Conserving urban biodiversity: current practice, barriers, and enablers

Urban biodiversity conservation is critical if cities are to tackle the biodiversity-extinction crisis and connect people with nature. However, little attention has been paid to how urban environmental managers navigate complex socio-ecological contexts to conserve biodiversity in cities. We interviewed environmental managers from Australian cities to identify (1) the breadth of conservation actions undertaken and (2) the barriers and enablers to action. We found current practice to be more diverse, innovative, and proactive than previously described (318 actions across nine categories). Conversely, priority actions identified by the literature are yet to be "mainstream" in practice (e.g., designing for human-nature connection, securing space for nature in cities). Further, we identified a suite of levers to overcome barriers. Our research provides scientists and practitioners with an understanding of the multiple facets of conservation in cities and emphasizes the importance of interdisciplinary approaches in future research and practice.