Revealing Public Perceptions of Biodiverse vs Turf Swales: Balancing Enhanced Ecosystem Services with Heightened Concerns

Abstract Submission: Green stormwater infrastructure (GSI) is increasingly implemented worldwide to address stormwater issues while providing co-benefits such as habitat provision. However, research on public perceptions of GSI’s ecosystem benefits is limited, and barriers such as perception and maintenance hinder biodiversity promotion in GSI. Through an online survey (n = 781), we explored how residents in four Northeast US urban areas (i.e., Prince George’s County and Montgomery County, MD, New York City, and Philadelphia, PA) perceived the ecosystem benefits and concerns regarding two types of bioswales. Both types of swales were recognized for enhancing green spaces and neighborhood aesthetics. Residents perceived higher environmental and social benefits from biodiverse swales than turf swales, particularly for habitat provision. While overall concerns for both bioswale types were low, potential pest cultivation and the unappealing appearance of biodiverse swales remain significant barriers. Additionally, implementing biodiverse swales alleviated initial concerns, especially about pests, suggesting familiarity can lead to greater acceptance. City-specific differences in benefit and concern perception were observed, with New York City participants showing higher levels of both perceived benefits and concerns and Montgomery County participants exhibiting the lowest concerns. This variance is likely due to distinct urban environments, demographic profiles, and levels of environmental awareness.

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