Simply the green: Urban refuges

• Refugia or refuges are a concept that can contribute to an understanding of survival in the Anthropocene at different levels of abstraction. • Urban green spaces are areas where interactions between human and non-human nature can occur. They serve as refuges in the city and can be beneficial for both biodiversity and human well-being. • Over 70 % of the reviewed studies report positive effects of unmown refuges on arthropod abundance and richness in meadows or green spaces. • Unmown refuges allow habitat heterogeneity, a shelter for surviving arthropods from mowing, a chance for larval development, and a place to hibernate. Large refugia and small refuges have always been crucial for species survival, particularly during periods like the Ice Age. When their original habitats became uninhabitable, they provided important shelters in space and time. Drawing from a biological and philosophical perspective, we propose creating and preserving refuges as socio-ecological solutions in an epoch primarily shaped by human activity, the Anthropocene. Our focus lies on green refuges within urban settings, given that urbanization is one of the large drivers of insect decline and has adverse effects on humans, such as increased heat. Refuges can be beneficial for both biodiversity and human well-being. After clarifying the relevant terminology on four levels of abstraction, we conducted a systematic biological literature review - as a case study. Here, we summarize the current state of research on the effects of unmown refuges on insects and spiders. The mere existence of refuges proved beneficial for arthropods, with over 70 % of studies reporting positive responses among these species. While insects and spiders have specific habitat requirements, humans are able to create a habitable environment for themselves. However, ecological crises for humans and arthropods are increasing, as are human populations. Therefore, refuges offer a way to address both ecological and social challenges simultaneously, enhancing biodiversity and human well-being.