A decade of change: Urban green space users’ shifting perceptions and practices towards biodiversity

Source abstract

Urban green space (UGS) users’ perceptions and practices toward biodiversity have undergone significant shifts over the past decade, yet few studies have examined these temporal dynamics. This study analyzes changes in the relationship between UGS users and biodiversity in Paris (2010–2023) using survey data from five green spaces across socially diverse neighborhoods (n = 1217). Our findings reveal a marked evolution in user profiles, with well-being increasingly linked to perceived biodiversity richness. Biodiversity-oriented UGS are now in greater demand, while trust in public policies for biodiversity conservation has declined, accompanied by a growing preference for local community-led initiatives. These results underscore the need for urban planning to account for diverse socio-demographic profiles and their evolving definitions of biodiversity.