Resolving the Conflict between Infectious Disease and Beneficial Urban Nature

Urban nature offers critical benefits for urban residents and is foundational for city livability. However, biodiversity in cities can also deliver disservices to people, including the potential to increase infectious disease risk. In the present Forum, we explore these tensions through a narrative review and qualitative synthesis, arguing that the possible benefits and risks of biodiverse urban areas need not be in conflict. We compile evidence linking urban nature features to zoonotic and vector-borne disease risk, identifying five interactions of concern and highlighting the importance of proactive management. Building on this, we outline various urban design and planning actions that can reduce potential risks for visitors while maintaining urban greening cobenefits. Discussing the issue alongside a One Health perspective, we emphasize the importance of an integrated, cross-sector approach to create resilient cities that support human, animal, and environmental well-being. We conclude that adaptive management can mitigate disease concerns while maximizing urban nature benefits.