Stakeholder perceptions and planning implications for urban rewilding as a nature-based solution in Poland

Area of Science:

• Urban ecology
• Conservation science
• Environmental planning

Background:

• Urban rewilding is a key nature-based solution for biodiversity, climate mitigation, and urban resilience.
• Empirical data on public and policymaker perceptions of urban rewilding, especially in post-socialist regions, is limited.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate expert and community perspectives on urban rewilding in Poland.
• To assess the social viability and ecological desirability of urban rewilding in Central and Eastern Europe.

Main Methods:

• A nationwide survey of 32 municipal environmental officials.
• A visual preference survey of 1,000 residents in Sopot, Poland.
• Mixed-method design combining expert and community viewpoints.

Main Results:

• Experts conceptually support rewilding's benefits but raise concerns about feasibility, funding, and planning integration.
• The public generally endorses moderate rewilding, with cautious acceptance of intensive designs in civic spaces.
• Urban rewilding is perceived as socially viable and ecologically desirable in Poland.

Conclusions:

• Successful urban rewilding in Central and Eastern Europe hinges on adaptive governance and participatory planning.
• Visual engagement tools can help align policy goals with public expectations for urban rewilding.
• Urban rewilding presents a socially acceptable and ecologically beneficial strategy for cities in post-socialist contexts.