While cities have well-documented negative impacts on the environment, in a recent Bioscience article, Dr. Erica Spotswood, Dr. Myla Aronson, and colleagues identify five pathways by which cities can benefit regional biodiversity. Pathways include release from surrounding pressures, availability of many different habitat types, availability of stopover habitat for migratory species, increased genetic diversity, and opportunity for stewardship and engagement. Considering the positive roles cities can play for biodiversity support can highlight opportunities for urban planning and design to create better cities for people and the environment.
