interface between natural and cultural processes. In addition, spontaneous natural
processes in urban areas give city dwellers the opportunity to experience nature from
nearby and to feel connected to natural processes, as happened in the pre-urban past.
Meanwhile, botanical gardens, aquariums and zoos play a vital role for the
survival of rare species. Most of the larger institutions are located in cities, where
they have more visitors than the ones located in rural areas. Thus, such institutions in
cities have a high value for the exchange of information, including education for
schoolchildren, simply because of the proximity.
Keywords Urban wildlife · Botanical garden · Zoo · Aquarium · Affinity to nature
1 Introduction
Consumption of global resources and the anthropogenic transformation of the
biosphere are increasing. The existence and growth of cities are directly linked to
the production and trade of energy, resources and food, and to the damage of
ecosystems, far away from the cities (Cieslewicz 2008; Day and Hall 2016; Riffat
et al. 2016; Simon 2016; Wolfram 2016; Torrey 2004). Cities meanwhile harbour
more than half of the world’s population, concentrated in coastal regions and in
temperate, sub-tropical and tropical climates.
Sustainable development at local to global scales depends upon the pathways
taken by cities in the near future (Wolfram 2016). Urbanisation and cities can be
major threats to global sustainability (Simon 2016). But they can also play a key role
in the transition to global sustainability, being areas where greening and nature
conservation can easily promote better conditions of life for both humans and
many other biota.
For millennia, humans have survived by hunting and gathering in migratory
groups, foraging in the wild nature. These groups changed into sedentary societies
as a result of their ability to domesticate plants and animals (Neolithic Revolution).
The Industrial Revolution allowed the human population to rise exponentially.
Today over half of the human population lives in urban areas, and pure wild nature
has been minimized. In just a short period, man’s life has changed dramatically.
Previously, he lived among plants and animals and had an intense relationship with
nature as a whole, while now he spends large parts of his life between the bricks and
concrete of built environments. His urban habitat is alienated from its origins and
now accommodates areas for foreign ornamental plants in gardens and parks.
Common fauna includes domestic animals such as dogs, cats, honey bees and
homing pigeons. Nevertheless, many wild plants and animals have changed into
synanthropes and have spontaneously found niches and habitats in these urban areas,
even though in many cases cultivated ornamental plants and hobby animals are more
prominent. Synanthropes live near, and benefit from, an association with human
beings and the somewhat artificial habitats that people create around them.
Depending on the intensity of human activity, plant species and animals of the
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J. Jansen and C. Hobohm
processes in urban areas give city dwellers the opportunity to experience nature from
nearby and to feel connected to natural processes, as happened in the pre-urban past.
Meanwhile, botanical gardens, aquariums and zoos play a vital role for the
survival of rare species. Most of the larger institutions are located in cities, where
they have more visitors than the ones located in rural areas. Thus, such institutions in
cities have a high value for the exchange of information, including education for
schoolchildren, simply because of the proximity.
Keywords Urban wildlife · Botanical garden · Zoo · Aquarium · Affinity to nature
1 Introduction
Consumption of global resources and the anthropogenic transformation of the
biosphere are increasing. The existence and growth of cities are directly linked to
the production and trade of energy, resources and food, and to the damage of
ecosystems, far away from the cities (Cieslewicz 2008; Day and Hall 2016; Riffat
et al. 2016; Simon 2016; Wolfram 2016; Torrey 2004). Cities meanwhile harbour
more than half of the world’s population, concentrated in coastal regions and in
temperate, sub-tropical and tropical climates.
Sustainable development at local to global scales depends upon the pathways
taken by cities in the near future (Wolfram 2016). Urbanisation and cities can be
major threats to global sustainability (Simon 2016). But they can also play a key role
in the transition to global sustainability, being areas where greening and nature
conservation can easily promote better conditions of life for both humans and
many other biota.
For millennia, humans have survived by hunting and gathering in migratory
groups, foraging in the wild nature. These groups changed into sedentary societies
as a result of their ability to domesticate plants and animals (Neolithic Revolution).
The Industrial Revolution allowed the human population to rise exponentially.
Today over half of the human population lives in urban areas, and pure wild nature
has been minimized. In just a short period, man’s life has changed dramatically.
Previously, he lived among plants and animals and had an intense relationship with
nature as a whole, while now he spends large parts of his life between the bricks and
concrete of built environments. His urban habitat is alienated from its origins and
now accommodates areas for foreign ornamental plants in gardens and parks.
Common fauna includes domestic animals such as dogs, cats, honey bees and
homing pigeons. Nevertheless, many wild plants and animals have changed into
synanthropes and have spontaneously found niches and habitats in these urban areas,
even though in many cases cultivated ornamental plants and hobby animals are more
prominent. Synanthropes live near, and benefit from, an association with human
beings and the somewhat artificial habitats that people create around them.
Depending on the intensity of human activity, plant species and animals of the
426
J. Jansen and C. Hobohm