Meer diversiteit aan planten en dieren (inclusief ongewervelden) in dure wijken, is schuld van racisme en ongelijkheid
20 August 2020
15:11
“Urban ecosystems are made up of lots of complex interactions between social and natural systems. These conditions can be unevenly distributed as a result of structural racism and classism. The disproportionate exposure of Black, Asian and minority ethic (BAME) and poor communities to unfavourable environmental conditions is referred to as “environmental injustice”. This concept also highlights the variability in fairness and respect for social and ecological systems, which could have profound effects on both human and non-human organisms.
The lead author of the new study, Christopher J. Schell of the University of Washington, points out that neighbourhood wealth has been associated with urban biodiversity patterns – that is, wealthier areas often have more diverse plants. This process has been referred to as the luxury effect. Affluent urban dwellers typically have access to better green spaces and more vegetation cover and diversity.
The luxury effect may also affect animals. For example, one study found that household income predicted a higher abundance of migratory birds, and another found that invertebrate diversity was greater in high-income neighbourhoods.”
