NYU Study Explores the Link Between Biodiversity and Neighborhood Wealth in NYC Parks
CEOWORLD Magazine
By: Anna Siampani
Researchers at NYU are conducting a study to examine the relationship between biodiversity and the wealth of surrounding neighborhoods in New York City parks. Ecologists Valentina Alaasam and Rafael Baez are leading this research, focusing on the abundance of ants, slugs, and earthworms in various urban green spaces and comparing these findings with socioeconomic factors like education levels and household incomes.
Their research aims to shed light on how wealth influences urban nature, particularly the concept known as the “luxury effect,” which suggests that wealth can both positively and negatively impact biodiversity. Wealthier neighborhoods may have more resources to support thriving parks, but these same resources can lead to over-manicuring, which reduces biodiversity.
