Birds, Bees, and Botany: Measuring Urban Biodiversity After Nature-Based Solutions Implementation
Nature-based Solutions (NbS) are increasingly adopted in urban settings to restore ecological functions and enhance biodiversity. This study evaluates the effects of NbS interventions on bird, insect, and plant communities in the Cavalum Valley urban green area, Penafiel (northern Portugal). Over a...
Saved in:
| Main Authors: | , , , |
|---|---|
| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
| Published: |
MDPI AG
2025-07-01
|
| Series: | Diversity |
| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | https://www.mdpi.com/1424-2818/17/7/486 |
| Tags: |
Add Tag
No Tags, Be the first to tag this record!
|
| _version_ | 1849733057814200320 |
|---|---|
| author | Mónica Q. Pinto Simone Varandas Emmanuelle Cohen-Shacham Edna Cabecinha |
| author_facet | Mónica Q. Pinto Simone Varandas Emmanuelle Cohen-Shacham Edna Cabecinha |
| author_sort | Mónica Q. Pinto |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Nature-based Solutions (NbS) are increasingly adopted in urban settings to restore ecological functions and enhance biodiversity. This study evaluates the effects of NbS interventions on bird, insect, and plant communities in the Cavalum Valley urban green area, Penafiel (northern Portugal). Over a three-year period, systematic field surveys assessed changes in species richness, abundance, and ecological indicators following actions such as riparian restoration, afforestation, habitat diversification, and invasive species removal. Results revealed a marked increase in bird overall abundance from 538 to 941 individuals and in average pollinator population size from 9.25 to 12.20. Plant diversity also improved, with a rise in native and RELAPE-listed species (5.23%). Functional group analyses underscored the importance of vegetative structure in supporting varied foraging and nesting behaviours. These findings highlight the effectiveness of integrated NbS in enhancing biodiversity and ecological resilience in urban landscapes while reinforcing the need for long-term monitoring to guide adaptive management and conservation planning. Future work could evaluate ecological resilience thresholds and community participation in citizen science monitoring. |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj-art-52a9c438ec8e40c4bd0574756fd970d1 |
| institution | DOAJ |
| issn | 1424-2818 |
| language | English |
| publishDate | 2025-07-01 |
| publisher | MDPI AG |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Diversity |
| spelling | doaj-art-52a9c438ec8e40c4bd0574756fd970d12025-08-20T03:08:09ZengMDPI AGDiversity1424-28182025-07-0117748610.3390/d17070486Birds, Bees, and Botany: Measuring Urban Biodiversity After Nature-Based Solutions ImplementationMónica Q. Pinto0Simone Varandas1Emmanuelle Cohen-Shacham2Edna Cabecinha3CITAB—Centre for the Research and Technology of Agro-Environment and Biological Sciences, Inov4Agro, 5000-801 Vila Real, PortugalCITAB—Centre for the Research and Technology of Agro-Environment and Biological Sciences, Inov4Agro, 5000-801 Vila Real, PortugalCommission on Ecosystem Management, International Union for the Conservation of Nature, 28 Rue Mauverney, 1196 Gland, SwitzerlandCITAB—Centre for the Research and Technology of Agro-Environment and Biological Sciences, Inov4Agro, 5000-801 Vila Real, PortugalNature-based Solutions (NbS) are increasingly adopted in urban settings to restore ecological functions and enhance biodiversity. This study evaluates the effects of NbS interventions on bird, insect, and plant communities in the Cavalum Valley urban green area, Penafiel (northern Portugal). Over a three-year period, systematic field surveys assessed changes in species richness, abundance, and ecological indicators following actions such as riparian restoration, afforestation, habitat diversification, and invasive species removal. Results revealed a marked increase in bird overall abundance from 538 to 941 individuals and in average pollinator population size from 9.25 to 12.20. Plant diversity also improved, with a rise in native and RELAPE-listed species (5.23%). Functional group analyses underscored the importance of vegetative structure in supporting varied foraging and nesting behaviours. These findings highlight the effectiveness of integrated NbS in enhancing biodiversity and ecological resilience in urban landscapes while reinforcing the need for long-term monitoring to guide adaptive management and conservation planning. Future work could evaluate ecological resilience thresholds and community participation in citizen science monitoring.https://www.mdpi.com/1424-2818/17/7/486biodiversityurban green spacesinsectspollinatorsvegetationtrophic chains |
| spellingShingle | Mónica Q. Pinto Simone Varandas Emmanuelle Cohen-Shacham Edna Cabecinha Birds, Bees, and Botany: Measuring Urban Biodiversity After Nature-Based Solutions Implementation Diversity biodiversity urban green spaces insects pollinators vegetation trophic chains |
| title | Birds, Bees, and Botany: Measuring Urban Biodiversity After Nature-Based Solutions Implementation |
| title_full | Birds, Bees, and Botany: Measuring Urban Biodiversity After Nature-Based Solutions Implementation |
| title_fullStr | Birds, Bees, and Botany: Measuring Urban Biodiversity After Nature-Based Solutions Implementation |
| title_full_unstemmed | Birds, Bees, and Botany: Measuring Urban Biodiversity After Nature-Based Solutions Implementation |
| title_short | Birds, Bees, and Botany: Measuring Urban Biodiversity After Nature-Based Solutions Implementation |
| title_sort | birds bees and botany measuring urban biodiversity after nature based solutions implementation |
| topic | biodiversity urban green spaces insects pollinators vegetation trophic chains |
| url | https://www.mdpi.com/1424-2818/17/7/486 |
| work_keys_str_mv | AT monicaqpinto birdsbeesandbotanymeasuringurbanbiodiversityafternaturebasedsolutionsimplementation AT simonevarandas birdsbeesandbotanymeasuringurbanbiodiversityafternaturebasedsolutionsimplementation AT emmanuellecohenshacham birdsbeesandbotanymeasuringurbanbiodiversityafternaturebasedsolutionsimplementation AT ednacabecinha birdsbeesandbotanymeasuringurbanbiodiversityafternaturebasedsolutionsimplementation |