Transforming the nature of cities — stewardship and more-than-human agency

‘Stewardship’ is widely promoted as a potentially transformative practice to foster more sustainable human-nature relationships. However, much of the evidence relates to collaborative, consensus-based initiatives where the cared-for nature, like gardens or parks, is domesticated or considered to be aligned with human norms and interests. This article uses cities and their complex and often contested nature(s) to investigate how the conceptualization of stewardship could be expanded to better address how to work with, and benefit from, plurality and tensions. Drawing on and synthesizing the recent advances and insights into stewardship and more-than-human agency and entanglements, the article takes a relational perspective on stewardship in recognition of agency in others, people as well as non-humans, and ways of living with tensions between these different actors and agencies. The study concludes with a discussion about stewardship as a compass for relating to others and finding acceptable and constructive ways of working with and around differences to make cities more livable for all their current and future inhabitants. • The cityscape is jointly shaped by people and non-human others. • Many stewardship studies do not fully recognize agency in the cared for nature. • Conflict and collaboration blend in stewardship action. • Appreciation of others is key to more sustainable stewardship.