posted on 2023-06-09, 04:30authored byDamon M Hall, Gerardo R Camilo, Rebecca K Tonietto, David H Smith, Jeff Ollerton, Karin Ahrné, Mike Arduser, John S Ascher, Katherine C R Baldock, Robert Fowler, Gordon Frankie, Dave GoulsonDave Goulson, Bengt Gunnarsson, Mick E Hanley, Janet I Jackson, Gail Langellotto, David Lowenstein, Emily S Minor, Stacy M Philpott, Simon G Potts, Muzafar H Sirohi, Edward M Spevak, Graham N Stone, Caragh G Threlfall
Urban ecology research is changing how we view the biological value and ecological importance of cities. Lagging behind this revised image of the city are natural resource management agencies’ urban conservation programs that historically have invested in education and outreach rather than programs designed to achieve high-priority species conservation results. This essay synthesizes research on urban bee species diversity and abundance to suggest how urban conservation can be repositioned to better align with a newly unfolding image of urban landscapes. We argue that pollinators put high-priority and high-impact urban conservation within reach. In a rapidly urbanizing world, transforming how environmental managers view the city can improve citizen engagement while exploring more sustainable practices of urbanization.