ChemFreeGarden: Reducing chemicals in urban private gardens to promote biodiversity, health and ecosystem services

Private, urban gardens today constitute important refuge and havens for wildlife residing in and near towns and cities. Intense farming and forestry practises has severely depleted biodiversity in the landscape, both globally and to high extent also in Sweden. Accordingly, increasing the attractiveness and sustainability of green spaces in urban areas above the current level is of potentially of high importance to maintain and promote wild species. The wild species also perform services in gardens, such as pollination of fruit, berries and vegetables, and can also act as natural enemies of pests. Many of the privately owned gardens, however, contain various chemicals and pesticides used by the garden owners, e.g. to fight weeds, repel insects, remove moss on roofs, etc. Reducing the use of chemicals such as pesticides, is important to increase attractiveness and biodiversity in towns and cities, as well as promote the health of the garden keepers. In this study we will investigate which chemicals are used by owners of private urban gardens and allotments in the municipality of Lund, the attitudes of the garden keepers concerning the use of chemicals, how the chemicals can impact health, and the potential biological risks these chemicals pose on exposed organisms. The overall goal is to produce knowledge needed to promote more sustainable urban gardens, increase biodiversity and ecosystem services, and reduce risks for human health.

Gardens are important for wildlife but are also contaminated with various chemicals. In this project we will investigate which chemicals are present in urban areas and how garden species are affected by this exposure.