Open AccessPublic attitudes toward biodiversity‐friendly greenspace management in Europe
Author(s) -
Fischer Leonie K.,
Neuenkamp Lena,
Lampinen Jussi,
Tuomi Maria,
Alday Josu G.,
Bucharova Anna,
Cancellieri Laura,
CasadoArzuaga Izaskun,
Čeplová Natálie,
Cerveró Lluïsa,
Deák Balázs,
Eriksson Ove,
Fellowes Mark D. E.,
Fernández de Manuel Beatriz,
Filibeck Goffredo,
GonzálezGuzmán Adrián,
Hinojosa M. Belen,
Kowarik Ingo,
Lumbierres Belén,
Miguel Ana,
Pardo Rosa,
Pons Xavier,
RodríguezGarcía Encarna,
Schröder Roland,
Gaia Sperandii Marta,
Unterweger Philipp,
Valkó Orsolya,
Vázquez Víctor,
Klaus Valentin H.
Publication year - 2020
Publication title -
conservation letters
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 3.153
H-Index - 79
ISSN - 1755-263X
DOI - 10.1111/conl.12718
Subject(s) - biodiversity , urbanization , environmental planning , geography , environmental resource management , business , ecology , environmental science , biology
Abstract Increasing urbanization worldwide calls for more sustainable urban development. Simultaneously, the global biodiversity crisis accentuates the need of fostering biodiversity within cities. Policies supporting urban nature conservation need to understand people's acceptance of biodiversity‐friendly greenspace management. We surveyed more than 2,000 people in 19 European cities about their attitudes toward near‐natural urban grassland management in public greenspaces, and related their responses to nine sociocultural parameters. Results reveal that people across Europe can support urban biodiversity, yet within the frames of a generally tidy appearance of public greenery. Younger people and those using greenspaces for a greater variety of activities were more likely to favor biodiversity‐friendly greenspace management. Additionally, people who were aware of the meaning of biodiversity and those stating responsibility for biodiversity conservation particularly supported biodiversity‐friendly greenspace management. Our results point at explicit measures like environmental education to increase public acceptance of policies that facilitate nature conservation within cities.