Bug city life: Public acceptance of urban insect-friendly meadows in Germany, Austria, and Switzerland

Abstract

Reports of continuing declines in some insect populations have raised concerns and calls for action to protect insects. The establishment of insect-friendly meadows in urban areas provides an opportunity to conserve both insect and plant diversity. However, public acceptance can be an obstacle to the implementation of such meadows, for example, due to competing land use interests and the perception that tall meadows are visually unattractive. To address these concerns and align urban green spaces with both public preferences and environmental needs, a systematic understanding of the factors influencing public acceptance of meadows is essential. To this end, a representative online survey was conducted in Germany, Austria, and Switzerland with 899 participants to assess the acceptance of insect-friendly meadows in urban areas. The study shows significant support for insect-friendly meadows across all subgroups and within each country-specific subgroup. The factor that most influences their acceptance is the recognition of the ecological benefits of these meadows. It is therefore highly recommended to prioritize public awareness campaigns that highlight the complex relationship between plant and insect diversity. Such efforts can contribute to a better understanding of the benefits of insect-friendly meadows for biodiversity, thereby increasing public support for these conservation measures. Additionally, considerations related to perceived aesthetics, appreciation of an increase in insect abundance, preference for public funding, and a general sense of safety around these meadows should inform the development and communication strategies for insect-friendly green spaces, as they significantly influence public acceptance. These design and perception aspects of meadows were shown to have a stronger influence on the acceptance of meadows than individual, attitudinal characteristics such as environmental attitudes or attitudes toward insect decline. While this study provides insights into the general public acceptance of insect-friendly meadows, more research is needed to understand the influence of the specific local context on meadow acceptance.