Publication Date
5-15-2025
Urban rewilding, which promotes the development and transformation of urban greenspaces (UGS) into wilder forms, has garnered public support and offers numerous benefits – from enhancing human well-being and providing wildlife habitats to bolstering urban resilience against climate change. However, many UGS remain highly manicured. Research suggests that public expectations, safety concerns, conflicts with heritage preservation goals, and perceived disservices (e.g., allergenic pollen or unwanted wildlife) are among the barriers to adopting wilder designs; however, it remains unclear which factors hinder UGS rewilding the most. To investigate this, the study conducted semi-structured interviews with 26 experts involved in UGS management, including members of administrative bodies and conservation NGOs in Germany, to identify perceived benefits, challenges, and recommended measures for implementing wilder UGS. The interviews revealed that both groups viewed urban parks as focal points for rewilding, listing wildlife habitats, the human–nature connection, and aesthetic value as key benefits. However, a persisting demand for orderliness and conflicts with the recreational functionality of UGS emerged as predominant hurdles across all interviews. Conservation experts additionally highlighted challenges such as financial constraints, limited personnel, and rigid bureaucratic processes, while administrative experts emphasized safety, heritage preservation, and the risk of attracting unwanted wildlife. Regarding rewilding measures, both groups advocated for ecological interventions like creating wildflower meadows and allowing natural growth. Conservationists additionally recommended social measures to foster public acceptance, including educational signage, lighthouse projects, and features like early-blooming plants or designated mowing strips. To further advance urban rewilding, this study recommends that administrations and conservationists (1) create room for exchange to combat hurdles together, (2) target diverse UGS, including informal areas and cemeteries, (3) emphasize the climate resilience of wilder UGS, (4) address biases toward orderliness through social measures, and (5) reassess budgetary frameworks to enable broader rewilding. Finally, future studies should explore how to integrate rewilding efforts with recreational, cultural heritage, and safety objectives.
Recommended Citation
Moesch, Simon S.; Haase, Dagmar; Zoderer, Brenda M.; and Lokatis, Sophie
(2025)
"Into the Urban Wild: Overcoming Barriers to Urban Rewilding through Expert Perspectives on Benefits, Hurdles, and Measures for Creating Wilder Greenspaces,"
Cities and the Environment (CATE):
Vol. 18:
Iss.
1, Article 4.
DOI: 10.15365/cate.2025.180104
Available at:
https://digitalcommons.lmu.edu/cate/vol18/iss1/4
DOI
10.15365/cate.2025.180104
