Urbanization profoundly influences biodiversity through historical, political, social, and economic factors, often resulting in significant biodiversity loss due to reductions in habitat quality and availability. Planning and management decisions shape the distribution of green infrastructure in cities, impacting not only urban flora and fauna but also the accessibility of nature's benefits for human populations. Tropical urban ecosystems, particularly those in biodiversity hotspots, are pivotal for conservation by harboring diverse species. However, the pronounced social inequality in tropical countries is evident in the uneven distribution of biodiversity and green spaces, with marginalized economic, racial, and ethnic groups often confined to areas with poor infrastructure. This disparity hinders the ability of tropical cities to sustain biodiversity and maintain ecological processes essential for urban quality of life. This symposium will explore the potential of a multidisciplinary research network across Brazil to provide insights into how tropical urban ecosystems influence biodiversity. Comprising over 30 researchers nationwide, the network investigates urban-social-ecological relationships at a continental scale. We will present findings and projects from multiple cities, describing how landscape and local environmental factors influence urban biodiversity, from species occurrences to the complexity of ecological networks. Researchers will also address the social dimension of cities through different perspectives: the importance of a university outreach program to engage students and people in the application of Nature-based Solutions for urban sustainability, the luxury effects and its influences on urban forestry and ecological processes, and how people perceive urban biodiversity and its implications for conservation strategies in cities. Therefore, the symposium presentations will address urbanization’s impact on biodiversity and strategies for planning and managing tropical urban landscapes to enhance sustainability and mitigate environmental injustices.