The New Urban Conservation – meeting growing ambitions for green cities
Session 7
Introduction to the session
Urban nature is gaining attention in policy and research, with growing evidence that cities impact conservation, public health, and nature relationships. Urban ecosystems provide services and nature interactions for people living in cities (the majority of the world), shaping conservation support. Cities can also be biodiversity hotspots, offering refugia for species disfavored by intensive agriculture and forestry.
Recognizing this, urban ecosystems are now highlighted for biodiversity conservation by the UN (2022) and EU (2024). However, these big ambitions and short time frames for creating green, sustainable cities pose challenges for stakeholders, practitioners, and researchers. What changes will the new conservation policies require from practitioners? What scientific evidence is needed for effective implementation? Most importantly, how do we translate knowledge into action?
This transdisciplinary session explores how implementing new urban nature goals affects practice, research, and their cooperation. It covers urban conservation ecology, policy, and real-world implementation, from both research and practice.
Session programme
11:00: Urban ecosystems – why they matter and current state
The organisers
11:03: Social-Ecological Urbanism for a healthy city and healthy planet – the case of biodiversity and human-nature interaction
Meta Berghauser Pont, Chalmers, Gothenburg
11:18: Restoration of Urban Ecosystems – goals and measures to increase quality and quantity of urban green areas and tree canopy cover in Swedish cities
Ulrika Åkerlund, Boverket
11:34: How to effectively find areas where habitat restoration measures will be most successful
Oskar Kindvall, Chalmers, Gothenburg; Calluna AB, Gothenburg
11:45: Planting forest in a residential area
Fredrika Mårtensson, Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences, Alnarp
11:56: Ecology vs. Bureaucracy: What 30 years of green planning taught us about power and practice
Hélène Littke, Ekologigruppen
12:07: Biodiversity in the Stone-built City – Evaluating Projects in Stockholm
Martin Ehn Hillberg, White Arkitekter
12:18: Can an updated Biophilia hypothesis inform urban greenspace planning?
Bengt Gunnarsson, University of Gothenburg
Abstracts accepted for poster presentation:
- Building Biodiversity: From evidence to action in urban landscapes
AnnaMaria Larson, Ekologigruppen - Poop scoops for bat conservation in Slottsskogen Park, Gothenburg, Sweden
Varsha Rai Chalise, University of Gothenburg
Further information about the session
Keywords: biodiversity conservation; nature-based solutions; nature restoration; urban ecology; urban planning
Language: English
Time and venue: 11:00-12:30, Europa.
Organisers:
- Marcus Hedblom, Department of Urban & Rural Development, Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences
- Anna S. Persson, Centre for Environmental and Climate Science, Lund University
- Johan Kjellberg Jensen, Centre for Environmental and Climate Science, Lund University
Strategy for transformative change in focus for the session
IPBES highlights 5 complementary key strategies for transformative change: From conserving vital places to shifting values. Together these create pathways to just and sustainable futures. Learn more: IPBES Transformative Change Assessment: Chapter 5. Realizing a sustainable world for nature and people: transformative strategies, actions and roles for all
As indicated in the illustration below, session 7 focuses mainly on strategy 1: Conserve and regenerate places of value to nature and people.
