Designing Nature in Cities: Revitalizing Botanical and Historical Gardens for Biodiversity and Public Engagement
A special issue of Journal of Zoological and Botanical Gardens (ISSN 2673-5636).
Deadline for manuscript submissions: 1 December 2026 | Viewed by 1296
Special Issue Editors
Interests: cultural heritage conservation; biodeterioration and bioprotection phenomena; historical gardens and cultural landscapes; sustainable conservation methods; natural and cultural heritage integration; valorization of cultural landscapes; conservation and valorization of intangible cultural heritage
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals
Interests: science for cultural heritage; plants’ conservation; urban ecosystem; floristic assessment of archeological landscape and historical gardens; preventive conservation approach; rediscovery and valorization of cultural landscapes; natural and cultural heritage integration; conservation and valorization of intangible cultural heritage
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals
Special Issue Information
Dear Colleagues,
As cities face mounting environmental and social challenges, including biodiversity loss, climate change, and the need for inclusive public spaces, botanical and historical gardens are being reimagined as vital components of urban green infrastructure. Traditionally seen as curated plant collections and centers for education in areas such as cultural landscape, these spaces are now evolving into multifunctional landscapes that support ecological health, cultural expression, and community well-being. This Special Issue explores how botanical and historical gardens are being transformed through the lens of urban ecology, landscape architecture, and urban design. It highlights their emerging role as ecological nodes, cultural landmarks, and inclusive public spaces that contribute meaningfully to the spatial and social fabric of cities. By bringing together interdisciplinary perspectives, the issue aims to showcase how design innovation, planning strategies, and community engagement are reshaping botanical gardens into active agents of urban sustainability. The collection will feature contributions that examine the integration of botanical gardens into broader ecological networks, their role in climate adaptation, and their capacity to foster environmental awareness, cultural landmarks, and public participation. In doing so, it aligns with global sustainability goals and offers a forward-looking vision for how cities can be designed with nature, rather than around it. By focusing on the revitalization of botanical gardens, this issue will complement existing ecological and horticultural studies with insights into spatial planning, aesthetics, and human-nature interaction. It will also contribute to broader discourses on urban sustainability, climate adaptation, and public health, positioning botanical gardens as key players in the green transformation of cities. Topics may include but are not limited to
- Design innovations in botanical and historical gardens that enhance ecological function and visitor experience;
- The integration of native and climate-resilient plantings in urban garden settings;
- The role of botanical and historical gardens in community engagement, environmental education, and cultural storytelling;
- Case studies of revitalized gardens that serve as models for sustainable urban development;
- The intersection of digital technologies, landscape architecture, and garden interpretation.
Dr. Seyedh Zohreh Hosseini
Dr. Flavia Bartoli
Guest Editors
Manuscript Submission Information
Manuscripts should be submitted online at www.mdpi.com by registering and logging in to this website. Once you are registered, click here to go to the submission form. Manuscripts can be submitted until the deadline. All submissions that pass pre-check are peer-reviewed. Accepted papers will be published continuously in the journal (as soon as accepted) and will be listed together on the special issue website. Research articles, review articles as well as short communications are invited. For planned papers, a title and short abstract (about 250 words) can be sent to the Editorial Office for assessment.
Submitted manuscripts should not have been published previously, nor be under consideration for publication elsewhere (except conference proceedings papers). All manuscripts are thoroughly refereed through a single-blind peer-review process. A guide for authors and other relevant information for submission of manuscripts is available on the Instructions for Authors page. Journal of Zoological and Botanical Gardens is an international peer-reviewed open access quarterly journal published by MDPI.
Please visit the Instructions for Authors page before submitting a manuscript. The Article Processing Charge (APC) for publication in this open access journal is 1200 CHF (Swiss Francs). Submitted papers should be well formatted and use good English. Authors may use MDPI's English editing service prior to publication or during author revisions.
Keywords
- heritage gardens
- urban green space
- green space planning
- urban biodiversity
- public engagement and cultural heritage
- sustainable urbanism
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