New research links gentrification to unequal access to Urban Wildlife
A study published in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, led by Lincoln Park Zoo's Urban Wildlife Institute, finds that gentrified neighborhoods support on average 13% more wildlife species than comparable ungentrified neighborhoods in the same city. The research analyzed data from 999 camera sites across 23 US cities, collected by Urban Wildlife Information Network partners between 2019 and 2021, covering 21 mammal species across 11 families.
The findings reveal that the effects of gentrification extend beyond human communities to the animals sharing those spaces. Residents of gentrified neighborhoods have greater passive exposure to urban wildlife simply by living there, while marginalized communities are left with less access to nature without actively seeking it out.
The pattern varies by region. On the East Coast, gentrification most strongly affects the total number of species present. On the West Coast, it more significantly affects which types of species are present, a distinction that matters because some urban animals, like songbirds, are generally considered more desirable than others, like rats.
The study also found that impervious surfaces such as concrete and asphalt have an even greater overall impact on wildlife than gentrification alone. However, gentrification can partially offset that effect by introducing green infrastructure like parks and gardens. Lead author Mason Fidino of Lincoln Park Zoo expressed hope that the findings would be used to advocate for land development practices that prioritize equitable access to nature for all urban communities.
