The &amp;#8220;desire to have it all&amp;#8221;: multiple priorities for urban gardens reduces space for native nature

Noe, Elizabeth Elliot; Clarkson, Bruce D.; Stolte, Ottilie

doi:10.5751/es-12515-260243

Cited by 6 publications

(4 citation statements)

References 4 publications

(4 reference statements)

Supporting

Mentioning

Contrasting

Order By: Relevance

“…This may suggest a convergence towards a more nuanced consensus position on nativeness. While this may also be attributable to a potential lack of representation in our sample, similar findings were reported in a recent New Zealand study on urban plants (Noe et al 2021 ). As with other post-colonial nations, nativeness is intrinsically linked with Australian cultural identity and national imaginaries (Smith 2011 ).…”

Section: Discussionsupporting

confidence: 85%

“…In the context of urban greening, people for whom nativeness has high salience may be more disposed to protest or alter their visitation behaviours in response to changes in the nativeness of urban green spaces. Previous research has documented the disconnection between people’s values and beliefs around nativeness and their behaviours, for example valuing native plants but choosing to maintain an exotic garden (Uren et al 2015 ; Noe et al 2021 ). One reason for this disconnect may be that nativeness is a less salient aspect of some people’s decision-making relative to other aspects, such as growing food or aesthetic enjoyment.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…While we have a climatological basis for predicting the biodiversity implications of a shift in urban forests away from native trees, there is less clarity around the impacts such adaptations will have on urban residents whose experiences of public trees often form a meaningful part of everyday life (Pearce et al 2015 ; Tansil et al 2022 ). Most of the research on people’s perceptions of nativeness to date has been conducted in private residential gardens (but see Hoyle et al 2017 ; Noe et al 2021 ) where individual preferences drive plant choices. There is an important gap in understanding the meaning of nativeness in public spaces where people have less direct influence on the landscape, and conflicting values of different parts of the community will require trade-offs in decision-making.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

See 2 more Smart Citations

From Conservation to Connection: Exploring the Role of Nativeness in Shaping People’s Relationships with Urban Trees

Kaplan

Prahalad

Kendal

2023

Environmental Management

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

Deciding whether to plant native or non-native trees in public urban green spaces is becoming complex and conflicted, and decisions purely based on biotic nativeness are likely to be hamstrung as climate change and rising urban heat push many native species beyond their natural ranges. Importantly, tree selection considerations by urban planners and environmental managers will have to move beyond a primary focus on securing conservation and ecological outcomes, to elucidate and engage with a growing interest in the socio-cultural values and services of urban trees. Building on emerging theoretical perspectives, this place-based study explores the role that perceptions of nativeness have in shaping people’s relationships with native and non-native urban trees and landscapes in an Australian city. Nativeness was associated with a range of subjective meanings including cultural identity, political expression, nature connection, desirable and undesirable traits, and environmental and cultural compatibility. Our findings emphasise that the ways in which urban trees and green spaces are valued and experienced is likely mediated by people’s perceptions of nativeness and its importance relative to other attributes. To provision and sustain green spaces that meet the diverse needs and preferences of urban publics, planners and managers need to elucidate and incorporate the nuanced, place-based and multifaceted subjective meanings of nativeness into urban greening decision-making and practice.

show abstract

Section: Discussionsupporting

confidence: 85%

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

See 1 more Smart Citation

From Conservation to Connection: Exploring the Role of Nativeness in Shaping People’s Relationships with Urban Trees

Kaplan

Prahalad

Kendal

2023

Environmental Management

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

show abstract

“…A third mechanism may be that pesticides impact herbivorous species much more severely than flower visitors. Urban gardens are often designed with the intent to be either aesthetic, native or biodiverse, through rigorous design and management of the constituting (ornamental) plants (Noe et al, 2021). Gardens with high plant coverage may indicate a stronger intent from the owners to facilitate other species as well.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Vegetation density is the main driver of insect species richness and diversity in small private urban front gardens

Morpurgo,

Huurdeman,

Oostermeijer

et al. 2024

Preprint

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

Urbanisation changes the natural ecosystems and vegetation to urban green spaces, and causes insect communities to experience novel challenges for survival. New evidence suggests that urban green spaces, no matter how small, can provide meaningful habitats for insects. Information on design and management of small gardens (<10m2) in dense urban areas is still scarce. In particular, it is hardly known which garden designs provide most benefits to insects. We surveyed 65 small private urban front gardens (μ=1.7m2) in Amsterdam and The Hague in The Netherlands and measured a series of garden attributes thought to be relevant for general, flower-visiting and herbivorous insect species richness and diversity. Plant coverage and richness were the strongest predictors for insect biodiversity and species richness. We found no support for associations with native vs. exotic plants or garden size.Synthesis and applicationsTo strengthen insect biodiversity in the urban environment, we recommend future design of urban green spaces to focus on maximising coverage and richness of vegetation, potentially even using exotic species to fill in the gaps where native plant species cannot survive.HighlightsSmall urban gardens hold large potential for supporting urban insect communitiesTotal vegetation cover was the strongest predictor for insect diversity and richnessPlant richness was the second strongest predictor, but not for herbivorous insectsGarden size had no effect on insect diversity or richnessNative vegetation did not impact insect diversity or richnessAbstract FigureGraphical abstract. Shown are either plus or minus signs indicating a positive or negative trends from the models that predict species richness and Shannon biodiversity of insects, pollinators or herbivores by the design of small urban gardens.*indicates a statistically significant trend at p-value < 0.05. A plus or minus sign without*means a visible statistically non-significant trend. A greyed out square indicates exclusion of the term in the model. A white square indicates non-significant and non-visible trend.

show abstract

Biodiversity in residential gardens: a review of the evidence base

Delahay,

Sherman,

Soyalan

et al. 2023

Biodivers Conserv

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

Residential gardens are a principal component of urban green infrastructure throughout the world and their potential positive contributions to biodiversity are increasingly recognised. But the characteristics of gardens reflect the needs, values and interests of individual households. The present review summarises evidence from studies of garden biodiversity published in the scientific literature, describes major themes and identifies important knowledge gaps. A search of the Web of Science database identified 408 published articles on the biodiversity of residential gardens (1981–2022), with numbers increasing over time and a strong bias towards Europe (32.1%) and North America (23.8%). Plants and invertebrates were most frequently studied, and species diversity was often correlated with garden size and habitat complexity. Botanic composition and vegetation cover were often positively associated with the diversity and abundance of fauna. Non-native plants contributed substantially to garden plant diversity and evidence from some studies indicated benefits to other species linked to their functional attributes. Intensive management including frequent lawn mowing, fertiliser and pesticide application, and a more formal, ‘neater’ garden appearance were often associated with reduced biodiversity. However, results varied amongst studies, for example in relation to the impacts of mowing frequency on lawn diversity. There was a general paucity of experimental evidence on the impacts of different management regimes on garden biodiversity and few replicated experimental tests of recommended ‘wildlife-friendly practices’. Several studies identified the importance of connectivity amongst gardens and with other green infra-structure for species dispersal and ecosystem functioning. Emerging threats to garden biodiversity include their replacement by development, conversion to hard surfaces and declining plot sizes. Managing these challenges and maximising the biodiversity value of residential gardens requires greater engagement from policymakers and planners, and partnerships between public bodies and private households to co-ordinate local initiatives.

show abstract

The “desire to have it all”: multiple priorities for urban gardens reduces space for native nature

Cited by 6 publications

References 4 publications

From Conservation to Connection: Exploring the Role of Nativeness in Shaping People’s Relationships with Urban Trees

From Conservation to Connection: Exploring the Role of Nativeness in Shaping People’s Relationships with Urban Trees

Vegetation density is the main driver of insect species richness and diversity in small private urban front gardens

Biodiversity in residential gardens: a review of the evidence base

Contact Info

Product

Resources

About