The following is adapted from a 2023 study on urban biodiversity. Researchers have long assumed that cities are ecological wastelands, but recent studies challenge this view. Urban parks, green roofs, and even abandoned lots can harbor surprising biodiversity. A study of 150 cities across six continents found that urban areas contain, on average, 20% of the native plant species found in surrounding natural areas. More remarkably, some cities supported unique ecological communities not found elsewhere, suggesting that urbanization creates novel ecosystems rather than simply destroying existing ones.