Research & reports
Peer-reviewed research and reports on community urban agriculture, food education, composting, welfare and more.
Theme
Critical findings
967 results(29 / 39)
Urban agriculture
2017Brenda B. Lin, Monika Egerer · · Global
Urban agriculture, the production of food and livestock in urban areas, is a key component of urban green infrastructure, supported for food security and biodiversity enhancement. While habitat management in urban agriculture aids local biodiversity and food production, the effect of native plants on beneficial insects and ecosystem function is debatable. Declines in urban bees are likely linked to increased impervious cover, which reduces habitat and restricts bee movement.
BiodiversityPollinatorsCommunityFood sovereignty & justiceUrban green infrastructures and ecological networks for urban biodiversity conservation
2017Emily S. Minor, Elsa C. Anderson, J. Amy Belaire, Megan Garfinkel, Alexis D. Smith · · Global
This chapter explores the benefits of green infrastructure networks for urban biodiversity and proposes strategies to enhance their extent, performance, and connectivity. It suggests that planting lower-maintenance vegetation in urban green spaces, including urban agriculture and cemeteries, can reduce costs and improve air quality while providing habitat. The concept of ecological land-use complementation is introduced, where clustered urban land uses synergistically support biodiversity.
BiodiversityUrban–rural linkagePolicyCOMMUNITY GARDENS AND ECOLOGICAL CITIZENSHIP: THEIR POTENTIAL AND LIMITATIONS IN FOSTERING ENVIRONMENTALISM
2017Michael Kennedy · OpenSIUC (Southern Illinois University Carbondale) · Global
Community gardens can serve as important local greenspaces to address environmental degradation and educate individuals about the importance of food and the environment. However, certain barriers need to be overcome and addressed before community gardens are successfully implemented. Participation and interaction within community gardens may provide a pathway to long-term commitment to sustainability, encouraging individuals to adopt more environmentally supportive behaviors and a deeper commitment to environmentalism.
Governance failureCommunityFood educationBiodiversityClimate change도시생물다양성 증진을 위한 생태공원 관리방안 연구 - 고양생태공원을 대상으로
2017위사양, 문보희, 김선영, 오충현 · 한국환경생태학회 학술발표논문집 · South Korea
This study aimed to derive urban forest creation and management plans considering urban biodiversity enhancement for Goyang Ecological Park in Gyeonggi-do, South Korea. The research analyzed the park's current status using SWOT analysis, reviewed domestic and international cases, and conducted a GAP analysis to derive strategic directions and management plans. Proposed measures include re-zoning internal spaces, enhancing connectivity between ecosystems, promoting biodiversity through artificial management, and indirectly enhancing biodiversity through environmental education.
BiodiversityFood educationCommunityPolicyUrban arthropods respond variably to changes in landscape context and spatial scale
2017Monika Egerer, Courtney Arel, Michelle D. Otoshi, Robyn D. Quistberg, Peter Bichier, Stacy M. Philpott · Journal of Urban Ecology · United States (California)
This three-year study in 19 urban community gardens on the California central coast examined how urban landscape intensification and diversity influence the abundance and richness of five arthropod groups (ants, bees, ladybeetles, parasitoids, spiders) across six spatial scales (200 m to 5 km). All arthropod groups were influenced by landscape factors, but this influence varied with spatial scale and local habitat features, likely due to arthropod community interactions and life history strategies.
CommunityBiodiversityPollinators도시양봉으로 양봉산업의 발전가능성 확보 방안
2017박진 · 한국양봉학회 학술대회 자료집 · Global
This report examines the global rise of urban beekeeping, noting its diverse approaches across countries like the UK, Japan, and Denmark. While South Korea has seen an increase in urban beekeeping since 2012, with government support initiated in 2016, the sector faces significant challenges. Urban beekeeping is still largely viewed as a derivative of conventional beekeeping, and a lack of ordinances or legal frameworks hinders its widespread adoption and recognition of its environmental, social, and economic value.
Governance failureBiodiversityPollinatorsCommunityPolicyEconomicsCommunity gardens as urban social-ecological refuges in the Global North.
2017J. Chan, Bryce DuBois, Kristine T. Nemec, Charles Francis, Kyle D. Hoagland · CABI eBooks · Global
This chapter examines community gardens in three distinct urban locations in the Global North through the lens of social-ecological resilience. Case studies focus on Vienna, Austria; Lincoln, Nebraska, USA; and New York City post-Hurricane Sandy. These community gardens support vital social-ecological functions, ranging from generating local ecosystem services to cultivating community empowerment and bolstering food sovereignty, reflecting their local contexts.
CommunityBiodiversityFood sovereignty & justiceUrban–rural linkageEXPLORING THE SOCIO-ECOLOGICAL DIMENSIONS OF AGRICULTURAL EXPANSION IN NEW HAMPSHIRE
2017Jennifer Wilhelm · University of New Hampshire Scholars Repository (University of New Hampshire at Manchester) · United States (New Hampshire)
This dissertation addresses agricultural extensification from several angles. Chapter 1's literature review showed an increase in research on urban and peri-urban agriculture (UPA) and ecosystem services, but highlighted a need for quantifying ecosystem services and functions to clarify ecological tradeoffs. Subsequent chapters focused on a mixed-methods study in New Hampshire, surveying approximately 600 residents (494 general population, 103 food system stakeholders) on their perception of forestland conversion to agriculture.
Environmental trade-offsUrban–rural linkagePeri-urban agricultureBiodiversityClimate changeOrtiAlti as urban regeneration devices: An action-research study on rooftop farming in Turin
2017Emanuela Saporito · Kobra (Universitätsbibliothek Kassel) · Italy (Turin)
This action-research study in Turin, Italy, examines the OrtiAlti project, which revitalizes abandoned urban buildings through rooftop community gardens. The research aims to understand how rooftop farming, framed as a social innovation practice, contributes to urban regeneration, place-making, and urban resilience. It discusses rooftop food gardens as urban regeneration devices that combine environmental and social benefits through food production.
CommunityPolicyBiodiversityWhy forest gardening for children? Swedish forest garden educators' ideas, purposes, and experiences
2017Ellen Almers, Per Askerlund, Sofia Kjellström · The Journal of Environmental Education · Sweden
This qualitative study in Sweden explored forest garden educators' ideas and experiences in a three-year project with primary school children, using interviews and observations. It found that educators aimed to provide children with opportunities to feel belonging, experience self-regulation and systemic dependence, co-create with non-human organisms, and imagine place transformation. The study discusses four pedagogical features of forest gardens.
Food educationCommunityBiodiversityTHE ECOLOGICAL BENEFITS OF ROOFTOP GARDEN FOR BETTERMENT OF LOCAL URBAN HABITAT IN MALAYSIA
2017Maryanti Mohd Raid, Muhammad Uzair Azizan, Khadijah Hussin, Megat Mohd Ghazali Megat Abd Rahman · Journal of Technology Management and Business · Malaysia
This article analyzed the environmental benefits of rooftop gardens as part of urban greenery systems in Malaysia. An in-depth interview with seven experts revealed a consensus that rooftop gardens can effectively address several urban environmental issues. However, the study emphasized that the function and purpose of the rooftop garden must be considered during design and construction to fully achieve its objectives, whether for recreation or environmental purposes.
BiodiversityClimate changeDesign Procedure and Criteria Used in Vertical Gardens and Green Roof Constructions
2017A. N. Sarkar · · Global
This paper discusses design procedures and criteria for vertical gardens (living walls) and green roofs. Vertical gardens are suitable for urban areas, offering uses like urban agriculture, while green roofs provide ecosystem services such as mitigating urban heat island effects and improving biodiversity. Both technologies are recognized globally for environmental benefits, with a thriving industry and extensive research, particularly in Europe.
DIYClimate changeBiodiversityThe Impact of Urbanization on the Vegetation of Yaounde, (Cameroon)
2017Clement Anguh Nkwemoh, Mesmin Tchindjang, Roland Ngwatung Afungang · International Journal of Innovative Research and Development · Cameroon (Yaounde)
A study in Yaounde, Cameroon, investigated the impact of rapid urban expansion on vegetation cover using maps, images, questionnaires, and interviews. The findings revealed a significant depletion of flora due to settlement expansion. Forest degradation was attributed to the demand for construction materials, fuelwood, woodworking, and the need for space for urban agriculture, among other factors.
Environmental trade-offsBiodiversityUrban–rural linkageFostering Multi-Functional Urban Agriculture: Experiences from the Champions in a Revitalized Farm Pond Community in Taoyuan, Taiwan
2017Rung-Jiun Chou, Chen-Ting Wu, Feng-Tzu Huang · Sustainability · Taiwan (Taoyuan)
This qualitative study explored the experiences of community champions in Gaoyuan, Taoyuan City, Taiwan, where a traditional farm pond was transformed into a multi-functional urban agriculture (UA) resource. Through interviews, fieldwork, and participant observation, the study found that UA fostered a distinctive landscape, promoted cooperative working and mutual learning among local people, and built social cohesion. The farm-pond-based UA acted as a catalyst for the community's progress toward sustainability.
CommunityBiodiversityOrganic cycleCreating Socioecological Novelty in Urban Agroecosystems from the Ground Up
2017Monika Egerer, Alessandro Ossola, Brenda B. Lin · BioScience · United States (California central coast)
This study conceptualizes community garden soils within the novel ecosystem framework, arguing that gardeners cultivate novel agroecosystems from their garden beds' soil. On the California central coast, community garden soils may not be influenced by land-use legacies associated with geographic location. Instead, intensive soil reworking by gardeners can wash out legacy signals and decadal chronological trends, leading to soil homogenization that reduces biophysical ties to the underlying earth.
Environmental trade-offsCommunityBiodiversityFood sovereignty & justiceOrganic cycleUrbanization alters communities of flying arthropods in parks and gardens of a medium-sized city
2017Edward Lagucki, Justin Burdine, Kevin E. McCluney · PeerJ · United States (Toledo, Ohio)
This study investigated associations between urbanization and flying arthropod communities in 30 gardens and parks in Toledo, Ohio, during July and August 2016, collecting 2,369 individuals across nine orders using elevated pan traps. Flying arthropod community composition was associated with percent impervious surface and canopy cover. Overall abundance was negatively associated with impervious surface and positively with distance to city center, with specific taxa showing similar responses, indicating urbanization reduces taxa important for urban agriculture.
BiodiversityPollinatorsClimate change도시정원 도입을 위한 고밀 시가화지역 내 녹지 네트워크 구축 가능성 평가
2017최희준, 이정아, 손희정, 조동길, 송영근 · · South Korea (Seoul)
This study analyzed the landscape ecological characteristics of green spaces in the high-density built-up area of Yeoksam-Dong, Seoul, and evaluated the potential for establishing green networks through urban garden introduction. The current condition of green spaces was identified across five categories: street trees, private gardens, public pocket gardens, rooftop gardens, and parks, followed by landscape index analysis and connectivity assessment. Results indicated that street trees, private gardens, and public pocket gardens show high potential for creating green networks in high-density urban areas.
CommunityBiodiversityPolicyDIYAssessing the Economic Contributions and Benefits of Consumer Horticulture
2017Lucy Bradley, Bridget K. Behe, Natalie R. Bumgarner, Charlotte Glen, Joseph Donaldson, Ellen M. Bauske, Sheri Dorn, Gail Langellotto · HortTechnology · Global
This study discusses the difficulty in documenting the economic contributions and benefits of consumer horticulture (CH) and CH extension programs. CH can result in individual outcomes such as money saved and improved quality of life, and community-level impacts like water quality protection. Quantifying these values is challenging but can be evaluated using several strategies, including measuring consumer dollars spent on gardening supplies, the value of environmental ecosystem services, and cultural, social, and health system services.
EconomicsCommunityHealthBiodiversityClimate changeASOSIASI AKAR KUNING (Fibraurea tinctoria Lour.) DENGAN TUMBUHAN BERPOTENSI OBAT DI SAMBOJA, KALIMANTAN TIMUR
2017Noorcahyati Noorcahyati, Sulandjari Sulandjari, Widyatmani Sih Dewi · DOAJ (DOAJ: Directory of Open Access Journals) · Indonesia (East Kalimantan)
This research aimed to observe the ecology, association, and other potential medicinal plants in the community garden in Sungai Merdeka, Samboja, East Kalimantan, focusing on the medicinal plant Akar kuning (Fibraurea tinctoria Lour.). Data collected using 20x20m purposive sampling plots found 28 species from 21 families at various growth stages. In the Akar kuning habitat, 19 species of plants with medicinal potential suitable for agroforestry systems were also identified.
CommunityBiodiversityGardening the Community: A Discussion of Japanese Knotweed Eradication Methods
2017Sable Liggera · Smith ScholarWorks (Smith College) · United States (Springfield, MA)
A project was conducted to compare methods for controlling and eradicating Japanese knotweed on the plot of Gardening the Community, an urban gardening organization in Springfield, MA. This study discussed the methodology, effectiveness, and ecological impact of two options: repetitive mowing and the use of the herbicide glyphosate. Glyphosate stem injection was determined to be the most efficient method, reducing knotweed volume by 95-100% after one year, but was rejected due to the organization's no-herbicide policy. The final recommendation was repetitive cutting, which showed a stable decrease in knotweed stem height if more than four cuts were applied in one growing season.
CommunityBiodiversityHow Can Botanical Gardens Support Sustainable Urban Development? A Case Study of Shanghai Chenshan Botanical Garden
2017Yonghong Hu, Gilles Vincent, Xiao‐Ya Chen · Annals of the Missouri Botanical Garden · China (Shanghai)
This case study examines the role of Shanghai Chenshan Botanical Garden in Shanghai's sustainable development over six years. The garden collaborates with local government on the "City Green Master Plan," supports urban horticulture and phytoremediation, and conserves 14 critically endangered plant species in East China. It also develops new plant varieties for functional food and educates the public on plant conservation.
PolicyBiodiversityHealthLand-Use Retention and Change to Improve Agricultural Biodiversity
2017Craig J. Pearson · · Global
This chapter addresses three aspects of agricultural biodiversity, primarily using examples from urban agriculture. It suggests viewing biodiversity as a component of land-use that contributes 'public value', rather than a suite of goals competing with food production. The chapter enumerates knowledge of land-use issues that preserve or improve agricultural biodiversity and discusses options for changing land-use to achieve this.
BiodiversityPolicyUrban–rural linkageA political ecology of community gardens in Australia: form local issues to global lessons
2017Jason Byrne, CM Pickering, DA Guitart, R Sims-Castley · eCite Digital Repository (University of Tasmania) · Australia
This chapter addresses the implications of urban cultivation initiatives for land-use planning and policy, against a backdrop of renewed interest in urban agriculture due to global urbanization impacts such as dwindling green spaces, food insecurity, land shortages, and loss of biodiversity. These initiatives are often framed around the social benefits of local food growing and sustainability, with residents clamoring for better access to places to grow safe and healthy food, spaces that foster social inclusion, and improved environmental quality.
CommunityPolicyBiodiversityFood sovereignty & justiceLes jardins partagés franciliens
2017Kaduna‐Ève Demailly · Géographie et cultures · France
This article examines shared gardens in the Île-de-France region of France as territories of environmental transition. Based on a study of 48 shared gardens in the Parisian metropolitan area, the analysis of user and political actor discourses and practices highlights their role in improving living environments and raising awareness of environmentally friendly practices that promote urban biodiversity.
CommunityPolicyBiodiversityOrganic cycleTaxonomic and functional trait diversity of wild bees in different urban settings
2017Étienne Normandin, Nicolas J. Vereecken, Christopher M. Buddle, Valérie Fournier · PeerJ · Canada
This study collected 32,237 wild bee specimens (200 species, 6 families) from 46 sites in Montreal and Quebec City in 2012 and 2013, across cemeteries, community gardens, and urban parks. It demonstrated that cities are home to diverse communities of wild bees, which in turn affect bee community structure and dynamics. Community gardens specifically harbored high levels of functional trait diversity, suggesting a substantial contribution to urban pollination services.
BiodiversityPollinatorsCommunity