{{Short description|Form of ecological restoration}} [[File:The Pollinator Pathway project-getting ready for next phase (8210156875).jpg|thumb|The Pollinator Pathway wildlife corridor in downtown Seattle, Washington, USA is an example of an urban rewilding project designed to create a more hospitable urban environment for pollinators.]] '''Urban rewilding''' is a specific form of rewilding, a movement that gained prominence in the 1990s.<ref name=":0">{{Cite web |last=Brown |first=Hannah |date=19 May 2021 |title=Urban Rewilding: An Introduction |url=https://www.proquest.com/docview/2528915828 |access-date=8 December 2024|id={{ProQuest|2528915828}} }}</ref> Urban rewilding aims to integrate ecosystems into cities, blending nature and urban settings. This nature can be anything from vegetation to animals.<ref name=":0" /> Despite different ideologies existing on the most effective way to rewild urban areas successfully, research shows that positive benefits ensue as long as some form of rewilding takes place. While some countries take more drastic measures than others, urban rewilding occurs globally in countries such as the U.S, Bangladesh, South Africa, China, Singapore, the U.K, Australia, India, and more.<ref name=":0" />
== Different types of urban rewilding == There are four types of urban rewilding: urban greening, corridors, small scale, and large scale.<ref name=":1">{{Cite web |title=C40 Knowledge Community |url=https://www.c40knowledgehub.org/s/article/Urban-rewilding-the-value-and-co-benefits-of-nature-in-urban-spaces?language=en_US |access-date=2024-12-09 |website=www.c40knowledgehub.org}}</ref>
=== Urban greening === While urban greening is not fully considered urban rewilding, it is still the first step to introducing ecosystems into urban areas. Urban greening is the process of ingraining natural ecosystems into the city environment for multifunctional use.<ref>{{Cite journal |last1=Sultana |first1=Razia |last2=Birtchnell |first2=Thomas |last3=Gill |first3=Nicholas |date=2022-09-16 |title=Grassroots Innovation for Urban Greening within a Governance Vacuum by Slum Dwellers in Dhaka |journal=Sustainability |language=en |volume=14 |issue=18 |article-number=11631 |doi=10.3390/su141811631 |doi-access=free |bibcode=2022Sust...1411631S |issn=2071-1050}}</ref> It is typically used in infrastructure with limited space to include a proper rewilding project.<ref name=":1" /> This type of urban rewilding can be found in Dhaka, Bangladesh (Sultana) and Brownfield sites throughout the U.K.<ref>{{Cite journal |last1=Masood |first1=Nausheen |last2=Russo |first2=Alessio |date=2023-02-20 |title=Community Perception of Brownfield Regeneration through Urban Rewilding |journal=Sustainability |language=en |volume=15 |issue=4 |page=3842 |doi=10.3390/su15043842 |doi-access=free |bibcode=2023Sust...15.3842M |issn=2071-1050}}</ref>
=== Corridors === {{Main|Wildlife corridor}} In the context of urban rewilding, corridors connect habitats so that animals in cities can freely move throughout the urban environment.<ref name=":1" /> Restored bodies of water or green pathways are examples of corridors.<ref name=":1" /> An example of corridors can be found in Hebei Province, China.<ref name=":1" />
=== Small scale === A small-scale urban rewilding project is under 50 hectares and involves restoring distinct urban landscape elements within an ecosystem.<ref name=":1" /> These projects include restoring parks, gardens, and forests.<ref name=":1" /> Examples of this type of project include the renaturing of community gardens in New York City,{{cn|date=January 2026}} renaturing pocket parks in Singapore,<ref>{{Cite web |last=Utomo |first=Delfina |date=25 August 2023 |title=The best secret and hidden parks in Singapore |work=Time Out Singapore |url=https://www.timeout.com/singapore/things-to-do/best-secret-parks-and-hidden-green-spaces-in-singapore-to-explore |access-date=1 December 2024}}</ref> and providing urban wetlands in Melbourne, Australia.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Birrarung Trial Floating Wetlands {{!}} City of Melbourne |url=https://www.melbourne.vic.gov.au/birrarung-trial-floating-wetlands |access-date=2024-12-09 |website=www.melbourne.vic.gov.au |language=en}}</ref>
=== Large scale === Urban rewilding projects are large scale when they are over 50 hectares and restore large areas to support healthy, self-sustaining habitats and wildlife.<ref name=":1" /> Large scale projects occur in green spaces, land types, marine reserves, and national parks.<ref name=":1" /> There are examples throughout the world, such as Kamla Nehru Ridge in India<ref name=":1" /> and Bishan-Ang Mo Kio Park in Singapore.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Bishan-Ang Mo Kio Park {{!}} 2016 ASLA Professional Awards |url=https://www.asla.org/2016awards/169669.html |access-date=2024-12-09 |website=www.asla.org}}</ref>
== Benefits and drawbacks ==
=== Benefits === {{See also|Ecosystem service}} Urban Rewilding causes multiple positive environmental, mental, and economic benefits.<ref name=":3" /> For example, greenery can help filter pollutants, creating cleaner air.<ref name=":1" /> Furthermore, urban rewilding projects have been found to lower carbon amounts, helping to fight climate change.<ref name=":3">{{Cite web |last=Hill |first=Lee |date=30 September 2024 |title=Rewilding Explained: Benefits, Challenges, and Examples |url=https://greenerinsights.com/rewilding-explained-benefits-challenges-and-examples/ |access-date=1 December 2024 |website= |language=en-US}}</ref> Urban Rewilding leads to higher levels of pollination, soil fertility, and clean water.<ref name=":1" /> Alongside the physical benefits of providing cleaner air, urban rewilding also leads to decreased stress and an overall boost to mental health.<ref name=":1" /> Urban rewilding can lead to positive economic benefits due to increased tourism and the creating of jobs as people are needed to sustain these projects.<ref name=":3" />
=== Drawbacks === The combination of initial investments and long-term funding required makes urban rewilding projects expensive.<ref name=":3" /> For example, the Buffelsdraai reforestation project's funding was about 138.5 million ZAR,<ref name=":1" /> which equals about 7.7 million USD.<ref>{{Cite web |title=ZAR to USD: Convert South African Rands to US Dollars |url=https://www.exchange-rates.org/converter/zar-usd |access-date=2024-12-09 |website=www.exchange-rates.org |language=en}}</ref> The Frédéric-Back Park project in Montreal, Canada has an estimated 140 million dollar developmental cost until 2032, with further investments not calculated.<ref name=":1" /> Furthermore, using land for urban rewilding projects has an opportunity cost.<ref name=":3" /> Property owners could utilize the land used in urban rewilding projects for a different purpose that is more economically beneficial.<ref name=":3" /> Generally speaking, the preservation of wildlife conflicts with human development and sustainability.<ref name=":3" /> For example, in areas like the Alps, wolves were reintroduced to their native habitat, and the locals were having issues with the wolves disrupting livestock.<ref name=":3" />
== Global efforts == Urban rewilding is a global movement, evident in different countries.<ref name=":1" />
=== Beijing, China === Through urban rewilding, Beijing, China, is becoming one of the most biodiverse cities in the world, containing 2088 vascular plant species and 596 wild vertebrates.<ref name=":5" /> China has continued to push rewilding projects into Beijing through wetland protection and the afforestation of a million acres.<ref name=":5" /> While Beijing is diligently trying to maintain its ecosystems and nature, it still faces environmental threats from climate change.<ref name=":5" /> For example, in Beijing, 2012-2023 was the warmest decade in the past 70 years, and an increase in waterfalls damaged local ecosystems.<ref name=":5" /> More urban rewilding projects in Beijing are required to help tackle said problems.<ref name=":5">{{Cite journal |last1=Wen |first1=Jiping |last2=Xi |first2=Jie |last3=Pan |first3=Yitong |last4=Wang |first4=Siyu |last5=Fan |first5=Zhouyu |last6=Fu |first6=Wei |date=2024-02-07 |title=Spatial Conservation Prioritization for Land in Megacity Facing Climate Change and Biodiversity Loss |journal=Sustainability |language=en |volume=16 |issue=4 |page=1392 |doi=10.3390/su16041392 |doi-access=free |bibcode=2024Sust...16.1392W |issn=2071-1050}}</ref>
=== Frankfurt, Germany, Dessau-Roßlau, Germany, and Hannover, Germany === All three German cities participated in a project from 2016-2021 called "Städte wagen Wildnis," which translates to "Cities Dare Wilderness" or "Cities Venturing into Wilderness".<ref name=":6" /> The project aimed to conserve species and increase the quality of life for the local populations.<ref name=":6">{{Cite web |title=Project |url=https://www.staedte-wagen-wildnis.de/project |access-date=2024-12-09 |website=Städte wagen Wildnis |language=de-DE}}</ref> These cities achieved their goal by setting aside plots of land like parks, vacant lots, and old buildings and letting nature naturally develop in these locations.<ref name=":7" /> The project succeeded as in these cities greater drought tolerance and increased wildlife, such as bees, birds, and butterflies, were noticed.<ref name=":7">{{Cite web |last=Harris |first=Linnea |date=2021-06-15 |title=8 Cities Rewilding Their Urban Spaces |url=https://www.ecowatch.com/cities-rewilding-2653383263.html |access-date=2024-12-09 |website=EcoWatch |language=en-US}}</ref> Near threatened locust species were sighted in Frankfurt following the initiation of this plan.<ref name=":4">{{Cite web |date=2022-06-09 |title=Here Are Some Ways the World's Cities Are Rewilding |url=https://www.rewildingmag.com/here-are-some-ways-the-worlds-cities-are-rewilding/ |access-date=2024-12-09 |website=Rewilding Magazine |language=en}}</ref>
=== Barcelona, Spain === Due to a 6 week lockdown in April 2020, nature grew throughout Barcelona, Spain.<ref name=":4" /> With the new nature creating a positive effect on citizens, the city took the opportunity to instill new rules and laws to further urban rewilding.<ref name=":4" /> Weeds are now allowed to grow in public spaces, and they installed 80 insect hotel gardens, 40 beehives, and 200 bird and bat nesting towers.<ref name=":4" /> Furthermore, the city aims to create 783,000 square meters of green open space with 49,000 square meters of "greened streets."<ref name=":4" /> On top of that, the city also has a nature plan for 2030 with the primary goal of increasing the amount of "green infrastructure" throughout the city to combat climate change and increase overall quality of life.<ref name=":8" /> The city is pushing this plan through multiple agendas, such as ensuring the conservation of trees and increasing the amount of quality urban agriculture land.<ref name=":8">{{Cite web |title=Plans in force {{!}} Espais Verds {{!}} Ajuntament de Barcelona |url=https://ajuntament.barcelona.cat/espaisverds/en/plans-vigents?ref=rewildingmag.com |access-date=2024-12-09 |website=ajuntament.barcelona.cat |language=en}}</ref>
=== Durban, South Africa === The Buffelsdraai reforestation project took place in Durban, South Africa.<ref name=":1" /> The project's motivation was to create a buffer between the city of Durban and local landfill sites to increase quality of life through a positive stimulation of the local economy, cleaner air and water, cooler temperatures for locals, and flood protection.<ref name=":1" /> Jobless locals planted trees in the buffer zone in return for free food and other services.<ref name=":1" /> Furthermore, over 500 new jobs were created due to this project.<ref name=":1" /> This project has been recognized globally for its success by institutions such as the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change.<ref name=":1" />
==See also== {{Portal|Gardening}} *Guerrilla gardening *Trophic cascade *Biomanipulation
== References == <references />
Category:Wikipedia Student Program Category:Rewilding Category:Urban studies and planning terminology Category:Urban geography Category:Urban decay