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ABOUT
URBIO

Urban biodiversity is increasingly recognized as a vital aspect of city ecosystems. It has been investigated from various perspectives, ranging from the conservation and management of plant and animal species to their social and cultural significance. The critical role of urban biodiversity in urban planning, design, and governance was officially acknowledged during the 9th Conference of the Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD), held in May 2008 in Bonn, Germany. This event also highlighted the essential role that cities play in global biodiversity conservation efforts.

To promote ongoing collaboration with the CBD and further advance the integration of biodiversity into urban development, the International Network on Urban Biodiversity and Design (URBIO) was established later that year in Erfurt, Germany. URBIO aims to strengthen international cooperation and knowledge exchange among academics, practitioners, policymakers, civil society groups, and other stakeholders.
The network activities include:

  • supporting joint research projects such as international funding proposals;

  • organizing global conferences, workshops, and seminars;

  • maintaining an informational website; distributing newsletters regularly to the network members;

  • publishing scholarly work; contributing to themed issues in scientific journals;

  • and holding contact with various international networks and partner orhanizations.

Since 2008, the URBIO network has held 8 conferences: 

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  • URBIO 2008 during May 2008 in Erfurt/Germany, 

  • URBIO 2010 during May 2010 in Nagoya/Japan, 

  • URBIO 2012 during October 2012 in Mumbai/India,

  • URBIO 2014 during October 2014 in Incheon/Korea,

  • URBIO 2016 during October 2016 in Panama,  

  • URBIO 2018 during September 2018 in Cape Town, South Africa,

  • URBIO 2022 in Leipzig, Germany, and

  • URBIO 2024 in Columbia, Missouri, USA.

Annual conferences of the working group “Biotope Mapping in Populated Areas” (BMPA) with themes and results (Müller and Werner, 2024):

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The network is chaired by the URBIO President(s) who holds the Headquarters and distribute the newsletter. The URBIO network Presidium consists of the President(s), the Secretary General, and the Senior Advisors. An Advisory Board supports the Presidium in fostering scientific exchange and decisions for the network. The Advisory Board elects the members of the Presidium for 4 years. After each URBIO conference, the organiser is nominated as Secretary General for a period of 2 years (until the next URBIO conference). The Advisory Board usually meets at URBIO conferences and workshops.
 

The network was founded in May 2008 by Norbert Müller (University of Applied Sciences Erfurt, Germany), who chaired the network until October 2014. Since November 2014 to September 2019, Haripriya Gundimeda (Indian Institute of Technology Bombay, India) was the President of the URBIO network. From September 2019, Maria Ignatieva (University of Western Australia, Australia) and Charles Nilon (University of Missouri, USA) are Presidents of the URBIO.

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The URBIO network is a strictly non-profit scientific organisation without own budget.

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The network membership is free of charge - to join, you need to fill out the registration form.

 

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The following organisations have funded and supported the URBIO Network in the past:

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Website Designed by : URBIO International

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