Larger Canadian cities have a major role to play in protecting biodiversity, experts say

While they're traditionally viewed as concrete jungles rather than natural oases, cities are increasingly taking a leadership role when it comes to protecting biodiversity.

While they're traditionally viewed as concrete jungles rather than natural oases, cities are increasingly taking a leadership role when it comes to protecting biodiversity.

Cities will take the spotlight in the coming days during a summit for subnational governments at the UN biodiversity summit in Montreal, known as COP15.

Sharon Gil, a program officer in the UN Environment Program's cities unit, says the strong presence of cities at the conference reflects their growing efforts to protect biodiversity.

Cities, she said, are where most people live, where most consumption happens, and where many impacts of biodiversity loss are being felt.

"Cities are at the front line of everything," she said. "So when there's a problem of increased rainfall leading to flooding, for example, cities have to deal with that. When there is a problem of bad air quality, cities have to deal with that problem."

Gil said that for the first time, the biodiversity framework being negotiated by the nations gathered in Montreal contains a specific draft target that includes increasing size and access to nature in urban areas.

Gil said cities are increasingly finding that introducing more nature is good for not only human health and well-being, but cost-effective in terms of attracting investment and coping with issues such as air quality, rainfall absorption and even landslides.