We often associate wealth with higher levels of biodiversity. This concept, called the “luxury effect,” seems to suggest that only wealthy communities can enjoy diverse ecosystems.
But new research offers a more nuanced view, allowing all communities to work towards fostering biodiversity, regardless of their financial situation.
The relationship between biodiversity and wealth
“The positive correlation between wealth and biodiversity within cities is a commonly documented phenomenon in urban ecology that has come to be referred to as the ‘luxury effect,'” the study authors wrote. are.
“We argue that both this language and this framework limit our understanding of how sociopolitical power dynamics influence biodiversity within and across cities. I will.”
The researchers explained that the relationship between biodiversity and wealth extends beyond mere correlation.
Madhusudan Katti, an associate professor at North Carolina State University in North Carolina, said biodiversity is not a luxury, but something cities can strive to foster.
“Rather than relying solely on the correlation between wealth and biodiversity, we wanted to understand the different ways in which biodiversity intersects with different social pressures and systems,” Professor Katti explained.
Understand the role of cities
To understand this relationship, the researchers began by closely analyzing the landscape of biodiversity. The goal was to identify the common characteristics of these regions and decipher the social structures that make them possible.
The research team used a unique approach called the socio-ecological framework to outline how human behavior shapes nature within a social context.
This framework acknowledges that social actors play an important role in land use and management decisions.
Professor Katti said, “Someone decides how cities use land, whether it’s where their parks are located or where their industrial sites are.”
“And then some people decide what they want to do with that, whether they want to have a lawn in their backyard or a pollinator-friendly garden or something else.”
Urban biodiversity and luxury effects
As part of the study, the scientists introduced a new framework, the POSE approach. The model focuses on four factors: power, purpose, social/ecological context, and effort (POSE), which together form what is called the “luxury effect.”
For example, homeowners with higher incomes may have more control over landscape use compared to apartment dwellers.
However, the POSE framework empowers communities with fewer resources to prioritize what is within their control, including collective organizing to strengthen efforts.
Professor Katti is optimistic about the impact of the POSE framework. He believes it will spur collective action towards healthier landscapes.
This insightful research reminds us that everyone has a role to play in fostering biodiversity.
“We want people to understand that even if they don’t have a lot of money, they can have an impact on the landscape around them. It is organized to overcome the handicap of people through hard work,” Professor Katti said.
“Our paper is a call to action: biodiversity is achievable and people have the power to create it together.”
Empowering communities through collective action
This research reveals that biodiversity can thrive in any community if collective action and creative solutions are prioritized.
Individuals and neighborhoods can take small but impactful steps, such as planting native species, reducing pesticide use, and championing shared green spaces.
When these actions work together, they create a ripple effect that increases biodiversity on a larger scale.
Cooperation within communities strengthens these efforts and shows that collective action can overcome economic limitations.
By working together, people can reclaim urban space for nature and transform open spaces, rooftops and backyards into thriving habitats that support local wildlife and enrich residents’ quality of life. .
Biodiversity in urban landscapes
Urban planning plays an important role in shaping ecosystems and provides opportunities to introduce biodiversity into the fabric of cities.
Simple and effective design strategies such as green walls, urban forests, and pollinator corridors can restore habitat and reconnect fragmented ecosystems.
The POSE framework provides a practical approach for urban planners and policy makers to assess the impact of decisions on biodiversity.
This vision aligns land use policies with ecological goals and involves local stakeholders, helping cities balance development and conservation.
The full text of the study was published in the journal Ecosystems.
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