New scientific publication on the assessment of urban biodiversity in a riverbank environment in a city in the Global South

The Institute of Landscape Planning and Ecology is pleased to announce the publication of a new scientific article in the journal npj Urban Sustainability, co-authored by our team members MSc. Angie Camacho, PhD candidate Kristen Jakstis and Dr. Leonie Fischer.

The article addresses the crucial need to understand the relationship between citizens and nature, particularly in the Global South, in order to address biodiversity challenges in the context of inequality and socio-environmental conflicts. The study examined how people value urban biodiversity along the Fucha River in Bogotá, Colombia, and how organised citizens act collectively to improve its environmental condition.

Key results indicate significant differences in biodiversity valuation and diverse collective actions along the Fucha River. Positive conditions and community involvement promote positive valuation of a healthy environment, while negative valuation is largely related to non-ecosystem aspects such as pollution or litter. A strong preference for environments with higher plant species diversity and a more natural appearance was demonstrated. Therefore, in the context of an unequal Global South city, biodiverse environments matter in terms of how people value and act towards nature.