Urban Biodiversity

Sustainable cities depend on thriving urban biodiversity to support both human well-being and ecological health.

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At LEC, we are advancing biodiversity research in cities and developing nature-based solutions that enhance resilience in the face of a changing planet. Cities are more than built environments—they are dynamic ecological systems where green spaces, waterways, soils, and wildlife play essential roles.

The way we design, build, and manage urban areas influences biodiversity and the natural processes that sustain healthy cities. LEC Biodiversity Fellows and Postdoctoral Fellows are studying how ecological processes function in cities, how human activity affects them, and what strategies can be used to promote biodiversity and sustainability. We are working to develop a framework that positions St. Louis as The Nature City of the Twenty-First Century. We have created working groups to foster collaboration and build partnerships between research and practice. Cities have far-reaching effects on surrounding landscapes, making urban biodiversity a critical focus for conservation and sustainable management. Through science, collaboration, and innovation, we aim to make cities more resilient, equitable, and ecologically vibrant.