near green spaces[18].
- During the COVID-19 pandemic, people with access to green spaces had better mental well-being and lower stress levels. However, post-pandemic recovery plans have focused more on traditional urban construction design, with very little integration of nature-based solutions[19].
- Green spaces with high biodiversity have a greater positive impact on mental well-being compared to those with low diversity. This underscores the need for more biodiverse urban spaces like meadows, waterways, and urban forests rather than heavily landscaped gardens and parks[20].
3.2. Citizen Engagement and Social Justice
- Community Involvement:
- Practical actions to restore urban nature can create a stronger sense of community. Activities like collective gardening, ecological restoration projects, and educational programs encourage social interaction and help combat social exclusion.
- Exposure to natural spaces, particularly in childhood, is positively correlated with environmental concern and sustainable behaviour.
- Equitable Access:
- Access to green areas is crucial for children, the elderly, and low-income individuals who often have limited opportunities to experience nature. However, green space availability is unequal, with cities in northern and western Europe having more green areas compared to southern and eastern Europe[21].
- Within cities, green spaces are often less accessible and of lower quality in lower socio-economic neighbourhoods. While the World Health Organization recommends that everyone live within 300 meters of a green space, less than half of Europe’s urban population meets this standard[22].
- Restoring urban biodiversity should involve vulnerable populations and minorities to create inclusive communities. Enhancing biodiversity also means improving access to green spaces for everyone, especially those without access to rural areas.
3.3. Climate Resilience
- Heat Mitigation:
- Green infrastructure, such as urban gardens and tree-lined streets, helps cities adapt to heatwaves and other climate-related hazards. Trees and green spaces can cool cities by an average of 1°C, and up to 2.9°C in some cases[23].
- Increasing tree coverage to 30% in European cities could reduce deaths associated with urban heat island effects, potentially avoiding 2,644 premature deaths, or about 1.8% of all summer deaths in these cities[24].
- Flood Protection:
- Green spaces can absorb water during floods, and vegetation helps stabilise soil to prevent erosion and landslides[25].
4. The role of citizen science in biodiversity protection
Scientific knowledge is crucial for initiating applications and implementing strategies to protect biodiversity. Time and human resources often limit these efforts. This is where citizen science becomes pivotal enabling anyone to contribute to data collection and monitoring programs that support scientific research goals[26]. In recent years, citizen science has emerged as a cost-effective tool for engaging the public in creating greener cities and generating vast amounts of data[27].
A study at Lisbon University showed that citizen engagement significantly improves urban biodiversity monitoring. It highlighted how various engagement strategies affect the quality and quantity of biodiversity data. Despite some biases, citizen science, along with species identification apps and community involvement, enhances monitoring efforts and fosters conservation awareness[28].
Citizen science projects actively involve citizens in various research endeavours, including:
- Habitat Restoration:
- SUPERB Project: Aims to restore European forests by integrating scientific and local knowledge in 12 demonstration areas, enhancing forest restoration and societal support[29].
- OCEAN CITIZEN Project: Focuses on restoring coastal marine ecosystems through ecological regeneration and community engagement, improving biodiversity, carbon sequestration, and local economic benefits[30].
- Wildlife Monitoring:
- “Stunde der Wintervögel” and “Stunde der Gartenvögel”: These events invite citizens to count birds, contributing to major bird population monitoring efforts[31].
- Data Acquisition:
- Martina Capriotti’s Project: Engages primary school students in Porto San Giorgio, Italy, to study microplastics and pollutants in marine ecosystems, raising awareness about ocean pollution[32].
- Organised Engagement in European Cities:
- BiodiverCities Project: This project involved over 1,000 citizens across 10 European cities between 2020 and 2022. It focused on co-creating urban nature visions, enhancing green spaces, and monitoring biodiversity, with varying impacts across multiple European cities[33].
Key takeaways
It is crucial to adopt and enforce ambitious measures to integrate urban biodiversity conservation into the planning of both current and future EU cities. Creating ecosystemic cities is vital not only for protecting biodiversity but also for the well-being of their residents. Such integration is key to building resilience against the climate crisis.
And most importantly, fostering early awareness and responsibility for biodiversity through educational initiatives is fundamental. Educating future generations about the importance of biodiversity for our well-being will inspire them to actively participate in urban initiatives aimed at protecting it.
[1] UN DESA (United Nations Department of Economic and Social Affairs). 2013. World Economics and Social Survey 2013: Sustainable Development Challenges. New York: United Nations.Link.
[2] WWF Canada. Urban Biodiversity. n.d. https://wwf.ca/habitat/urban-areas/.
[3] IPBES (Intergovernmental Science-Policy Platform on Biodiversity and Ecosystem Services). 2019b. “Summary for Policymakers of the Global Assessment Report on Biodiversity and Ecosystem Services of the Intergovernmental Science-Policy Platform on Biodiversity and Ecosystem Services.”
[5] Critical Ecosystem Partnership Fund (CEPF), 2021, Biodiversity Hotspots Defined. Link.
[6] Council of the European Union. European Green Deal. Link; European Commission. Knowledge Centre for Biodiversity – Actions Tracker. Link.
[7] European Commission. Nature Restoration Law. Link.
[8] Britannica, T. Editors of Encyclopaedia (2024). urbanization. Encyclopedia Britannica. Link; National Geographic. (2024) ENCYCLOPEDIC ENTRY, Biodiversity. Link
[9] European Environment Agency, (2020). State of nature in the EU : results from reporting under the nature directives 2013-2018, Publications Office. Link.
[10] Elmqvist, T., et al. 2016. Urbanization, habitat loss, biodiversity decline: solution pathways to break the cycle. In, Seta, Karen; Solecki, William D.; Griffith, Corrie A. (eds.). Routledge Handbook of Urbanization and Global Environmental Change. London and New York:Routledge. Chapter 10: 139-151. 13 p.Link.
[11] Horizon Europe. Impact of Light and Noise Pollution on Biodiversity. Link.
[13] Oke, C., et. al. (2021). Cities should respond to the biodiversity extinction crisis. npj Urban Sustainability, 1(1), 11. Link.
[14] C40 Knowledge Hub. (2023) How to Enhance, Restore, and Protect Biodiversity in Your City. Link.
[15] Ibid.
[16] Kim, J., Lee, S., & Ramos, W. (2021). Investigating the Relationship Between Accessibility of Green Space and Adult Obesity Rates: A Secondary Data Analysis in the United States. Journal of preventive medicine and public health = Yebang Uihakhoe chi, 54(3), 208–217. Link; Seo, S., et. al. (2019). Association between urban green space and the risk of cardiovascular disease: A longitudinal study in seven Korean metropolitan areas. Environment international, 125, 51-57. Link; Mytton, et. al. (2012). Green space and physical activity: an observational study using Health Survey for England data. Health & place, 18(5), 1034–1041. (2012) Link
[17] Rey-Gozalo, G., et. al. (2023). Influence of Green Areas on the Urban Sound Environment. Current Pollution Reports, 9(4), 746-759.Link ; Diener, A., & Mudu, P. (2021). How can vegetation protect us from air pollution? A critical review on green spaces’ mitigation abilities for air-borne particles from a public health perspective-with implications for urban planning. Science of the Total Environment, 796, 148605. Link
[18] Ewert, A., & Chang, Y. (2018). Levels of Nature and Stress Response. Behavioral sciences (Basel, Switzerland), 8(5), 49.Link; Yao, W., Zhang, X., & Gong, Q. (2021). The effect of exposure to the natural environment on stress reduction: A meta-analysis. Urban forestry & urban greening, 57, 126932.Link; Zhang, Y., Wu, T., Yu, H., Fu, J., Xu, J., Liu, L., Tang, C., & Li, Z. (2024). Green spaces exposure and the risk of common psychiatric disorders: A meta-analysis. SSM – population health, 25, 101630. Link; Astell-Burt, T., & Feng, X. (2019). Association of Urban Green Space With Mental Health and General Health Among Adults in Australia. JAMA network open, 2(7), e198209. Link
[19] Yen, M. H., Li, D., & Chiang, Y. C. (2024). A systematic review of the relationship between natural environments and physiological and mental health during different stages of the COVID-19 pandemic. Science of The Total Environment, 171392. Link ; Lafortezza, R., & Davies, C. (2023). Pandemic urban development is leading us away from nature. Environmental research, 217, 114858.Link
[20] Hammoud, R., Tognin, S., Smythe, M., Gibbons, J., Davidson, N., Bakolis, I., & Mechelli, A. (2024). Smartphone-based ecological momentary assessment reveals an incremental association between natural diversity and mental wellbeing. Scientific Reports, 14(1), 7051.Link
[21]Konijnendijk, C. C., Annerstedt, M., Nielsen, A. B., & Maruthaveeran, S. (2013). Benefits of urban parks. A systematic review. A Report for IFPRA, Copenhagen & Alnarp, 70.Link ; Asah, S. T., Bengston, D. N., Westphal, L. M., & Gowan, C. H. (2018). Mechanisms of Children’s Exposure to Nature: Predicting Adulthood Environmental Citizenship and Commitment to Nature-Based Activities. Environment and Behavior, 50(7), 807-836. Link ; Nisbet, E. K., Zelenski, J. M., & Murphy, S. A. (2009). The Nature Relatedness Scale: Linking Individuals’ Connection With Nature to Environmental Concern and Behavior. Environment and Behavior, 41(5), 715-740. Link
[22] European Environment Agency EEA. Who benefits from nature in cities?
Briefing no. 15/2021. (2022) Link ; European Environment Agency EEA. How green are European cities?. (2022) Link
[23] Taha, H. (2004). Heat islands and energy. Link ; Marando, F., Heris, M. P., Zulian, G., Udías, A., Mentaschi, L., Chrysoulakis, N., … & Maes, J. (2022). Urban heat island mitigation by green infrastructure in European Functional Urban Areas. Sustainable Cities and Society, 77, 103564.Link
[24] “Science for Environment Policy”: European Commission DG Environment News Alert Service, edited by the Science Communication Unit, The University of the West of England, Bristol. (2023) Link
[25] Woodland Trust. n.d.Link
[26] National Geographic. Citizen Science. (2024) Link
[27] Tiago, P., Leal, A. I., Rosário, I. T., & Chozas, S. (2024). Discovering urban nature: citizen science and biodiversity on a university campus. Urban Ecosystems, 1-13. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11252-024-01526-0
[28] Ibid
[29]Superb Upscaling Forest Restoration. n.d. Link
[31] Wildlife Travel, Bird count in May – A citizen science project (2020)Link
[32] The explorers club 50, TAKING A MICROSCOPIC LOOK AT MICROPLASTICS. Link
[33]Quaglia, A., et.al., BiodiverCities Atlas: A participatory guide to building urban biodiverse futures, Publications Office of the European Union, Luxembourg, 2023, doi:10.2760/18849, JRC133253.Link
