 The importance of coordinated efforts to protect biodiversity and public health in urban areas is increasingly recognized globally, with challenges including sustainable management of urban ecosystems, urban development planning, social cohesion and public health. An emerging community of practice in Belgium exemplifies the need for interfacing between different forms of knowledge and actors from science, policy and societal practice at various levels to tackle these challenges. This article was authored by HQ, C Cretge, Gida Blust and others.