Biodiversity modeling to manage urban ecosystems for people and nature

Abstract

In the face of global change, cities increasingly need to reconcile people and nature by promoting biodiversity and improving human well-being as acknowledged by the COP15 biodiversity agreement. However, achieving these objectives requires data-informed decision-making to adapt cities to our changing world. Here we argue that the application of modeling frameworks from macroecology represents a big opportunity to precisely understand and inform current and future patterns of urban biodiversity and its contributions to people in cities. By closely collaborating with urban planners and decision-makers, resulting biodiversity outputs could assist urban management to better adapt to climate change, protect biodiversity, and optimize access to nature and its benefits. Cities are home to many species, so managing urban ecosystems accordingly is important. This Perspective argues for better integration of widely used biodiversity modeling frameworks and tools into urban ecology and the management of urban landscapes.