There is a decrease in biodiversity in cities due to urbanisation and habitat fragmentation. Consequently, human-nature interactions and experiences in nature by citizens are greatly reduced. This project aims to increase biodiversity in Helsinki by transforming urban lawns into grasslands through pro-biodiveristy actions conducted by citizens. During its three year period, this multidisciplinary project will study the environmental and societal effects behind the transformation of species-poor lawns into species-rich grasslands. The environmental effects will be analysed in terms of changes in soil physichochemical parameters, soil fauna and vegetation parameters as well as soil-atmosphere greenhouse gas emissions. The societal effects will be analysed in terms of citizen well-being and pro-environmentalism as well as in terms of social relationships between individuals engaged in the project via questionnaires and follow-up interviews.

2020