Global impact through local action
Enabling cities worldwide to plan with nature.
The Urban Biodiversity Hub (UBHub) specializes in supporting local governments and their partners to improve their ecological impact.
We host the world's most comprehensive database on current practices, including strategies and policies for biodiversity by local and subnational governments. We harness this knowledge to provide guidance for governments on how cities and local governments can plan for nature and measure their impact.
Comprehensive guides
Knowledge on current practice
Connecting local and global targets
Expertise in strategic planning, analysis, and indicators
Services
We work with governments of all scales and their allies to help them understand, plan for and monitor their impacts on biodiversity loss both within and outside of their borders.
Creation and evaluation of urban biodiversity programs, indices, measurements, and assessments
Policy recommendations for a whole-of-government approach, focused on local and subnational governments and communities
Original research on current practices regarding local biodiversity strategy and action plans
We work with leading international organizations
Select Projects
Development of Science-Based Targets for Cities for Nature
Working with a consortium led by SBTN, we are a core consultant tasked with developing guidance for cities to set targets for nature.
Development of the Urban Nature Indexes (UNI)
For IUCN, we developed the Urban Nature Indexes, a framework for cities to measure their impact on nature in a comprehensive and flexible way.
Global to Local Thematic Working Group
For NATURA, we lead a thematic working group that is tasked with strengthening linkages between global targets and local actions for biodiversity.
Harnessing AI to delve into best practices
We are currently workshopping a tool that would use our database as a knowledge base for an AI tool that would help local governments navigate biodiversity strategies and frameworks.
What is urban biodiversity?
At UBHub, we take an inclusive approach that encompasses sustainability, climate action, the impacts of consumption and pollution, and equity.
How Cities Make A Difference for Global Biodiversity
Visionaries for the good life
Cities are cultural centres and can impact how people identify and behave by upholding particular values and priorities.
Centres of trade, consumption, and production
Cities serve as nodes for the movement of goods as well as source points for pollution and other wastes.
Hosts of significant ecosystems
Cities are commonly located in areas that host particularly high levels of biodiversity, often at the juncture of migration routes or ecotones like river deltas.
Leaders for policy and practice
Cities often implement cutting-edge practices and connect with local knowledge and community traditions that can show the way forward.
Publications
We publish our original research in academic journals and white papers such as policy briefs.
Policy brief, led by UBHub, on harnessing local action for global biodiversity.
UBHub contributed to the global assessment on cities & nature by The Nature Conservancy.
PLOS One research article on actions, indicators and outputs in biodiversity plans.
Frontiers research article comparing local biodiversity plans with global targets.
Nature Partner Journal research article on the creation of the IUCN Urban Nature Indexes.