Table 3 Potential community (private and external) costs of biophilic urbanism initiatives
From: Evaluating net community benefits of integrating nature within cities
| Impact Type | Considerations |
|---|---|
| Environmental |
▪ Biophilic urbanism changes may promote human-wildlife conflict; introduce weeds and pest species; lead to insect infestation; or lower groundwater ▪ (leading to social & economic costs) |
| Social |
▪ Speed eco-gentrification and social dislocation; lead to health impacts such as allergies (e.g. asthma), disease, insect bites ▪ Change the “character” of an area. ▪ Increase risk and fear of crime and animal attacks, general ‘biophobia’ ▪ Some cultural groups may not have the same view of green space and prefer alternative land and resource use. ▪ Neighbourhood and broader scale elements may reduce accessibility, separate social groups and stifle interaction (including by urban sprawl access issues) [66]. |
| Economic |
▪ Increase property values and reduce affordability. ▪ Increase heating expenses, water, roots damage infrastructure, increase maintenance costs, insurance costs. ▪ Reduced visibility (increasing accident risk and related problems) and increased risk and incidence of injury related to vegetation. |