Human-biodiversity interactions in urban parks: The species level matters: Fid-Bau Portal

Human-biodiversity interactions in urban parks: The species level matters

Palliwoda, Julia / Kowarik, Ingo / von der Lippe, Moritz

Graphical abstract

Highlights•First study on biodiversity interaction in relation to other activities in parks.•12% of all observed activities were interactions with individual plant species.•About 17% of wild or cultivated plants from local species pools were utilized.•Provisioning services and cultural services of park flora were quantified.•Gender and cultural diversity play a role in human-biodiversity interaction.

AbstractIn a rapidly urbanizing world, people are increasingly at risk of being disconnected from nature. Previous studies demonstrate that urban parks support contact of urban dwellers with “nature”, urban foraging activities and contribute to human well-being. While the importance of biodiversity underlying ecosystem services is broadly acknowledged, the role of individual plant species in the interaction of park visitors with biodiversity has received less attention. By applying a mixed methods approach in two parks in Berlin (biodiversity analysis, observation, interviews), we aimed to (i) determine the importance of biodiversity interaction at the species level in relation to other park activities, (ii) identify the range of used and non-used plant species, (iii) determine purposes underlying the utilization of individual species, and (iv) analyze gender-related differences in these activities. Results indicated a considerable proportion of activities related to individual plant species (12%), compared to other activities in parks. In total, 26 cultivated or spontaneous species (ca 17% of the local species pools), were used for consumption (60%), decoration (21%) and biodiversity experience (17%). Native and non-native plants were utilized proportionally to local supply. More women (78%) than men interacted with plant species. Another 33 species were identified as being gathered in Berlin outside of gardens based on interviews of park visitors. Findings support approaches toward a biodiversity-friendly park design and management. Maintaining and facilitating biodiversity interactions for a broad range of park-users is a promising pathway to biodiversity conservation in cities and would help counteract the loss of experience in human-nature interactions.