What a balcony or small garden can do for biodiversity

From 19 to 30 October 2026, governments meet in Yerevan, Armenia, for COP17, the UN biodiversity conference. It will review progress on the global agreement to protect nature, including the goal of conserving 30 per cent of land and sea by 2030. Most of us will not be negotiating. But cities are full of balconies, terraces and small gardens, and together they make up a meaningful patchwork of habitat.

Why small spaces matter

Insects like bees and butterflies need flowers within flying distance of each other. Birds need water, food and safe perches. A single pot of the right plant on a fifth-floor balcony can be a refuelling stop for a pollinator crossing a city of concrete.

What to plant

• Flowering plants that provide nectar across seasons, rather than everything blooming at once
• Native or long-established local species, which local insects are adapted to
• Herbs allowed to flower, such as basil, tulsi, coriander and mint
• Single, open flowers rather than heavily doubled ones, where nectar is easier to reach

Our next article lists container plants that work well for bees and butterflies.

Add water

A shallow dish of water with a few pebbles lets bees drink without drowning and gives birds a bath. Clean and refill it every couple of days to avoid mosquitoes.

Leave it a little untidy

Fallen leaves, a few dried stems and a small pile of twigs provide shelter for insects. A perfectly clean balcony offers flowers and nothing else.

Skip the pesticides

Many insecticides harm bees and other pollinators along with pests. Remove pests by hand, spray aphids off with water, or use neem-based solutions sparingly and in the evening when pollinators are less active.

Shelter for birds

Where building rules allow, a small nest box or a dense climber gives birds somewhere to rest. Keep any bird feeding modest and clean, and place it where cats cannot reach.

Getting the building involved

Terraces and society compounds offer far more space than one balcony. A small native planting bed, a water point and an agreement not to spray pesticides can turn a shared space into a genuine refuge.

The bigger picture

Biodiversity loss is driven mainly by land use, overharvesting, pollution and climate change. A balcony cannot solve those. It can, though, make a city a little more liveable for the creatures in it, and it is a daily reminder of what the negotiators in Yerevan are trying to protect.