How Cities Can Rewild Ourselves: Why Urban Biodiversity Matters More Than Ever
- The Economic Botanist
- Jul 8
- 8 min read
This article is about how urban biodiversity boosts well-being and resilience.
"Nature isn’t just something we visit on weekends—it’s something we can live with every day, even in the middle of a city." — The Economic Botanist
Let’s be real: when we think of “nature,” our minds usually jump to mountain hikes or quiet lakes—not traffic lights, concrete, and sirens. But here’s something powerful you might not realize: cities can be hotspots for nature too. Not only can urban spaces support wildlife, but they can also boost our well-being, help us fight climate change, and make our daily lives feel more alive.
And the best part? We don’t have to choose between development and biodiversity. We can actually design cities that support both people and nature. Let’s dive into why urban biodiversity is something you should care about—and how we can all help bring more life back into our cities.
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What Is Urban Biodiversity and Why Should You Care?
Let’s break it down. Biodiversity means the variety of all living things—plants, animals, insects, fungi, you name it. And urban biodiversity? That’s simply nature found in cities: trees along sidewalks, birds nesting on buildings, bees buzzing in rooftop gardens.
You might not think of cities as “natural” places, but they can actually be home to an amazing mix of species—some of them rare or even endangered. In fact, research shows that urban areas can support surprisingly high levels of biodiversity, especially when we make space for it.
And here's the deal: urban biodiversity isn’t just good for nature—it’s good for you too. It’s linked to better mental health, cooler temperatures, cleaner air, and even stronger communities.
Quick facts:
Cities can host rare and endangered species—like certain birds and pollinators.
Exposure to green spaces helps lower stress, blood pressure, and symptoms of anxiety.
More biodiversity = more resilience against climate change impacts like flooding and heatwaves.
How Nature Helps Cities (and the People in Them)
1. Better Air, Cooler Streets
Plants filter air pollution, and trees provide shade—reducing heat island effects that can make summer unbearable.
2. Mental Health and Happiness
Spending time in nature—even just a short walk through a park—has been shown to:
Lower cortisol (your stress hormone)
Boost mood and focus
Reduce the risk of depression
3. Community Building
Green spaces aren’t just pretty. They’re meeting places. Think community gardens, walking paths, picnic tables, or shaded benches. When people come together in these spaces, social bonds grow stronger.
4. Climate Resilience
Urban green areas help absorb rain, reduce flooding, and store carbon. That means healthier cities during extreme weather events—and fewer costs in disaster recovery.
The Challenges Cities Face with Biodiversity
Even though nature belongs in cities, urban development often pushes it out. Here are some of the major roadblocks:
Limited Space
Buildings, roads, and infrastructure leave little room for natural habitats. Cities often prioritize housing or commercial development over green space.
Lack of Awareness
Many people just don’t know how important urban nature is—or they’ve become disconnected from it. This “extinction of experience” makes it harder to care about protecting biodiversity.
Poor Coordination
City planning departments don’t always work together. Biodiversity might be left out of the conversation because it falls between the cracks of planning, transport, or health policy.
Funding and Maintenance
Even when green spaces are created, they’re often underfunded and poorly maintained. Without proper care, these areas lose their biodiversity benefits over time.
Simple Solutions That Make a Big Difference
Good news: we don’t need to turn every city into a jungle to make a big impact. Small changes, done right, can bring surprising results.
Add Green in Unexpected Places
Green roofs and walls: Adding plants to rooftops or the sides of buildings doesn’t just look cool—it actually helps lower indoor temperatures, improves air quality, and gives birds and insects places to live in dense urban spaces. It’s a great solution for areas where ground-level space is limited.
Street trees and pocket parks: Even just one or two trees on a street can make a neighborhood feel more inviting and walkable. These little green spots cool the pavement, give us shade, and provide food and shelter for wildlife like birds, butterflies, and even bats.
Rain gardens and bioswales: These are shallow, planted areas designed to capture and filter rainwater. Not only do they help reduce flooding, they also support pollinators and can brighten up what would otherwise be boring concrete corners.
Invite Wildlife Back In
Birdhouses, bat boxes, and bee hotels: These small, affordable structures create much-needed shelter for urban wildlife. You’d be surprised how quickly birds and insects show up once they’ve got a safe place to rest, hide, or raise their young. Plus, it’s a fun DIY weekend project.
Native flowers and shrubs: Native plants are adapted to local conditions, so they need less water and maintenance—and they’re the best choice for feeding local pollinators like bees, butterflies, and beetles. A balcony with native blooms can support more life than you think!
Turn down the lights at night: Artificial light pollution messes with the natural rhythms of many animals—especially nocturnal ones like bats, moths, and even frogs. Using warmer, low-intensity lights and turning off unnecessary outdoor lights can help wildlife stay on track.
Make Nature Part of Everyday Life
School gardens and outdoor classrooms: These spaces don’t just teach kids about nature—they improve attention, lower stress, and give students a direct connection to living things. They’re also fantastic community-builders for parents and teachers alike.
Walking trails and greenways: Adding greenery to walking and biking paths encourages people to get outside and get moving. And by planting trees or wildflowers along these routes, we create green corridors for wildlife to travel safely across the city.
Community planting days and science projects: When residents get their hands dirty planting trees or tracking local wildlife, it builds pride and connection to the neighborhood. Citizen science apps make it easy to log plant and animal sightings and contribute to real research.
Plan with Nature in Mind
Design with connected green corridors: When parks, green roofs, riversides, and gardens are linked together, wildlife can move more freely—and safely—through cities. This connectivity is essential for pollinators, small mammals, and birds to thrive.
Use permeable pavement and surfaces: These materials let rainwater soak into the ground instead of running off into drains. That reduces flood risks, replenishes groundwater, and keeps pollutants out of waterways—all while supporting plant roots and soil health.
Include biodiversity goals in local policy: Urban planning isn’t just about housing and roads anymore. More cities are adding biodiversity and climate resilience to their official plans. That means requiring developers to include native plants, preserve old trees, or build with wildlife in mind.
Designing Greener, Healthier Cities
Urban planners, architects, and city leaders have a huge role to play. But you don’t need to be a professional to dream of better cities.
What should a nature-friendly city look like?
Mix of green spaces: From large parks to tiny green nooks
Connected habitats: So animals and pollinators can move safely
Equity in access: So everyone—regardless of income—lives near nature
Multi-use spaces: That blend recreation, biodiversity, and infrastructure
When cities get this right, they’re not just greener. They’re healthier, more resilient, and more enjoyable to live in.
Real-Life Examples of Urban Nature in Action
Let’s look at what some places are doing right:
Singapore: The “Garden City”
Singapore’s urban plan includes green roofs, vertical gardens, and wildlife bridges. Nature is part of the city’s identity.
Berlin: Pollinator Paradise
Berlin’s wildflower strips and abandoned lots have become home to over 1,000 species of bees and wasps. It’s a city that’s embraced a little messiness—and it works.
Melbourne: Urban Forest Strategy
Melbourne is planting thousands of trees to cool the city, clean the air, and reduce flood risks. They even let citizens "email" their favorite trees. (Seriously.)
How You Can Help Rewild Your City
This isn’t just a job for governments. You can play a role too, no matter where you live.
Start with Your Space
Plant a native garden, even in a pot: You don’t need a yard. A few potted native plants on your balcony or doorstep can provide food for bees and butterflies—and bring some life to your daily routine.
Create a little wildlife corner: Leave a small part of your yard wild. Let some grass grow tall or add a water bowl for birds. Even leaving fallen leaves in autumn can help overwintering insects survive.
Ditch harmful chemicals: Common lawn sprays and weed killers can hurt helpful bugs, birds, and even pets. Try more natural approaches—or just let things grow a bit wilder. Nature usually balances itself out when we step back a bit.
Get Involved Locally
Volunteer at local parks or gardens: These spaces often rely on community members for upkeep. Spending even a couple of hours helping out makes a big difference—and helps you meet other nature-minded neighbors.
Start a “green block” challenge: Rally your neighbors to green up tree pits, plant flowers, or add compost bins. Friendly competition can turn a dull block into an urban oasis, one household at a time.
Support local farms and urban agriculture: Buying produce from nearby gardens or community-supported agriculture projects supports sustainable land use and keeps green spaces productive and protected.
Speak Up
Talk to your city council: Bring up green space and biodiversity at community meetings. Ask about local tree-planting programs, wildlife corridors, or funding for park improvements.
Write letters or start petitions: A well-written letter or an online petition can influence decisions about new developments or zoning laws. Your voice has power—especially when joined with others.
Normalize biodiversity conversations: Share what you learn with friends, post about your local wildlife on social media, or bring up these topics at school or work. Curiosity spreads!
Keep Learning
Take a daily “nature walk” in your neighborhood: See how many different plants, birds, or bugs you can spot. Urban nature is often more diverse than we expect—once we know where to look.
Use free tools like iNaturalist or Seek: These apps let you snap a photo and get help identifying plants and animals. You’ll be amazed at what’s living just outside your door.
Read up on urban ecology: There’s a whole field of science studying how cities and nature interact. Following researchers or urban nature blogs (like this one!) is a great way to stay inspired and informed.
The Bottom Line
We’ve been trained to think of cities and nature as opposites. But that’s old thinking. The truth is, urban biodiversity is one of the most important tools we have to build healthier, happier, and more resilient places to live.
Whether you’re a city dweller, a designer, a policymaker, or just someone who loves a good shady tree—you have a role to play.
Let’s stop thinking of nature as something “out there.” Let’s bring it home.
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If this article got you thinking about what’s possible in your own city, don’t stop here. Take a look outside your window and ask: Where could more life grow?
Share this post with your community or local decision-makers.
Join or start a local greening project.
And most of all—keep paying attention to the wild things around you.
Because the more we notice nature, the more we’ll fight to keep it alive.
Science Reading
Promoting urban biodiversity for the benefit of people and nature: This review explores how biodiversity in cities supports climate adaptation, health, and well-being, while highlighting the need for inclusive, cross-sector urban planning. By integrating biodiversity into policies across health, education, and infrastructure, cities can become shared spaces for people and nature, helping address both environmental and social challenges. Explore this article here |
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