Biodiversity and the Feel-Good Factor: Understanding Associations between Self-Reported Human Well-being and Species Richness

TLDR

Urban greenspaces are the primary venues for biodiversity exposure for many city dwellers, and while nature exposure is linked to improved well‑being, the specific attributes that confer the greatest benefits—such as biodiversity levels—remain unclear. The study investigates whether limited biodiversity‑identification skills explain the mismatch between perceived and actual species richness in urban greenspaces. The study finds no consistent link between actual species richness and visitor well‑being, but a positive association with perceived richness, highlighting a mismatch that challenges conservation and well‑being alignment.

Abstract

Over half of the world's human population lives in cities, and for many, urban greenspaces are the only places where they encounter biodiversity. This is of particular concern because there is growing evidence that human well-being is enhanced by exposure to nature. However, the specific qualities of greenspaces that offer the greatest benefits remain poorly understood. One possibility is that humans respond positively to increased levels of biodiversity. Here, we demonstrate the lack of a consistent relationship between actual plant, butterfly, and bird species richness and the psychological well-being of urban greenspace visitors. instead, well-being shows a positive relationship with the richness that the greenspace users perceived to be present. One plausible explanation for this discrepancy, which we investigate, is that people generally have poor biodiversity-identification skills. The apparent importance of perceived species richness and the mismatch between reality and perception pose a serious challenge for aligning conservation and human well-being agendas.