Urban Biodiversity Conservation Research Articles

The Landscape as a Pillar of the Metropolis of Tomorrow: Sustainable Strategies for Better Integration in Annaba, Algeria

Objectives: This study aims to address the urban and landscape challenges faced by Annaba, a city in Algeria, due to environmental degradation resulting from rapid urbanisation and rural-to-urban migration. Once celebrated for its natural beauty, Annaba now seeks to restore its appeal and improve the quality of life for its residents. The objective is to demonstrate how integrating the landscape into urban planning can play a crucial role in sustainable development, preserving the city's unique identity, and enhancing its social, ecological, and aesthetic environment. Methods: Our approach involves a thorough analysis of Annaba’s landscape characteristics and biodiversity, exploring strategies for reintegration into urban planning frameworks. We focus on the coastal landscape as a primary asset in planning recommendations. This study reviews existing literature on sustainable urban planning, biodiversity conservation, and landscape integration in cities experiencing similar environmental and demographic shifts. Results: The findings suggest that integrating landscape elements into urban planning in Annaba would significantly enhance its ecological and aesthetic appeal. A sustainable development approach that prioritises the landscape can help to combat environmental degradation, improve the quality of urban life, and strengthen the city’s identity. Specific recommendations emphasize preserving coastal and natural features to support biodiversity and attract residents and tourists alike. Conclusion: Reintegrating landscape considerations into Annaba’s urban development strategy is essential for addressing present and future challenges. This approach would not only protect the city's natural assets but also promote a sustainable and appealing urban environment. By focusing on the landscape as a foundation of urban planning, Annaba can redefine its developmental path, offering a model of sustainable growth for other Mediterranean cities facing similar issues.

Urban Cemeteries as Biodiversity Refuges: A Comparative Study of Plant Ecobiomorphs in Central Kazakhstan

Cemeteries are often overlooked in ecological studies, yet they represent unique urban microhabitats that contribute to the preservation of diverse plant species, including those adapted to various ecological niches. This study aimed to assess the species composition, ecological classifications, and abundance of vascular plants in the cemetery and surrounding areas to explore cemeteries’ role in conserving plant ecobiomorph diversity in arid climates. This study identified 79 plant species from 23 families within the cemetery compared with 31 species from 11 families in the surrounding area. The plant community in the cemetery was dominated by mesophytes, suggesting favorable and stable conditions for plant growth, while xerophytes were more common in the surrounding areas, indicating harsher, drier conditions. The diversity of plant life forms, including perennial herbs, shrubs, and trees, was significantly higher within the cemetery, indicating a more complex and resilient ecosystem. Our study demonstrates that cemeteries act as vital refuges for plant biodiversity. They offer significantly higher species diversity and more complex ecosystem structures compared with the surrounding areas. These findings emphasize the critical role cemeteries play in urban biodiversity conservation, particularly in increasingly arid environments.

Conservation translocations in urban environments: State of the knowledge and future directions

Cities are important for biodiversity conservation and are a central focus in the United Nations Decade of Ecosystem Restoration. Species reintroductions and population reinforcements (i.e. conservation translocations) are an important component of conservation, yet are rare in urban environments, possibly because of perceived risks in highly modified and complex social-ecological urban systems. Here we review the literature describing urban conservation translocations to provide guidance for their effective implementation. We find that urban translocations have been performed for a variety of aims including focal species conservation, improvements in ecosystem functions in the later stages of restoration projects (e.g. seed dispersal in revegetated sites) and for site remediation (e.g. organic pollution removal), and enhancing human-nature connections. Conservation translocations were found in a range of urban habitat types including formal and informal greenspaces, grey spaces, streams, ponds, and marine environments, ranging from near-historic conditions (e.g. remnant/restored sites) to highly modified novel/designed systems. Barriers and enablers varied between terrestrial and aquatic release sites, with predators, habitat suitability, and leaving release sites being more important in terrestrial sites and disturbance (flooding) regime and pollution being more important in aquatic sites. A range of techniques have been applied to mitigate these barriers. Success rates in urban translocations are high (>90 %) and comparable to conservation translocations in general, suggesting they can contribute to urban biodiversity conservation by assisting species to overcome dispersal barriers and occupy otherwise suitable urban habitats. However, evaluation methods vary widely between urban translocation studies. There is also a need for longer-term monitoring of translocation success that might be achieved simultaneously while enhancing human-nature connections through citizen science programs.

Distribution Patterns of Urban Spontaneous Vegetation Diversity and Their Response to Habitat Heterogeneity: A Case Study of Five Cities in Heilongjiang Province, China.

Spontaneous vegetation is an important component of urban biodiversity and an excellent agent for exploring the mutual feedback mechanism between urbanization and urban ecosystems. Rapid urbanization has had a significant impact on the composition, structure, and distribution patterns of urban spontaneous vegetation diversity. Studying the diversity distribution patterns and causes of urban plant communities is beneficial for understanding the formation and maintenance mechanisms of plant diversity in specific urban habitats. This study selected five cities in different climate subregions of Heilongjiang Province as research targets and conducted field research using uniform sampling and typical sampling methods. The composition, distribution pattern, and driving factors of spontaneous vegetation were analyzed. The results showed the following: (1) A total of 633 examples of spontaneous vegetation were recorded, belonging to 93 families and 341 genera, mainly consisting of herbaceous plants and native plants. (2) The diversity index and similarity index of spontaneous vegetation in gravel-type abandoned land habitats are higher than those in other habitat types, while the diversity index of spontaneous vegetation in trees and shrubs is lower, and there is no significant difference in regards to different habitats. (3) Urban population density is a key factor affecting the diversity of native plants, while woody plant coverage, patch area, and landscape trait index are key factors affecting non-native plants. (4) The results of canonical correspondence analysis (CCA) showed that the total explanatory power of environmental characteristic factors in regards to the distribution pattern of spontaneous vegetation was 7.5%. The closest distance between adjacent patches, the coverage of woody plants in patches, the distance from the city edge, the patch area, and the surface impermeability of the buffer zones were key factors affecting the distribution of dominant species in spontaneous vegetation communities. The research results will provide an important reference for the conservation of urban biodiversity and the construction of low-maintenance urban green space plant landscapes in Heilongjiang Province.

Spatial patterns and driving factors of plant diversity along the urban-rural gradient in the context of urbanization in Zhengzhou, China.

Plant diversity is the basis for human survival and development, directly affecting the function and stability of urban ecosystems. Its distribution pattern and causes have been a central issue in ecological and landscape gardening research. Rapid urbanization in Zhengzhou City has led to the fragmentation of urban green spaces and damage to ecosystems, seriously affecting urban biodiversity conservation. Understanding the distribution pattern of plant diversity in the region and its relationship with environmental factors is crucial for maintaining and enhancing urban plant diversity. Plant data from 178 sample plots in the built-up area of Zhengzhou City were collected and combined with environmental factors, and the characteristics of plant diversity, richness patterns, and their main environmental explanations in Zhengzhou City were explored. Results showed that there were 596 plant species belonging to 357 genera and 110 families in the study area. There were five dominant families and four dominant genera. Four distinct spatial patterns of plant diversity were identified along the urban-rural gradient. Urbanization factors such as GDP per capita, house prices, and imperviousness within 500 m from the patch significantly influenced plant diversity. There was an imbalance between the spatial pattern of plant diversity and application of urban landscape greening in Zhengzhou City. Future studies should focus on the application of native plants, curb plant homogenization, and reduce anthropogenic interference, which are conducive to protecting and enhancing urban plant diversity. These results can provide a basis for understanding the distribution pattern and influence mechanism of urbanization factors on plant diversity and serve as a reference for policymakers and planners of plant diversity conservation in Zhengzhou City.

Plant diversity value of informal green spaces in tropical coastal urban areas: An empirical study of species, functional, and phylogenetic diversity

Informal green spaces (IGS) are a hot topic in urban biodiversity studies, but overlooked in urban biodiversity conservation or management, especially in tropical coastal cities, where comprehensive assessments remain scarce. Most existing research has been limited to species diversity (α-diversity), with few studies addressing functional and phylogenetic diversity as aspects of α-diversity, and species turnover (β-diversity) across multiple IGS types. This study bridges these gap by conducting a detailed vegetation survey in Jiangdong New Area of Haikou City, establishing 213 sites. Within these sites, we examined 343 IGS sample plots and 274 formal green spaces (FGS) sample plots. We assessed species, functional, and phylogenetic diversity using α and β diversity metrics and analyzed the influence of environmental factors with generalized linear mixed models (GLMMs). The results recorded 235 species of herbaceous plants from 179 genera and 54 families in IGS, including 215 spontaneous species, compared to 154 spontaneous species in FGS. Our findings indicate that IGS exhibited higher species richness and functional richness compared to FGS, though differences in phylogenetic diversity were less pronounced. Key environmental factors like relative humidity, trampling intensity, and proximity to urban areas significantly influenced species richness and abundance in IGS. These findings underscore the critical role of IGS in enhancing biodiversity and resilience in tropical coastal cities, emphasizing the need to integrate IGS into urban planning strategies for sustainable urban ecosystems.

Sacred sites provide urban green spaces that maintain bird diversity in the megacity of Tokyo, Japan

Green spaces in cities are thought to play an important role in maintaining urban biodiversity. However, it is difficult to create large new areas of green space in big cities. Therefore, existing green spaces need to be conserved and properly managed to conserve urban biodiversity. In big Japanese cities, sacred sites such as shrines, temples, and historic parks are some of the common types of green space. In addition to their role as religious spaces, they may also play an important role in urban biodiversity conservation because of their function as long-term reserves of natural vegetation. In this study, we examined the function of shrines, temples, and historic parks in Bunkyo ward, Tokyo, in maintaining bird diversity by comparing them with urban parks. In addition, a vegetation survey was conducted to identify environmental factors that affect bird diversity, and differences in the bird species observed in each type of green space are discussed. The heterogeneity of bird species composition between study sites was higher among shrines and temples than among urban parks.Forest bird abundance was higher during the breeding season and bird species richness was higher in winter at shrines and temples and historic parks than in urban parks. Bird diversity was positively affected by the abundance of shrubs and evergreen trees. We found that sacred sites were more important than urban parks for maintaining bird diversity. The results also suggested that differences in vegetation structure are a cause of this pattern, and small green spaces in the grounds of sacred sites are managed in a way that is more suitable for maintaining bird diversity.However, shrines and temples, despite their strong historical and cultural value, are threatened by recent urbanization. It is necessary to maintain and properly manage these green spaces as part of urban ecosystems.

Evaluating urban biodiversity: Effectiveness of citizen science driven species distribution models in urban ecosystems

Citizen science (CS) and remote sensing (RS) approaches have become more reliable, thus providing higher resolution and generating a large amount of environmental data. When considering urban environments, where fragmented and highly diverse landscapes are predominant, the combination of citizen science data and remote sensing techniques with species distribution models (SDM) can play a vital role in comprehensively investigating and evaluating urban biodiversity. However, citizen science derived species distribution models for multiple avian species in dense and fragmented urban areas are rarely used. The study aims (I) to elaborate, whether CS driven SDMs can be effectively used in spatially complex urban environments; (II) to identify biodiversity hotspots and prioritize areas for nature conservation and (III) to examine, if existing protective areas correspond to species’ hotspots. Therefore, Citizen science-based datasets of 26 breeding bird species over three years were obtained for this analysis in Germany’s Ruhr Metropolis. Quality assurance, data thinning, and pseudo-absence simulations were performed. Spatial data from the ecosystem LiDAR project GEDI (Global Ecosystem Dynamics Investigation), climate data from the German Weather Service, and land use information from Copernicus were used as environmental predictors. Eleven different species distri-bution models (SDMs) were trained on species subselection by using Biomod2 for preliminary analysis. Overall model performance was evaluated via several metrics, including TSS (true skill statistics) and ROC (receiver operating characteristic). Finally, four species distribution models were used for ensemble modelling. Subsequently, a species richness analysis was performed with the aim of identifying spots with high avian biodiversity. Overall, the CS-derived SDMs performed well, with high predictive power for all of the investigated species. Within the Ruhr Metropolis, approximately 6% (250 km²) of the terrain was identified as being highly suitable for avian diversity, inhabiting at least 17 out of 26 species. Predominantly within the core urban areas, high species richness was predicted on preserved brownfields and revitalized mine sites, as well as in the remnants of formerly demarcated regional greenbelts. Additionally, regions outside of the core area, which are part of the overarching biotope network framework, proved to have high species richness capabilities for avian biodiversity. These findings aid in optimizing urban development concepts and (sub)urban green space management with respect to urban biodiversity conservation. Following the implications of the recently established Regional Biodiversity Strategy in the Ruhr Metropolis, this analysis demonstrates the importance of networked green spaces, their preservation and the need to close existing network gaps within the Ruhr Metropolis.

Enhancing bird habitat networks in metropolitan areas: Resilience assessment and improvement strategies – A case study from Shanghai

Constructing bird habitat networks (BHNs) is crucial for maintaining the health and service equilibrium of urban ecosystems, especially in large metropolitan areas where the pressure of urbanization is intense. However, most existing BHNs fail to account for the dynamic changes and unique requirements of local species, leading to homogenized construction outcomes and ecological corridor objectives. This study employs a comprehensive approach to identify bird habitat patches using multiple high-quality sources, then utilize circuit theory and complex network theory to construct and assess the resilience of BHN. Our key findings showed: (1)93 bird habitat sources were identified, predominantly situated in the continuous green spaces of southern and southeastern Shanghai, whereas habitat sources in the city center and other densely built-up areas are more dispersed, highlighting them as prime targets for future ecological restoration efforts. (2) The distribution of bird habitat corridors exhibits significant spatial heterogeneity, with primary corridors predominantly spanning the southwestern and eastern parts of the study area, while secondary corridors are more abundant in the western and northern parts, forming a denser network, whereas the central area shows fewer and more isolated corridors. (3) The decline in structural and functional resilience was notably more rapid under targeted attacks than under random attacks, underscoring the need to prioritize crucial bird habitat sources on the city's periphery, especially near highly urbanized areas, in urban planning and biodiversity conservation efforts to sustain ecological balance and biodiversity. These insights provide a crucial scientific basis for urban planners, emphasizing the integration of biodiversity conservation into urban development strategies by optimizing ecological sources and corridors to balance development with ecological preservation.

Wildlife resilience in an urban landscape: understanding land-use impacts in Cape Town

AbstractUrbanisation is rapidly transforming and fragmenting natural habitats, disrupting ecosystems and negatively impacting biodiversity. The City of Cape Town (CoCT) is situated in a global biodiversity hotspot, but sustained anthropogenic activities have resulted in the local extirpation of most medium and large mammals. A recent survey of mammals within urban protected areas of CoCT revealed that a few, mostly medium-sized generalist species, persist. It is uncertain which native mammal species, if any, inhabit the unprotected green belts and parks in suburban and urban areas of the city. A total of 37 camera trap sites were established along four transects for a period of four months between 31 January and 31 May 2022. A total of 12 terrestrial mammal species were detected, nine of which were wild native mammals and three domestic species. Most detections were in natural habitat followed by suburban, with urban areas having the lowest detection rate of wildlife. Single season hierarchical multi-species occupancy models revealed that tree cover had a significant positive effect on both community and individual species occupancy. Contrary to our predictions, neither human population density nor the extent of the impervious surface at sites significantly affected occupancy. Cape grysbok (Raphicerus melanotis) were significantly more likely to occur at sites with a higher proportion of impervious surfaces supporting other recent research, which showed this species together with water mongoose (Atilax paludinosus) and Cape porcupine (Hystrix africaeaustralis) are one of only a few native mammals that appear to persist and may even thrive in human-modified landscapes. Our findings underscore the complexity of urban biodiversity conservation and the species-specific responses to environmental factors, emphasising the importance of tree cover in urban wildlife management.

How did the diversity of woody plants in urban forests vary with the urban-rural gradient in Qingdao, China?

The distribution and diversity of woody vegetation are crucial for understanding the structure and ecology of urban forests. As urbanization accelerates, the construction and composition of urban forests vary significantly along the urban-rural gradient. Qingdao's urban forests offer an opportunity to test the relationship between the diversity of woody plants and the urban-rural gradient. We classified the urban-rural gradient using imperviousness and construction time, then investigated the diversity of woody plants in Qingdao's urban forests under different urban-rural gradients and tested the reasonableness of their allocation. Correlation analysis found that the diversity index of woody plants in urban forests was highly connected to the urban-rural gradient (by imperviousness: rMargalef Index = −0.589, rShannon-Wiener Index = -0.373, rPielouIndex = −0.170, rSimpson Index = 0.272/by construction time: rMargalef Index = −0.530, rShannon-Wiener Index = −0.360, rPielouIndex = −0.148, rSimpson Index = 0.272/0.174). With a decrease in urbanization density, the Margalef (H), Shannon-Wiener (H′), and Simpson (D) indices all decreased while the Pielou (E) index increased. The four diversity indices showed a substantial correlation with one another, but not with the Margalef and Pielou indices. The analysis utilizing the 10/20/30 rule of empirical demonstrates a clear irrationality in allocating shrub species in Qingdao's urban forests, and the distribution of tree species is reasonable. Based on the study results, strategies for optimizing and enhancing urban forests in Qingdao are proposed for different urban-rural gradients, respectively. This study can provide a scientific framework for urban biodiversity conservation and management in Qingdao and serve as a guide for urban forests and greening with comparable climates.

Soil protection and land property law in France: On the way to a functional approach to soil?

BackgroundIn France, soil is the last physical environment not to have any legal protection of their own considering its ecological functions. They are rather considered as land, and they are managed by Urban Law. The question answered is whether this urbanistic legal seizure is efficient to protect soil as a biological environment or if other public policies and/or legal tools are needed to address the issues of soil environmental management. ResultsIt appears that Urban Law could be a good legal tool to protect soils environmental functions through ancient and classic urban policies as urban planning or the new disruptive ‘Zero Net Artificialization’. However, such laws are clearly insufficient to address the full scope of the threats caused by humans’ activities on this very fragile environment. ConclusionsNew legal tools are to be developed in France, and at the European Union level, to ensure a real and effective protection of soil as ecosystems: creation of a new title entitled ‘Land and Soils within the Second Book ‘Physical Environments’ of the French Environmental Code, extension of environmental crimes to soil (pollution, ecocide, etc.), better bonding between the ‘Zero Net Artificialization’ urban policy and biodiversity conservation, etc.

Ecology of the Arboreal Vegetation of the Cerrado in Urban Area, Palmas – Tocantins

Objective: To investigate the floristic diversity in three remaining urban forest fragments in Palmas, Tocantins, aiming to understand the structure and floristic composition and their importance for urban biodiversity conservation. Theoretical Framework: Based on concepts of phytosociology and biodiversity conservation, highlighting the importance of urban fragments for the preservation of native flora and the challenges posed by increasing urbanization. Method: Setup of 10 plots, each measuring 20x50 meters in the three studied fragments. All individuals with a circumference at breast height (CBH) equal to or greater than 10 cm were sampled. The phytosociological data were collected and analyzed using FITOPAC software. Results and Discussion: A total of 1,346 individuals belonging to 67 species and 44 families were found. The observed phytophysiognomies were cerrado sensu stricto and cerradão. The species Connarus suberosus, Caryocar brasiliense, and Qualea parviflora showed higher occurrence and wider distribution. These results reflect the richness and diversity that can be found in remaining fragments of the Cerrado. Research Implications: The practical and theoretical implications of this research are discussed, providing results that influence conservation practices and sustainable management in urban areas. Originality: Universidade Federal do Tocantins, Palmas, Tocantins, Brasil. Value: This study contributes to the literature by providing a detailed analysis of the floristic composition of urban fragments of the Cerrado, highlighting their importance for biodiversity conservation in urban areas. The relevance of this research is evidenced by the proposed strategies for the preservation of native species in Palmas' urbanization plan.

Impact of transforming karst mountainous forests into urban parks on plant diversity patterns.

The conversion of urban montane forest resources into urban parks requires careful assessment to understand its impacts on plant diversity over time. This study aims to enhance urban biodiversity conservation strategies by analyzing how habitat type and park age affect woody plant diversity. We surveyed woody plant species in 60 sample plots across two different habitats (remnant forest vs. artificial green space) within three mountain parks in Guiyang, China, established at different times. The alpha diversity of saplings/seedlings was significantly higher in remnant forests than in artificial green spaces. Artificial green spaces exhibited more homogenous woody plant composition compared with remnant forests. Newer parks showed greater variation in plant composition between the two habitats than older parks. Indicative species in remnant forests were predominantly native, whereas those in artificial green spaces were mainly ornamental species. The transformation of karst mountainous forests into urban parks leads to the homogenization of woody plant composition and impedes the regeneration of saplings/seedlings. Therefore, it is crucial to manage these conversions carefully and strive to preserve as many native species as possible to support urban plant diversity conservation.

Between paper and plan: contrasting data on urban habitats in literature with planning documents

Abstract In this study, we evaluated the integration of urban habitat data in spatial development documents across Poland’s 28 largest cities and assessed the implications for urban environmental management and biodiversity conservation. The detailed habitat maps identify critical areas for protection, enhancing ecosystem services, and supporting nature-based solutions that positively impact residents’ health and social cohesion. A total of 372 sources were analyzed and 467 habitat types were identified primarily from phytosociological surveys. However, only 33.2% of these habitats have been included in urban planning documents, highlighting a substantial integration gap. Complete taxa lists and habitat maps covering the entire city area, suitable for biodiversity management needs, are rarely included in urban planning documents. The findings have underscored the need for detailed habitat mapping to improve urban environmental management, biodiversity conservation, and public health promotion.

Urban biodiversity conservation: A framework for ecological network construction and priority areas identification considering habit differences within species

The construction of ecological networks within the context of urbanization is an effective approach to cope with the challenges of urban biodiversity decline, representing a crucial goal in urban planning and development. However, existing studies often overlook the richness and uniqueness within species communities by homogenizing traits of species in the same class. This study proposes a framework for constructing and optimizing ecological networks focused on differential conservation within the same class. By classifying birds into three groups (specialists of water, forest or urban areas) based on their ecological requirements and urbanization tolerance, we constructed an ecological network tailored to their distinct migratory dispersal patterns. We then identified strategic areas including pinch points, barriers, and breakpoints specific to each bird group. Our findings reveal notable variations in suitable habitat distribution among different bird groups in urban environments. Corridor layouts varied according to habitat preferences and migratory dispersal patterns. Despite these differences, urban built-up areas persist as central hubs for the distribution of suitable habitats for 75% of bird species, with peripheral mountain-plain transition areas constituting 63% of crucial dispersal corridors. This emphasizes the critical role of urban built-up areas in maintaining biodiversity and ecological connectivity. Prioritizing connectivity between central urban areas and distant natural spaces is imperative. Our approach innovatively classifies and constructs networks to identify strategic areas with diverse species-specific attributes, providing valuable spatial information for land planning and guiding solutions to enhance target species. While the primary focus is on bird conservation in Beijing, our framework is broadly applicable to global biodiversity management and green planning under urbanization challenges. Overall, this study offers innovative insights for urban planning development and serves as decision support for prioritizing urban actions.

The critically endangered Chinese pangolin (Manis pentadactyla) surviving in the cracks under urbanization in Shenzhen

Understanding impacts of urbanization upon local wildlife is pivotal for fostering urban sustainability and biodiversity conservation. Urbanization can directly cause habitat loss and intensify interactions between wildlife due to habitat loss. Here we focus on a threatened flagship species, Chinese pangolin (Manis pentadactyla), in the eastern forests of Shenzhen, a megacity in China. We first conducted field surveys to uncover its fresh (used within a year) and abandoned burrows (unused > a year) and surrounding habitat characteries (elevation, slope, canopy closure, vegetation cover). We then deployed camera traps near the burrows to monitor the daily activities of the Chinese pangolin and sympatric species, and anthropogenic activities. These data were finally used to predict changes in habitat distributions/uses with species distribution models, and to statistically analyze the spatio-temporal relationships between the Chinese pangolin and its potential threats. We found the suitable habitats of pangolin burrows have been halved over the recent decade. In contrast to abandoned burrows, fresh burrows were more likely to be found at higher altitudes (200–500 m) and closer to reservoirs (300–500 m). Pangolins had strong spatial avoidance to presences of humans and domestic dogs, and reduced activities outside when potential predators were most active. We suggest that mitigating human disturbances in the eastern forests is crucial for the maintenance and recovery of the pangolin population in Shenzhen. Our study is among the first to shred a light on the impact of urban expansion on the Chinese pangolins and provides habitat maps and ecological knowledge of the Chinese pangolin for the forest restorations and conservation planning in Shenzhen.

Enhancing bird conservation in tropical urban parks through land sparing and sharing strategies: Evidence from occupancy data

Urban green spaces such as parks, play a vital role in relieving pressure on urban biodiversity. In Southeast Asia, urban park management often prioritises aesthetic appeal over urban biodiversity conservation. Management of wildlife habitat at the stand and landscape scales is necessary to support land-sharing and land-sparing conservation strategies in urban environments. To date, few studies have looked at the occurrence of urban birds in the context of land sharing and sparing strategies. We investigated how resident and migratory birds utilise urban parks based on stand-level habitat characteristics and landscape metrics. We conducted point count surveys at 49 points to estimate site occupancy and detection probability in 40 parks within highly urbanised Klang Valley, Peninsular Malaysia. Out of 90 species recorded, 14 species had more than 50 % site occupancy. The abundance of palm trees, percentage of shrub, and height of ground vegetation and woody trees positively influenced the occupancy of Black-naped Oriole, Javan Myna, House Crow, Oriental Magpie-Robin, and Yellow-vented Bulbul. While the number of woody trees and elevation negatively influenced the occupancy of Asian Glossy Starling, Spotted Dove, Zebra Dove, and Common Myna. Our findings can contribute to the effective management of urban parks, considering both stand and landscape-level characteristics to support urban biodiversity, ultimately benefiting both resident and migratory bird populations. Our research emphasises the significance of implementing both land-sparing and land-sharing strategies in urban park management. By doing so, we can promote greater avian biodiversity, preserve diverse habitats for birds, and establish crucial ecological corridors within urban landscapes.

A path to human‐raccoon dog harmony: Identifying factors influencing the tolerance of urban residents in Shanghai towards a neglected species

Abstract Human‐wildlife interactions become increasingly common in urban areas across all continents and ecosystem types. Depending on the context, human‐wildlife interactions can be categorized as harmonious, neutrality, or in conflict and raises cultural, economic and ecological challenges in maintaining urban biodiversity. Understanding the mechanism behind the tolerance of residents to the presence of wildlife is vital to promoting a harmonious coexistence between humans and wildlife in urban environments. To advance our knowledge of this mechanism, we developed a questionnaire to survey residents in Shanghai, China about their knowledge of and attitude towards raccoon dogs (Nyctereutes procyonoides), a species whose population is increasing in urban areas. Using 281 questionnaires, we conducted structural equation modelling to examine how relational values, including familiarity with raccoon dogs, perceived benefits and risks, together with residents' trust in wildlife management authorities, interactively influence the tolerance for this species. We found that the residents' familiarity with raccoon dogs positively influenced their tolerance, both directly and indirectly through increased perceived benefits and reduced perceived risks. Furthermore, trust in wildlife management authorities contributed to higher tolerance through perceived benefits. Our results suggested that education about the relational values of raccoon dogs to the public can reduce the traditional negative connotation for this species and promote the coexistence of people and raccoon dogs in Shanghai urban environment. Based on our understanding about how raccoon dogs were culturally constructed and the willingness of residents to share landscapes with the species, we advocate that relational values play an important role in future urban biodiversity conservation planning. We also advocate for education programs that familiarize the public with raccoon dogs as well as other species, which can turn urban human‐wildlife conflicts into harmonious relationships in Shanghai and other urban areas. Read the free Plain Language Summary for this article on the Journal blog.

Construction of Butterfly Ecological Landscape: Practice for Urban Biodiversity Conservation

Construction of Butterfly Ecological Landscape: Practice for Urban Biodiversity Conservation