Toward Biodiverse Cities: Adopting Insect-Friendly Green Space Management in Urban Areas

Researchers from Freie Universität publish results of a new study in international journal Urban Forestry and Urban Greening. A recent meta-analysis study carried out by researchers from Freie Universität Berlin has demonstrated that properly managing green spaces in cities can have a positive effect on the abundance and diversity of insects living there. A research team led by biology professor Jens Rolff discovered that mowing green spaces twice a year or less proved particularly beneficial to flying insects such as butterflies and bees. In the study, the researchers compared data from several countries. This included data from Freie Universität's "Blühender Campus" (Campus in Bloom) project. In particular, this meta-analysis showed that flying insects and species that live in upright vegetation profited most from a reduced mowing regime. The results demonstrated that a more insect-friendly approach to green space management did not lead to an increase in perceived pest species that, for example, damage plant roots or cause stings.