Cities studied for urban planning
Ten European cities were studied to provide guidance for mapping urban ecosystems, including a framework to assess the condition of urban ecosystems and the services they provide.
According to the study, scientific knowledge of urban ecosystems can support urban planning at different stages of policy and on various scales. It can help policy making, for example, in sustainable cities and has produced a harmonised indicator framework applicable to other cities.
The study was carried out in co-operation with the Commission’s Directorate-General for Environment, the European Environment Agency (EEA), and city authorities from across Europe. The ten cities analysed were Cascais, Oeiras and Lisbon in Portugal; Padua, Trento and Rome in Italy; Utrecht, the Netherlands; Poznań, Poland; Barcelona, Spain; and Oslo, Norway.
The study provided examples and applications of mapping and assessment and how they can be arranged to assist in policy making. Additionally, it provided expertise in selecting the indicators for the condition of ecosystem services.
Examples are given on how to delineate urban ecosystems, how to choose an appropriate spatial scale, and how to map urban ecosystems based on a combination of national or European datasets, including the EEA’s Urban Atlas, and locally collected information.
Urban policies are increasing green infrastructure and nature-based solutions in their planning process.
Nearly 75% of EU citizens now live in urban areas. With this figure forecasted to increase, an inclusive, healthy, resilient, safe and sustainable living environment is required to maintain a high standard of living and quality of life for all.
The study, which was supported by the EU’s Joint Research Centre, is available from the EU Bookshop, here.
