Abstract
Abstract Many urban green spaces are ecologically degraded. Yet, when designed and managed using ecologically motivated practices, green spaces can support biodiversity. However, many municipalities have not yet adopted strategies to enhance biodiversity. To better understand the importance assigned to biodiversity in public urban green spaces, we interviewed 574 municipalities across 18 European countries. Using a standardized questionnaire, we examined the underlying motivations, management goals and the measures municipalities used to support the public acceptance of biodiverse green spaces. Most municipalities (85%) reported biodiversity as a key motivation in green space planning and management. Many provided staff training (82%) and took action to increase public acceptance (75%) of biodiversity-promoting management. The reported perceptions of municipalities’ ecological condition were mostly positive, but 19% reported declines in the last decade. Differences between municipalities could be linked to regional and structural factors such as the sealed surface of the municipality, highlighting the need for locally adaptable policies for urban biodiversity.