Abandonment, Ecological Assembly and Public Health Risks in Counter-Urbanizing Cities

Abstract

Urban landscapes can be transformed by widespread abandonment from population and economic decline. Ecological assembly, sometimes referred to as "greening", following abandonment can yield valuable ecosystem services, but also can pose a risk to public health. Abandonment can elevate zoonotic vector-borne disease risk by favoring the hyperabundance of commensal pests and pathogen vectors. Though greater biodiversity in abandoned areas can potentially dilute vector-borne pathogen transmission, "greening" can elevate transmission risk by increasing movement of pathogen vectors between fragmented areas and by giving rise to novel human-wildlife interfaces. Idled and derelict infrastructure can further elevate disease risk from vector-borne and water-borne pathogens, which can build up in stagnant and unprotected water that maintenance and routine use of delivery or sanitation systems would otherwise eliminate. Thus, framing "greening" as inherently positive could result in policies and actions that unintentionally exacerbate inequalities by elevating risks rather than delivering benefits. As counter-urbanism is neither a minor pattern of urban development, nor a short-term departure from urban growth, homeowner and municipal management of abandoned areas should account for potential hazards to reduce health risks. Further socioecological assessments of public health risks following abandonment could better ensure the resilience and well-being of communities in shrinking cities.

Socioecological disparities in New Orleans following Hurricane Katrina

“…Viewing unmanaged, emergent vegetation on abandoned lands through the lens of environmental justice highlights how reducing “green blight” (Gulachenski et al. ) could prevent or disrupt negative feedback cycles (i.e., between landscape aesthetics, social stigmas, redevelopment, and public policy) in affected neighborhoods that might otherwise become bound in a downward spiral of declining capital investment, land abandonment, and population loss.…”

“…, Gulachenski et al. ). Recent work indicates that abandonment can favor commensal pests, such as rodents and mosquitos, and thus elevate zoonotic pathogen exposure risk (Hamer et al.…”

“…If so, then further understanding of post‐disaster socioecological relationships could help prevent the emergence or reinforcement of disparities in vulnerability and recovery following catastrophic events (Gulachenski et al. , Rael et al. ).…”

Rat Lungworm Infection in Rodents across Post-Katrina New Orleans, Louisiana, USA

“…Although too few rats were trapped in St. Bernard Parish (n = 5) to confidently estimate rat lungworm prevalence (Table 1), the observed differences in rat abundance suggest that transmission risk sharply differs between the Lower 9th Ward and St. Bernard Parish. Thus, further study of associations between definitive and intermediate host infection and socioecological factors probably would better define transmission risk across the city ( 14 , 39 ). …”

Sustainability for Shrinking Cities

“…Kim [46] reviews how municipalities and other organizations are utilizing urban vacant land and develops a typology to guide conceptual understanding of the diversity of vacant land types in cities. Gulachenski et al [47] discusses the urban greening that is happening as a consequence of "counter-urbanization" in shrinking cities; this trend has great potential for generating ecosystem disservices, particularly public health risks as a result of greater exposure to vector-and water-borne pathogens. Bloetscher et al [48] show how sea level rise has many of the same outcomes shrinking cities experience through population loss, such as compromised infrastructure and new public health risks experienced by vulnerable populations.…”