Exploring biocultural diversity in urban ecosystems: an ethnobiological perspective

Abstract

Urban ecosystems differ from non-urban ones in the strong and rapid biocultural dynamics generatedby the interactions between people from different cultures, at large spatial and temporal scales and veryfast rates. This opinion piece explores the concept of urban ethnobiology as a critical field of researchthat investigates the complex and dynamic biocultural systems that exist in urban environments. Weargue that interactions between humans and other life forms in urban ecosystems are influenced by acharacteristic set of social, cultural, and political factors that are linked to urban environments, suchas infrastructure development, population density, and governance structures. We emphasize the needfor an interdisciplinary approach that brings together experts from different fields to study the inherentcomplexity of these systems. By examining the sociocultural dynamics that shape the way urbanbiodiversity is perceived, used, and managed, we can gain deeper insights into the different dimensionsof socio-cultural biodiversity in urban areas.