15-Minute Cities Could Serve Both People and Wildlife

Quick fact: The 15-minute city concept—where residents can reach daily needs within a short walk—typically overlooks urban nature and biodiversity.

Quick fact: The 15-minute city concept—where residents can reach daily needs within a short walk—typically overlooks urban nature and biodiversity.

A 2025 perspective in Nature Communications suggests integrating urban nature into 15-minute city planning to serve both human and ecological needs. By incorporating elements like pocket parks and community gardens into neighborhood design, cities could support social cohesion and recreation while creating habitat connectivity for local wildlife. This dual-purpose approach aligns with global biodiversity initiatives, potentially transforming urban areas into spaces that enhance quality of life for residents while supporting conservation goals. The authors argue that merging human accessibility with ecological considerations represents an untapped opportunity in urban planning.

Source: PMID 41115971 (Nature communications, 2025)