We warmly invite you for our next guest lecture by Assistant Professor Christine Rega-Brodsky from the University of Missouri!
Event details
Title: From Vacant Land to Designed Parks: Aligning Urban Biodiversity Needs with Resident Perceptions
Date: Thursday, May 28th 9.30-11.00
Venue: Room 1015, Biocentre 2, Viikinkaari 5, Helsinki
Abstract: Greenspaces in cities vary widely in how they function as wildlife habitat and how residents experience them. Vacant lots, often viewed as social liabilities, can support diverse plant and bird communities with minimal management, while manicured parks provide clear social benefits, but are not always designed with biodiversity in mind. Despite these differences, both types of spaces can have the potential to provide high-quality ecological and social value, depending on how the greenspaces and urban wildlife are perceived. In this talk, I draw on projects in Baltimore, Maryland and Columbia, Missouri (USA) to explore how resident perceptions, particularly of birds and greenspaces, can be integrated into urban biodiversity planning, helping transform a range of urban landscapes into spaces that are both ecologically meaningful and socially supported.
Christine Rega-Brodsky is an Assistant Professor of Urban Ecology at the School of Natural Resources at the University of Missouri. In her research, she explores urban biodiversity patterns, animal behavior and the preferences and perception of urban residents.
Welcome to join the discussion!