Challenges of studying biodiversity in a context of urban conflict

Urban biodiversity plays a crucial role in maintaining a healthy environment, contributing to human well-being. However, in big cities where large forest remnants are adjacent to areas with high levels of urban violence, conservation and ecological research face significant challenges. Grounded in the experiences of professionals from local institutions, this essay discusses the potential barriers imposed by armed conflicts and illegal activities in Rio de Janeiro to a full understanding of the ecological dynamics of its vast urban forests and their consequences. The presence of armed criminal groups in these forests poses a threat to personal safety and impairs the conservation of these ecosystems by hindering research and restoration activities, compromising data collection, and obstructing the implementation of conservation guidelines. Additionally, the impediment of on-site environmental education and the social perception of these forests as unsafe places may reduce community engagement in preservation initiatives as well as the usage of these areas for leisure. Finally, we raise questions for future research and reflections, which are essential for formulating public policies that reconcile security, conservation, and the sustainable use of urban ecosystems. • Social conditions shape knowledge production and directly influence conservation effectiveness in urban settings. • Limited access to green areas disrupts ecological monitoring, restoration initiatives, and community engagement. • Urban violence is an overlooked socio-ecological driver that may shape ecosystem dynamics and conservation in urban forests. • Effective urban ecosystem management requires frameworks that explicitly integrate public security as a core component.