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Balancing Urban Biodiversity Needs and Resident Preferences for Vacant Lot Management

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  • Christine C. Rega-Brodsky

    (Department of Biology, Pittsburg State University, 1701 S. Broadway, Pittsburg, KS 66762, USA)

  • Charles H. Nilon

    (School of Natural Resources, University of Missouri, 302 Anheuser-Busch Natural Resources Building, Columbia, MO 65211, USA)

  • Paige S. Warren

    (Department of Environmental Conservation, University of Massachusetts, 160 Holdsworth Way, Amherst, MA 01003, USA)

Abstract

Urban vacant lots are often a contentious feature in cities, seen as overgrown, messy eyesores that plague neighborhoods. We propose a shift in this perception to locations of urban potential, because vacant lots may serve as informal greenspaces that maximize urban biodiversity while satisfying residents’ preferences for their design and use. Our goal was to assess what kind of vacant lots are ecologically valuable by assessing their biotic contents and residents’ preferences within a variety of settings. We surveyed 150 vacant lots throughout Baltimore, Maryland for their plant and bird communities, classified the lot’s setting within the urban matrix, and surveyed residents. Remnant vacant lots had greater vegetative structure and bird species richness as compared to other lot origins, while vacant lot settings had limited effects on their contents. Residents preferred well-maintained lots with more trees and less artificial cover, support of which may increase local biodiversity in vacant lots. Collectively, we propose that vacant lots with a mixture of remnant and planted vegetation can act as sustainable urban greenspaces with the potential for some locations to enhance urban tree cover and bird habitat, while balancing the needs and preferences of city residents.

Suggested Citation

  • Christine C. Rega-Brodsky & Charles H. Nilon & Paige S. Warren, 2018. "Balancing Urban Biodiversity Needs and Resident Preferences for Vacant Lot Management," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 10(5), pages 1-21, May.
  • Handle: RePEc:gam:jsusta:v:10:y:2018:i:5:p:1679-:d:148339
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    2. Galen D. Newman & Ann O’M. Bowman & Ryun Jung Lee & Boah Kim, 2016. "A current inventory of vacant urban land in America," Journal of Urban Design, Taylor & Francis Journals, vol. 21(3), pages 302-319, June.
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    5. Ray M. Northam, 1971. "Vacant Urban Land in the American City," Land Economics, University of Wisconsin Press, vol. 47(4), pages 345-355.
    6. Kirsten Schwarz & Michail Fragkias & Christopher G Boone & Weiqi Zhou & Melissa McHale & J Morgan Grove & Jarlath O’Neil-Dunne & Joseph P McFadden & Geoffrey L Buckley & Dan Childers & Laura Ogden & S, 2015. "Trees Grow on Money: Urban Tree Canopy Cover and Environmental Justice," PLOS ONE, Public Library of Science, vol. 10(4), pages 1-17, April.
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