Integrated Solutions for Urban Greening

About this Research Topic

Background

Effects of urban greening in mitigating the adverse impacts of ongoing urbanization and climate change such as intensification of the urban heat island, an increase in rainfall-runoff, biodiversity loss, deterioration of air quality, and loss in carbon sequestration are well known. Urban greening or more recently termed “nature-based solutions” needs to be integrated with urban planning and civil engineering approaches to promote their multiple benefits more systematically and across different sectors. Therefore, cities need both strategic planning instruments and technological innovations for renewable energy solutions, sustainable urban mobility, water supply, and waste management keeping the green concept in mind to reduce pollution, establish eco-production cycles and redress social imbalances.

The aim of the article collection is to strengthen urban greening through contributions that critically explore the innovative capacity of integrated approaches to the planning and design, establishment, and maintenance of nature-based solutions that fulfill community expectations and deliver a wide range of ecological, social, and economic functions. In particular, this article collection is looking forward to novel ideas for hybrid solutions (engineering and ecological) for maximizing the provision of ecosystem services based on relevant concepts as well as exemplary practices.

Studies may address, but are not limited to, the following:

- Combination of civil engineering approaches with integrated site design for low impact development, stormwater management, and green infrastructure.
- Benefits of integrated urban greening expressed in economic, social, and ecological terms to complement conventional ecological-environmental emphasis.
- Analyzing the linkages, evidence, and display practical management applications that highlight the potential of a nature-based solution with regard to different social, economic, and ecological functions.
- Analyzing the synergies, complementarities, or trade-offs between different nature-based solutions in tackling global challenges related to climate change and urbanisation.

Keywords: urban greening, urban planning, integrated site design, low impact development, green infrastructure, stormwater management

Important note: All contributions to this Research Topic must be within the scope of the section and journal to which they are submitted, as defined in their mission statements. Frontiers reserves the right to guide an out-of-scope manuscript to a more suitable section or journal at any stage of peer review.

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