Study shows that urban environments contain high levels of biodiversity for a range of wildlife

Patches of derelict urban lands can provide valuable wildlife habitat for a wide range of taxa. A study published in 2006 by researchers from 4 universities evaluated 50 "derelict" sites in Birmingham, England. Their study, entitled "Biodiversity in urban habitat patches," found that wastelands provide rich habitats in the city. The research combined field surveys of the sites and sampled plants, beetles, insects, and selected mammal species; and looked for correlations of biodiversity to the nearness of green corridors. Interestingly, they did not find a correlation between species richness to proximity to corridors such as railways or rivers. They did find, however, a correlation of species richness to the proximity of another derelict site. Meaning that if another abandoned property was nearby, the biodiversity increased. They conclude in the paper, that "planners can have a positive impact on urban biodiversity by slowing the pace of redevelopment and by not hurrying to tidy up and redevelop brownfield sites." (Angold, P.G., et al, "Biodiversity in urban habitat patches," Science of the Total Environment 360, (2006), 196-204.)