Urban Greening and Local Planning in Italy: A Comparative Study Exploring the Possibility of Sustainable Integration Between Urban Plans
Abstract
:1. Introduction
The Italian Experience
2. Materials and Methods
- Programmatic context, tools, and reference projects: Identification of key regional legislation and the core themes within sustainable development strategies.
- Nature of the plans: Examining how the natural component is integrated within urban development strategies (e.g., greenbelts; green infrastructure as a basis for the urban structure; sponge cities, etc.).
- Environmental, landscape, and ecological characterisation: Assessment of the current state of nature and biodiversity; planning elements’ quantitative evaluation of vegetation, the various functions of green space, the services provided, and associated risks; inventory of relevant policies and strategies).
- Vision and topics: Definition of goals, short- and long-term actions, and related indicators; integration with other instruments, such as the Services Plan, the Sustainable Mobility Plan, the Climate Adaptation Plan, etc.
- Training, communication, and participation: Details of the implementation of participatory design processes and communication and awareness-raising strategies.
- Implementation practices: Exploration of the proposed implementation mechanisms and the identification of necessary resource acquisition strategies.
- Monitoring and management: Selection of a monitoring and reporting system to evaluate the aims and results achieved.
3. Results
3.1. Programmatic Context, Tools, and Reference Projects
3.2. Nature of the Plans
3.3. Environmental, Landscape, and Ecological Characterisation
3.4. Vision and Topics
3.5. Training, Communication, and Participation
3.6. Implementation Procedures
3.7. Monitoring and Management
4. Discussion
- Applying the operational requirements of LUPs for the proper management of the land regime to encourage public–private partnerships for the implementation of green spaces [33,66]. Careful planning of the resources required and identification of sustainable sources of funding are therefore crucial [67].
5. Conclusions
- develop a framework of knowledge about nature and biodiversity and its valuation, using new methods of investigation (ecosystem services, climate scenarios, etc.);
- develop a planning vision of sustainability goals with related indicators;
- agree with the various sectors of the public administration on priorities, actions, responsibilities, and timeframes to be respected in the implementation of green works;
- use tools to make urban areas more equal and to compensate for the environment to encourage the creation of green areas by limiting the use of public resources;
- create a communication, education, and public awareness strategy; set up a system to monitor, report, and evaluate things through the use of methods whereby citizens can take part in research.
Author Contributions
Funding
Institutional Review Board Statement
Informed Consent Statement
Conflicts of Interest
Abbreviations
UNP | Urban nature plan |
UGP | Urban greening plan |
GSR | Green space regulation |
LUP | Local urban plan |
SUMP | Sustainable urban mobility plan |
SECAP | Sustainable energy and climate action plan |
NBS | Nature-Based Solutions |
ISPRA | Italian Institute for Environmental Protection and Research |
OECD | Organization for Economic Co-operation and Development |
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Minimum Content | Implementation and Monitoring |
---|---|
Environmental and landscape characterisation of the various sectors within the municipal territory, delineated via ecological classification. | Relationship with other urban and sectoral plans (Services Plan, Traffic Plan, General Urban Plan for underground services, etc.). |
Typological classification of vegetation structures (arboreal and shrub vegetation/herbaceous vegetation) and functional classification of municipal green spaces (accessible/non-accessible). | Programmatic indications for the three-year public works plan. |
Estimation of the value of urban green spaces through the use of indicators. | Operational projects and design solutions to be implemented in the short to medium term with identified financial resources. |
Analysis of the needs and ‘demand’ for ecosystem services. | Definition of indicators to monitor the plan’s development and the achievement of its set aims. |
Analysis of the existing flora and vegetation in terms of qualitative and quantitative evaluation. | Funding mechanisms and resource procurement for the implementation of the identified design solutions. |
Planning of new green areas and new green infrastructures, as well as peripheral areas, with potential for urban green space expansion. | Information and communication plan for the engagement, participation and sensitisation of citizens. |
Criteria for the construction of new green infrastructures. |
Guidelines Law n. 10/2013 | Urban Nature Plan Guidelines. Cycle Steps. | |
---|---|---|
Knowledge |
| Step 5 Current state of nature and biodiversity. |
Directions, Provisions, and Implementation |
| Step 6 Establishing goals/actions and related indicators. |
Resource Procurement |
| Step 7 Agreeing on priorities, actions, responsibilities, timelines, and funding. |
Training and Communication |
| Step 8 Developing a strategy for public communication, education, and awareness. |
Monitoring and Management |
| Step 9 Establishing a system for monitoring, reporting, and evaluation. Step 10 Adopting and implementing the plan. |
UGP-LUP | Reference Law | Topics |
---|---|---|
Padova UGP |
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Bolzano UGP |
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Avellino UGP |
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Torino UGP |
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Prato LUP |
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Bologna LUP |
|
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UGP-LUP | Purposes and Aims of the Plan |
---|---|
Padova UGP |
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Bolzano UGP |
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Avellino UGP |
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Torino UGP |
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Prato LUP |
|
Bologna LUP |
|
UGP-LUP | Environmental, Landscape, and Ecological Characterisation |
---|---|
Padova UGP |
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Bolzano UGP |
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Avellino UGP |
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Torino UGP |
|
Prato LUP |
|
Bologna LUP |
|
UGP-LUP | Topics | Vision |
---|---|---|
Padova UGP |
| Macro-strategies for:
|
Bolzano UGP |
| Design guidelines:
|
Avellino UGP |
|
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Torino UGP |
|
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Prato LUP |
|
|
Bologna LUP |
|
|
UGP-LUP | Participation Activities |
---|---|
Padova UGP | Actions targeting specific technical stakeholders (institutions, professional associations, etc.), various social, cultural, and sports groups, and neighbourhood councils. Promotion of citizen science. |
Bolzano UGP | Implementation of six workshops and establishment of three thematic tables: (i) water system; (ii) built-up area; and (iii) peri-urban green spaces. |
Avellino UGP | Establishment of an environmental consultation body, promotion and communication through the implementation of a municipal website; design workshops and idea competitions, environmental education activities, communication plan. |
Torino UGP | Establishment of a Municipal Office for Participation and Citizenship; public awareness and communication actions. |
Prato LUP | Creation of a relational path between actors through the use of new technologies: Prato Forest city project. |
Bologna LUP | Involvement of stakeholders in the drafting of the Local Urban Plan. |
UGP-LUP | Implementation Procedures |
---|---|
Padova UGP | The UGP is integrated with other existing planning and programming documents, including the ULP. It refers to these for implementation |
Bolzano UGP | Allocation of dedicated economic resources to the UGP from the Municipal Budget. State funding |
Avellino UGP | Planning and development of green areas through the LUP in urban transformation areas |
Torino UGP | Activation of strategic public–private partnerships |
Prato LUP | Public land transfers in urban transformation areas |
Bologna LUP | Urban and building scale requirements |
UGP-LUP | Monitoring | Management |
---|---|---|
Padova UGP | The UGP stipulates the definition of several indicators and actions aimed at verifying its implementation. The Plan proposes methods to monitor the following planning objectives: environmental function; biodiversity; functions, accessibility, and functionality of green spaces. | Conducted in two phases: an evaluation of the plan’s implementation five years after its approval, followed by assessments at the 10- and 20-year marks to verify the ongoing alignment with the plan’s vision. |
Bolzano UGP | The use of both quantitative and qualitative indicators is employed. The evaluation outcomes, ranging from ‘very poor’ to ‘excellent’, are presented on a dedicated map and also disaggregated by the main urban public parks. | The evaluation refers to the recent Minimum Environmental Criteria for sustainable urban green space management. |
Avellino UGP | A multidimensional monitoring framework is in place, encompassing indicators such as: green balance, tree inventory, number of areas adopted by community groups, tree canopy renewal rate, play equipment provision, green jobs, and staff specialization index. | Interventions are divided into short-, medium-, and long-term phases. Over the five-year period, areas with potential for transformation into public green spaces or urban forests are to be assessed. The UGP encompasses a comprehensive maintenance plan and a general programming plan. |
Torino UGP | For each strategic line, different lines of action are outlined, each accompanied by specific monitoring indicators. | Involvement of private entities is envisaged for both the development of new green areas, play areas, sports facilities, and urban gardens and maintenance activities. Urban forestry represents a particularly promising area for private sector engagement. |
Prato LUP | For the three pilot project areas, benefits are estimated for the first 20 years following the plan’s implementation. | Co-design activities will be carried out during the design and implementation phases, involving collaboration with various stakeholders in the creation and maintenance of green spaces. |
Bologna LUP | Achievement and verification of the predefined objectives in the LUP (surface areas and number of trees) over a ten-year period from the approval year. | Development of climate change scenarios and community engagement sessions. |
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D’Onofrio, R.; Bocca, A.; Camaioni, C. Urban Greening and Local Planning in Italy: A Comparative Study Exploring the Possibility of Sustainable Integration Between Urban Plans. Sustainability 2025, 17, 3227. https://doi.org/10.3390/su17073227
D’Onofrio R, Bocca A, Camaioni C. Urban Greening and Local Planning in Italy: A Comparative Study Exploring the Possibility of Sustainable Integration Between Urban Plans. Sustainability. 2025; 17(7):3227. https://doi.org/10.3390/su17073227
Chicago/Turabian StyleD’Onofrio, Rosalba, Antonio Bocca, and Chiara Camaioni. 2025. "Urban Greening and Local Planning in Italy: A Comparative Study Exploring the Possibility of Sustainable Integration Between Urban Plans" Sustainability 17, no. 7: 3227. https://doi.org/10.3390/su17073227
APA StyleD’Onofrio, R., Bocca, A., & Camaioni, C. (2025). Urban Greening and Local Planning in Italy: A Comparative Study Exploring the Possibility of Sustainable Integration Between Urban Plans. Sustainability, 17(7), 3227. https://doi.org/10.3390/su17073227