Unpacking the Link Between Wealth and Biodiversity: How Communities Can Achieve Diversity Together

The link between wealth and biodiversity has long been established, with affluent areas typically exhibiting higher levels of biodiversity. However, a new study led by researchers at NC State suggests that a more nuanced understanding of this relationship could help communities with limited wealth achieve similar levels of biodiversity.

Madhusudan Katti, associate professor of forestry and environmental resources at NC State, emphasized that biodiversity should not be viewed as a luxury reserved for the wealthy. Instead, it is something that can be actively nurtured in urban environments through intentional actions. By reframing the discussion around biodiversity as a product of social pressures and systems, rather than just wealth, the researchers aimed to uncover the mechanisms that promote biodiversity.

The study utilized a social-ecological framework to analyze how human actions shape nature within a social context. This framework, known as the POSE framework, focuses on four key social factors – power, objectives, social/ecological context, and effort – that influence biodiversity. By understanding and leveraging these factors, communities with limited resources can work towards building biodiversity in their surroundings.

The researchers hope that their findings will inspire individuals and community groups to take action towards creating healthier landscapes, regardless of their financial resources. By emphasizing the role of collective organizing and community effort, the study aims to empower communities to overcome the barriers posed by wealth disparities in achieving biodiversity.

The paper, titled “Biodiversity is not a luxury: Unpacking wealth and power to accommodate the complexity of urban biodiversity,” was published in the journal Ecosystems. Renata Poulton Kamakura of Duke University served as the first author, with additional contributions from Ph.D. students Jin Bai and Vallari Sheel from NC State. The research was supported by grants from the National Science Foundation and the U.S. Geological Survey Southeast Climate Adaptation Science Center.

Overall, the study highlights the importance of recognizing the agency that individuals and communities have in shaping biodiversity, and the potential for collective action to create more diverse and sustainable urban environments.