Review
Engineering, Environmental
Isabelle D. Wolf, Gordon Waitt
Summary: In this review, we examine how the relationships between public urban nature spaces and wellbeing vary by ethnicity in cities of the Global North. The review includes 65 articles that explore the positive and negative relationships between public urban nature spaces, ethnicity and wellbeing in four interrelated domains: integration/relationship building, therapy, safety, and capabilities/competency building. The findings offer twelve wellbeing pathways to design urban nature spaces that are more inclusive to all residents, providing valuable insights for park management.
Article
Biodiversity Conservation
Aladesanmi Daniel Agbelade, Jonathan Chukwujekwu Onyekwelu, Adebayo Adeleke John, Johnson Adedayo, Tunrayo Alabi
Summary: The study revealed the decreasing biodiversity and threatened tree species in urban tree ecosystems of Nigerian cities, calling for urgent conservation measures. There was an increasing trend in vegetation cover in cities, as observed by calculating the Normalized Difference Vegetation Index (NDVI) to monitor changes in vegetation greenness and temperature effects. The income obtained from the sales of urban tree products significantly contributed to household annual income, aiding in meeting basic family expenses in cities.
Article
Environmental Sciences
Chao Ye, Patrick Schroder, Dongyang Yang, Mingxing Chen, Can Cui, Liang Zhuang
Summary: Urbanization and public health are closely interconnected with global natural and social changes. To create a healthy China, the focus should be on healthy urbanization, wellbeing, and sustainable development. The concept and approaches of liveable cities can complement the deficiencies of the current centralized planning approach.
ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH LETTERS
(2022)
Article
Environmental Sciences
Chandni Bedi, Arun Kansal, Pierre Mukheibir
Summary: This paper addresses the complexity of assessing the liveability of cities and aims to enhance the understanding of the concept for planners and policymakers. It provides a systematic understanding of liveability and its key constructs, suggests various measurement methods, and emphasizes the trade-offs between liveability and sustainability in urban planning. The paper also highlights the social construction of liveability and suggests the use of cognitive, participatory, and micro-scale indicators. It introduces a participatory assessment approach called SaRVO and recommends it to future town planners, policymakers, and researchers.
ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE & POLICY
(2023)
Article
Economics
Christina R. Ergler, Claire Freeman, Tess Guiney
Summary: Although pre-literate children's voices are absent from urban debates, this paper explores their experiences and expectations in the city through a participatory research project. The findings suggest that young children deeply engage with and value their city and its inhabitants, despite being absent from planning and policy discourses. The preschoolers in the study created a city that cares for its citizens by being safe, socially and physically connected, and providing destinations, amenities, and services for all ages and abilities.
TIJDSCHRIFT VOOR ECONOMISCHE EN SOCIALE GEOGRAFIE
(2022)
Article
Environmental Sciences
Yali Zhong, Shuqing Chen, Haihua Mo, Weiwen Wang, Pengfei Yu, Xuemei Wang, Nima Chuduo, Bian Ba
Summary: This study quantifies the contribution of urban expansion to surface warming on the Tibetan Plateau, showing that urbanization accounts for approximately 30% of the temperature increase in typical plateau cities. Lhasa is identified as one of the cities most affected by urbanization, with urban expansion contributing about 40% to its temperature increase. These findings have global implications for urban studies in plateau areas.
Article
Environmental Studies
Isaac Sarfo, Shuoben Bi, Xiuhua Xu, Emmanuel Yeboah, Clement Kwang, Michael Batame, Foster Kofi Addai, Umar Wakil Adamu, Emmanuella Aboagye Appea, Michael Atuahene Djan, Henry Bortey Otchwemah, Vanessa Elikem Kudoh, Floribert Vuguziga, Olumide Samuel, John Ernest Koku
Summary: This study investigates the spatial variability of remote sensing indices to understand the changes in built-up areas, vegetation, bareness, and urban heat island in Kumasi Metropolitan Area in Ghana. The findings reveal the significant impact of urbanization on forest areas and farmlands, leading to the loss of Kumasi's green position. The study also highlights the positive correlation between built-up and bareness indices with urban heat island, while the vegetative index shows an inverse relationship. Future land-use scenarios predict further loss of forests, waterbodies, and farmlands/shrubs, impacting urban temperature and water supply. The study emphasizes the need for an integrated collaborative governance framework to address the challenges in green infrastructure, urban heat island, and land cover change.
Article
Remote Sensing
Andong Guo, Tingting He, Wenze Yue, Wu Xiao, Jun Yang, Maoxin Zhang, Mengmeng Li
Summary: The research shows that urban trees can reduce urban heat island effect by lowering land surface temperature, especially in summer. Factors such as tree height and tree coverage rate have a significant impact on mitigating the heat island effect, while the digital elevation model plays a crucial role in influencing the cooling effect of trees.
INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF APPLIED EARTH OBSERVATION AND GEOINFORMATION
(2023)
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
David Bruce Audretsch, Maksim Belitski, Nataliia Cherkas
Summary: This study investigates the role of institutional context in facilitating productive entrepreneurship and reducing unproductive entrepreneurship in cities across different developing and transition economies. The findings suggest that differences between normative, cognitive, and regulatory pillars of institutions are associated with variance in both types of entrepreneurship. The study has theoretical and practical implications for entrepreneurship ecosystem policy in cities.
Article
Plant Sciences
Joe R. McBride
Summary: This commentary reviews the significant contributions made by China in the development of urban forests and research on urban forests. It highlights the importance of China's Forest Law (adopted in 1984) in establishing urban forests in the country. Unique Chinese concepts such as Sponge Cities and Forest Cities are discussed, along with examples of the contributions made by Chinese scholars to our understanding of urban forestry.
URBAN FORESTRY & URBAN GREENING
(2023)
Article
Environmental Sciences
Jie Cao, Weiqi Zhou, Wenjuan Yu, Xiaofang Hu, Miao Yu, Jing Wang, Jia Wang
Summary: This study analyzes the data from Beijing from 1985 to 2018 and finds that urban expansion and local land cover change have a joint impact on urban warming, but their relative contributions change over time and city size, with three turning points. These results can provide insights for urban planning and adaptation to the urban heat island effect.
Article
Urban Studies
Maud Lanau, Ruichang Mao, Gang Liu
Summary: The study quantifies and compares the metabolic patterns of the four main Danish cities from 2010 and 2015. It found a reduction in the inflows of energy, water, and food, as well as the outflows of greenhouse gas emissions, wastewater, municipal solid waste, and construction and demolition waste over the six years. Danish cities showed more sustainable metabolic patterns compared to other world megacities, emphasizing the importance of policies and regulations on urban sustainability.
Article
Business
David Bruce Audretsch, Maksim Belitski, Maribel Guerrero
Summary: This study investigates the impact of geographical proximity with innovation ecosystems' agents on the innovation performance of Schumpeterian firms. By adopting the knowledge spillover theory, the researchers propose and test a conceptual model using firm-level data, resulting in 3,074 observations between 2002 and 2014. The findings extend the literature by discussing the achievement of innovation performance based on geographic proximity, the role of firm size, and mechanisms of knowledge spillover, providing theoretical insights and managerial implications for Schumpeterian firms.
JOURNAL OF BUSINESS RESEARCH
(2022)
Article
Urban Studies
Yaryna Khmara, Jakub Kronenberg
Summary: Cities have the potential to serve as places for experiments in social, economic, and ecological transition. A new narrative of 'urban degrowth economics' is necessary to implement degrowth on a larger scale. By analyzing strategies and policies of selected case study cities, we can assess which approaches are closest to degrowth values.
Review
Environmental Sciences
Mark J. Nieuwenhuijsen
Summary: The passage discusses the health issues faced by cities and the impact of COVID-19 on urban public spaces, proposing that new urban models may help reduce the health burden associated with current urban practices. However, further evaluation of effectiveness and acceptability is needed, and the COVID-19 pandemic may accelerate these urban developments.
ENVIRONMENT INTERNATIONAL
(2021)
Article
Biodiversity Conservation
Qinfeng Guo, Xiaoyu Cen, Ruiyan Song, Michael L. McKinney, Deli Wang
Summary: The study revealed that as the degree of non-native species invasion increases, species-area relationships (SARs) worldwide significantly strengthen, reshaping SARs. Native species still exhibit stronger SARs, with steeper slopes compared to non-native species. Additionally, there are differences in filling new niches among invading taxonomic groups.
CONSERVATION BIOLOGY
(2021)
Letter
Ecology
Hanh K. D. Nguyen, Penelope J. Jones, Dave Kendal, Emily J. Flies
TRENDS IN ECOLOGY & EVOLUTION
(2021)
Article
Ecology
Mark A. Goddard, Zoe G. Davies, Solene Guenat, Mark J. Ferguson, Jessica C. Fisher, Adeniran Akanni, Teija Ahjokoski, Pippin M. L. Anderson, Fabio Angeoletto, Constantinos Antoniou, Adam J. Bates, Andrew Barkwith, Adam Berland, Christopher J. Bouch, Christine C. Rega-Brodsky, Loren B. Byrne, David Cameron, Rory Canavan, Tim Chapman, Stuart Connop, Steve Crossland, Marie C. Dade, David A. Dawson, Cynnamon Dobbs, Colleen T. Downs, Erle C. Ellis, Francisco J. Escobedo, Paul Gobster, Natalie Marie Gulsrud, Burak Guneralp, Amy K. Hahs, James D. Hale, Christopher Hassall, Marcus Hedblom, Dieter F. Hochuli, Tommi Inkinen, Ioan-Cristian Ioja, Dave Kendal, Tom Knowland, Ingo Kowarik, Simon J. Langdale, Susannah B. Lerman, Ian MacGregor-Fors, Peter Manning, Peter Massini, Stacey McLean, David D. Mkwambisi, Alessandro Ossola, Gabriel Perez Luque, Luis Perez-Urrestarazu, Katia Perini, Gad Perry, Tristan J. Pett, Kate E. Plummer, Raoufou A. Radji, Uri Roll, Simon G. Potts, Heather Rumble, Jon P. Sadler, Stevienna de Saille, Sebastian Sautter, Catherine E. Scott, Assaf Shwartz, Tracy Smith, Robbert P. H. Snep, Carl D. Soulsbury, Margaret C. Stanley, Tim Van de Voorde, Stephen J. Venn, Philip H. Warren, Carla-Leanne Washbourne, Mark Whitling, Nicholas S. G. Williams, Jun Yang, Kumelachew Yeshitela, Ken P. Yocom, Martin Dallimer
Summary: Research conducted a global horizon scan of 170 experts exploring the future challenges and potential opportunities of robotics and autonomous systems in urban ecosystems. The study found that RAS could transform land use, transport systems, and human-nature interactions, with the prioritized opportunities focusing on monitoring and managing biodiversity and ecosystems using RAS.
NATURE ECOLOGY & EVOLUTION
(2021)
Article
Ecology
Caragh G. Threlfall, Lucy Dubrelle Gunn, Melanie Davern, Dave Kendal
Summary: Urban trees have unequal distribution patterns, influenced by individual economic capacity and municipal decision-making processes. Education level is strongly related to tree density, while household income is negatively related to tree density and diversity in some municipalities. The luxury effect cannot adequately explain the observed patterns.
LANDSCAPE AND URBAN PLANNING
(2022)
Article
Public, Environmental & Occupational Health
Sisitha Jayasinghe, Emily J. Flies, Robert Soward, Dave Kendal, Michelle Kilpatrick, Timothy P. Holloway, Kira A. E. Patterson, Kiran D. K. Ahuja, Roger Hughes, Nuala M. Byrne, Andrew P. Hills
Summary: The prevalence of physical inactivity and obesity is increasing in regional areas like North-West Tasmania, possibly due to limited access to physical activity infrastructure and healthier food options. Research on both physical activity and food environments in rural areas remains scarce, highlighting the need for more comprehensive studies in addressing these issues. In the three NW Tasmanian communities studied, access to physical activity resources and food outlets varied significantly based on socioeconomic status, with potential implications for the obesogenic nature of these communities.
FRONTIERS IN PUBLIC HEALTH
(2021)
Article
Engineering, Environmental
Niki Frantzeskaki, Cathy Oke, Guy Barnett, Sarah Bekessy, Judy Bush, James Fitzsimons, Maria Ignatieva, Dave Kendal, Jonathan Kingsley, Laura Mumaw, Alessandro Ossola
Summary: Australia is facing pressures related to urbanization, biodiversity loss, and climate change. Cities in Australia can play a leading role in finding solutions to address these emergencies. This perspective piece proposes three interconnected pathways to transform Australian cities into nature-positive places of the future: evidence-based planning for nature, collaborative planning, and empowering communities to innovate with nature. The lessons and pathways discussed have global applicability and can contribute to science-policy debates on biodiversity and climate change.
Article
Environmental Sciences
Margreet Drijfhout, Dave Kendal, Pete Green
Summary: Management decisions that do not align with public values can lead to controversy and conflict. In Australia, the management of overabundant koalas has divided experts and the public for decades. There are significant differences in the acceptability of management options between experts and the public, but the polarity is mostly the same. Beliefs about human-wildlife relationships can explain these differences.
JOURNAL OF ENVIRONMENTAL MANAGEMENT
(2022)
Article
Environmental Sciences
Sisitha Jayasinghe, Emily J. Flies, Robert Soward, Dave Kendal, Michelle Kilpatrick, Verity Cleland, Rebecca Roberts, Fadhillah Norzahari, Melanie Davern, Timothy P. Holloway, Sandra Murray, Kira A. E. Patterson, Kiran D. K. Ahuja, Roger Hughes, Nuala M. Byrne, Andrew P. Hills
Summary: This research aimed to assess PA resources, walkability, and food environments in socioeconomically disadvantaged, regional/rural areas of Tasmania. The study found that most schools had high-quality PA infrastructure, good walkability, but an abundance of food outlets selling processed unhealthy food.
INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH AND PUBLIC HEALTH
(2022)
Review
Plant Sciences
Gabriella Allegretto, Dave Kendal, Emily J. Flies
Summary: This study systematically reviewed the literature on urban forests and explored the relationship between urban forest quality and socio-economic status and race. The majority of studies found evidence of inequality in urban forest quality, but there were also studies that found contrasting patterns.
URBAN FORESTRY & URBAN GREENING
(2022)
Article
Plant Sciences
Dave Kendal, Camilo Ordonez, Melanie Davern, Richard A. Fuller, Dieter F. Hochuli, Rodney van der Ree, Stephen J. Livesley, Caragh G. Threlfall
Summary: The success of urban forest management strategies is heavily reliant on public support and engagement with urban trees. Understanding public opinions on urban trees, including satisfaction and trust in urban tree managers, is crucial. However, these concepts and the mechanisms behind the formation of public opinions have been largely unexplored. This study examines the factors influencing satisfaction with urban trees and their management, as well as trust in the agencies responsible for urban tree management, using a survey conducted in southeastern Australia. The findings reveal that while general opinions about trees are overwhelmingly positive, satisfaction and trust ratings vary. The study identifies two distinct pathways influencing satisfaction: one associated with beliefs about the presence of trees in cities, and another linked to trust in urban tree management. At the local government level, satisfaction is negatively affected by low levels of cultural diversity and tree canopy cover, but not socioeconomic disadvantage. Improving the quality of ecological function of trees and promoting community engagement can enhance satisfaction and trust, by reinforcing positive beliefs and dispelling negative ones. The study highlights the importance of considering the complex and diverse opinions of the public in decision-making processes, in order to meet the growing expectations for urban forests.
URBAN FORESTRY & URBAN GREENING
(2022)
Review
Ecology
Camilo Ordonez-Barona, Kathleen Wolf, Janina M. Kowalski, Dave Kendal, Jason A. Byrne, Tenley M. Conway
Summary: This study reviewed empirical studies on people's perceptions of urban forests and urban trees, and found that the current literature lacks consideration of the diversity of places, methods, people, and perception responses. Most studies focus on positive perceptions and overlook the potential diversity of perceptions. The study also revealed a lack of conceptual clarity in the specific type of perception response being investigated.
LANDSCAPE AND URBAN PLANNING
(2022)
Article
Environmental Sciences
Haylee Kaplan, Vishnu Prahalad, Dave Kendal
Summary: The decision to plant native or non-native trees in urban green spaces is becoming complex and conflicted. Purely biotic-based decisions are limited due to changing climates and urban heat. Urban planners and environmental managers must consider the socio-cultural values and services of urban trees.
ENVIRONMENTAL MANAGEMENT
(2023)
Article
Biodiversity Conservation
Camilo Ordonez, Caragh G. Threlfall, Dave Kendal, Jess Baumann, Cherese Sonkkila, Dieter F. Hochuli, Rodney van der Ree, Richard A. Fuller, Melanie Davern, Kelly Herzog, Alex English, Stephen J. Livesley
Summary: This study experimentally quantifies the benefits of urban trees on humans and wildlife by taking advantage of scheduled tree removals. The results demonstrate that the removal of trees in urban parks led to a decrease in bird and possum abundance, an increase in invertebrate predation, and a decrease in people's perception of the importance of trees.
Review
Biodiversity Conservation
Haylee Kaplan, Vishnu Prahalad, Dave Kendal
Summary: The concept of nativeness, based on biogeographic origin, is central to many policies and programmes, but it is often complex and confusing. People's perceptions of nativeness involve six dimensions: Belonging, human influence, functional compatibility, amenity, negative impacts, and identity. Most research on perceptions of native and non-native species focus on negative impacts, which may not capture people's views meaningfully. Strengthening interdisciplinarity between natural and social sciences and integrating social science theories are needed to improve the interpretability and transferability of research findings.
Article
Environmental Studies
Erik Andersson, Dagmar Haase, Pippin Anderson, Chiara Cortinovis, Julie Goodness, Dave Kendal, Angela Lausch, Timon McPhearson, Daria Sikorska, Thilo Wellmann
Summary: The article explores the potential of a traits framework for understanding social-ecological patterns and dynamics in urban systems, and discusses how connecting different cues and characteristics to human appraisal can support decision making at different scales.
NPJ URBAN SUSTAINABILITY
(2021)
