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Urban Landscapes, Forestry and Green Infrastructure: From a Sustainable Perspective

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A special issue of Sustainability (ISSN 2071-1050). This special issue belongs to the section "Sustainable Forestry".

Deadline for manuscript submissions: 1 February 2026 | Viewed by 18103

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Special Issue Editors

Dr. Francesca Ugolini

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Guest Editor

Institute of Bioeconomy-National Research Council of Italy, 50019 Sesto Fiorentino, Italy
Interests: urban green infrastructure; social aspects and green spaces; ecosystem services of urban green spaces
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals

Prof. Dr. David Pearlmutter

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Guest Editor

Department of Environmental, Geoinformatic and Urban Planning Sciences, Ben-Gurion University of the Negev, Beer-Sheva 84105, Israel
Interests: urban design; microclimate; green infrastructure
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

Urban landscapes, forestry, and green infrastructure are interconnected and essential components of urban development. Green elements provide crucial benefits for urban dwellers as they offer opportunities for recreation, improve air quality, and mitigate the urban heat island effect. Additionally, they help to promote environmental stewardship, boost economic viability, and support social well-being. As urbanization continues to advance, and under the threat of climate change and its accompanying factors of frequent extreme events such as flooding, wildfires, and heat waves, it is crucial to promote nature-based solutions and protect green spaces for the purpose of creating resilient and livable cities able to withstand environmental challenges.

For this reason, this Special Issue aims to collect studies on methodologies and solutions based on natural elements. In short, we will demonstrate their environmental, economic, social and cultural benefits to urban resiliency and the choices administrators and policy makers are confronted with. It is our hope that, by encouraging a communal discussion on the planning and management of urban green spaces, we can increase the resilience of both our cities and the natural environment on which they depend.

In this Special Issue, original research articles and reviews are welcome. Research areas may include (but are not limited to) the following:

Sustainable urban landscapes planning and management (e.g., efficient land use, co-design, green regeneration, accessibility of green spaces, nature-based solutions in connection to urban mobility, and water and waste and energy management to face extreme events);
Sustainable management of forest and green areas (e.g., technological solutions, co-management, public engagement of the local communities, aimed to improve the economic, environmental, and social sustainability);
Ecosystem services (e.g., biodiversity conservation and increase in terms of plant and animal species in urban ecosystems, carbon sequestration, water and climate regulations, air, soil, noise pollution mitigation, aspects connected to recreation, culture, and well-being);
Nature-based solutions, green spaces and resiliency of urban areas to climate change in relation to stormwater management and the risk of flooding and mitigate the urban heat island and thermal discomfort for urban dwellers connected to sun radiation and heat stress.

We look forward to receiving your contributions.

Dr. Francesca Ugolini
Prof. Dr. David Pearlmutter
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 100 words) can be sent to the Editorial Office for announcement on this website.

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. Sustainability is an international peer-reviewed open access semimonthly 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 2400 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

urban resilience
nature-based solutions
urban environment
climate change
biodiversity
biophilia
cities
green spaces
health
ecosystem services

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Published Papers (8 papers)

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Research

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25 pages, 12592 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Research on the Evaluation of Service Effectiveness of Urban Greenways: Taking Municipal Greenways in the Main City of Nanjing as an Example

by Yulin Peng, Fan Zhang and Bing Qiu

Sustainability 2025, 17(13), 5745; https://doi.org/10.3390/su17135745 - 22 Jun 2025

Viewed by 412

Abstract

As an important green infrastructure, urban greenways can provide a range of socio-ecological benefits and play an important role in improving the urban ecological environment and enhancing the quality of living. Currently, the relationship between service quality and the actual benefits of greenways has not been sufficiently explored in urban greenway research. This study introduces the concept of “efficiency”, determines service efficiency and service effectiveness as the evaluation dimensions, selects 4 first-level indicators and 12 second-level indicators to evaluate the service efficiency of greenways, and constructs an evaluation model using a combination of subjective and objective assignments. This study uses the overall service effectiveness index and the efficiency–effectiveness balance index to measure the overall performance of the greenway space in the hope of revealing the key factors and reasons that affect the service effectiveness of the greenway and providing a theoretical basis for optimizing the planning and management of the greenway. Using ArcGIS network analysis technology, image semantic segmentation technology, a questionnaire survey, network text analysis, and other methods to quantify the indicators, this paper conducts an empirical study on four municipal greenways in Nanjing. This research shows that the factors affecting the service effectiveness of greenways mainly include the landscape environment, greenway functions, transportation conditions, and supporting facility factors. The contradiction between the single-function positioning and the variety of user needs is the main reason for the imbalance between the efficiency and effectiveness of urban greenways. This study provides a new path to quantify greenway service effectiveness and enriches the greenway evaluation theory. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Urban Landscapes, Forestry and Green Infrastructure: From a Sustainable Perspective)

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23 pages, 2858 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Towards an Explicit Understanding of Network Governance in Urban Forestry Management: A Case Study of Portland (OR), USA

by Quadri Olatunbosun Taiwo and Vivek Shandas

Sustainability 2025, 17(9), 4028; https://doi.org/10.3390/su17094028 - 29 Apr 2025

Viewed by 720

Abstract

As the climate continues to warm, and municipal leaders look for cost-effective and timely approaches to urban sustainability, one increasingly sought-out approach is the use of tree canopy to cool neighborhoods. Despite widespread efforts to expand tree canopy in cities, an overwhelming body of evidence suggests that urban green space is declining across the U.S., yet little is known about the factors that propel these changes. Understanding the institutional and governance systems can help identify the opportunities for slow consistent declines. Using social network analysis (SNA) metrics, we examined stakeholder roles in power structures and decision-making processes within Portland, Oregon’s urban forest management. Our results reveal a highly decentralized urban forestry network (density = 0.0079), with weak cohesion (5.4%) among 162 stakeholders. Moving forward, while network governance may face obstacles from conflicting interests among community and interagency groups, transforming governance models at all levels will require developing periodic, collaborative urban forestry management plans to address nature-based planning challenges. These planning documents should strongly emphasize not only the prioritization of tree equity-related ordinances but also the optimization of eco-literacy and awareness through virtual reality (VR) technology. As a novel approach, immersive simulations demonstrate practical potential for showcasing urban forestry benefits in network governance outreach and consensus-building. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Urban Landscapes, Forestry and Green Infrastructure: From a Sustainable Perspective)

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28 pages, 3190 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Sustainability of Urban Green Spaces: A Multidimensional Analysis

by Veljko Dmitrović, Svetlana Ignjatijević, Jelena Vapa Tankosić, Radivoj Prodanović, Nemanja Lekić, Aleksandra Pavlović, Miroslav Čavlin, Jovana Gardašević and Julijana Lekić

Sustainability 2025, 17(9), 4026; https://doi.org/10.3390/su17094026 - 29 Apr 2025

Cited by 1 | Viewed by 895

Abstract

Urban green spaces (UGS) play a crucial role in enhancing the quality of life in urban environments by offering a wide range of ecological, psychological, socio–cultural, and economic benefits. This research addresses the multidimensional impact of functional characteristics of UGS on user satisfaction in Novi Sad, focusing on the various ways in which these spaces contribute to well-being. By integrating multiple perspectives, including ecological benefits like stress reduction, social and cultural aspects such as fostering community connections, and economic factors like enhancing property values, this study presents a holistic analysis of UGS. Through a mixed-methods approach, combining surveys and regression analysis, the research explores how different UGS functions interact to shape users’ perceptions. The findings highlight the importance of socio–cultural and ecological functions in improving the urban experience, providing key insights for urban planning that aims to create sustainable, inclusive, and resilient green spaces. This study emphasises the significance of considering these diverse dimensions in the development and management of urban green spaces for long-term sustainability and user satisfaction. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Urban Landscapes, Forestry and Green Infrastructure: From a Sustainable Perspective)

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23 pages, 1571 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Public Food Trees’ Usage and Perception, and Their Potential for Participatory Edible Cities: A Case Study in Birjand, Iran

by Juliette Colinas, Francesca Ugolini and Mohammad Reza Khalilnezhad

Sustainability 2024, 16(19), 8498; https://doi.org/10.3390/su16198498 - 29 Sep 2024

Cited by 2 | Viewed by 1614

Abstract

Public food trees are increasingly popular among researchers, urban planners, and citizens for their diversity of social, provisional, and environmental benefits. However, more research is needed to determine how to overcome their barriers. Here we used a qualitative approach to explore the usage and perception of public fruit trees and attitudes towards public usage and participation in two urban green spaces harboring fruit trees in Birjand, Iran: Tohid Park and Akbarieh Garden. Semi-structured interviews were conducted with twelve visitors to both spaces, four administrators, and eight workers. Almost all visitors had great personal experience and interest in picking fruit; nevertheless, usage in these green spaces was low, partly due to social norms. Almost all visitors appreciated the public fruit trees for the diverse pleasures that they provide (sensory, emotional, cognitive, experiential, social). Ten also had a high interest in participating in their management, especially in Tohid Park due to its greater social impact. Education and access limitation were suggested by some as important to reduce tree damage and maximize production. Our findings expand our understanding of how citizens relate to public urban fruit trees and can be involved in co-management schemes, thereby contributing to building smart and participatory edible cities. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Urban Landscapes, Forestry and Green Infrastructure: From a Sustainable Perspective)

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19 pages, 15346 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Coupling Coordination of Multi-Dimensional Urbanization and Ecological Security in Karst Landscapes: A Case Study of the Yunnan–Guizhou Region, China

by Dinglin Song, Sicheng Wang and Shilong Mei

Sustainability 2024, 16(15), 6629; https://doi.org/10.3390/su16156629 - 2 Aug 2024

Viewed by 1379

Abstract

Globally, karst regions face the dual challenges of urbanization and ecological protection, with the coupling coordination of multi-dimensional urbanization (MDU) and ecological security (ECS) being a necessary condition for achieving sustainable development. This study, based on statistical data on MDU and ECS in the Yunnan–Guizhou Region (the YGR) in China, employs the entropy weight TOPSIS model, degree of coupling coordination (CCD) model, and panel Tobit regression model to explore the coupling relationship between MDU and ECS. The main conclusions are as follows. (1) MDU in the YGR increased from 0.299 to 0.305, indicating low-level and sluggish development. Spatially, it is characterized by a “dual-core” structure centered on Kunming and Guiyang. (2) ECS decreased from 0.456 to 0.423, with a spatial pattern of “high in the east, low in the west”. The impact of human activities on ECS increased from 0.579 to 0.631 due to the increase in social and economic activities. (3) CCD increased to 0.579, achieving moderate coordination. The spatial feature evolved into a tri-cluster pattern of “high–low–high” across the “eastern–central–northwestern” regions. (4) Regression results indicate that annual average precipitation has a “both promoting and limiting” dual effect on CCD. The coefficient for the proportion of afforested land area is 0.205, with a significance level of 5%, suggesting that increasing forest cover is a key measure for improving CCD. The study reveals the factors influencing the evolution of MDU and ECS from a negative to a positive correlation, providing a basis for decisions related to sustainable development for urban and ecological management in karst landscapes globally. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Urban Landscapes, Forestry and Green Infrastructure: From a Sustainable Perspective)

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19 pages, 3027 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Evaluating the Environmental Quality of Forest Remnants Using Landscape Metrics

by Regina Márcia Longo, Alessandra Leite da Silva, Admilson Irio Ribeiro, Raissa Caroline Gomes, Fabricio Camillo Sperandio and Adélia N. Nunes

Sustainability 2024, 16(4), 1543; https://doi.org/10.3390/su16041543 - 12 Feb 2024

Cited by 2 | Viewed by 2058

Abstract

Forest remnants are hotspots of biodiversity and play an important role in providing services such as regulating the climate, reducing surface runoff, helping erosion control, protecting and contributing to the balance of ecosystems, and other functions. Despite this, natural vegetation is fragmented and limited to a few remnants, which are gradually suffering from anthropogenic pressures. Assessing the environmental quality of these remnants is therefore vital to understanding their current condition and to provide support for their conservation. This study aims to assess the environmental quality of forest remnants in six water basins in the municipality of Campinas/SP, Brazil. Forest remnants were mapped, and their environmental quality was assessed by applying an analytic hierarchy process (AHP), considering a set of structural landscape metrics previously selected from the literature. Of the 2319 forest remnants evaluated, 4.5% and 30%, respectively, registered high and low environmental quality. The Atibaia and Jaguari basins recorded the highest number of environmentally fragile remnants due to their small size and being predominantly elongated, and to the high erodibility of the soil. In the Anhumas, Capivari, Capivari-Mirim, and Quilombo basins, medium-sized forest remnants predominate. There is a greater distance between them, with a high intensity of land use/land cover in their surroundings, related to the prevalence of urbanized areas. Specific management actions should be taken in each of these basins. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Urban Landscapes, Forestry and Green Infrastructure: From a Sustainable Perspective)

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Review

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19 pages, 2274 KiB

Open AccessReview

Urban Forestry in Sub-Saharan Africa: Challenges, Contributions, and Future Directions for Combating Climate Change and Restoring Forest Landscapes

by Sawaba Ale, Kossi Adjonou, Kossi Novigno Segla, Kossi Komi, Jean-Bosco Benewinde Zoungrana, Coffi Aholou and Kouami Kokou

Sustainability 2025, 17(1), 24; https://doi.org/10.3390/su17010024 - 24 Dec 2024

Cited by 1 | Viewed by 1828

Abstract

Since the 1960s, the countries of sub-Saharan Africa have been affected by an urban crisis due to the demographic explosion in cities and the resulting land pressure. These issues have resulted in the proliferation of spontaneous housing areas, which call the future of urban vegetation and its degree of inclusion in city planning into question. To analyze the current scientific knowledge on the development of urban landscapes, particularly in sub-Saharan Africa, a literature review on urban forestry covering the period of 1998–2022 was carried out in order to better guide future research works towards a greater consideration of urban forestry and its contribution to combating the adverse effects of climate change. Out of the 110 scientific papers selected, 50 were considered relevant because of their direct link with urban forestry. Based on the analysis of these papers, a classification of the articles according to five themes was carried out. These themes are the management of green spaces in urban areas, the functions of trees in an urban environment, the development of urban forestry, the characterization of urban tree flora, and the financing of urban forestry. Thus, the “function of trees in an urban environment and the characterization of urban tree flora” are the most addressed issues, being raised in 42% and 28% of articles, respectively. “Financing urban forestry” is practically not addressed (2%). The analysis of the 50 selected articles reveals a significant geographic concentration of urban forestry research. Countries such as South Africa, Kenya, and Ghana are more represented in the literature, while vast regions in Central and Western Africa (e.g., the Democratic Republic of Congo, Chad, and Niger) are the object of minimal or no documented research with regard to urban forestry. Future research should address these underrepresented themes, as they are crucial for the long-term sustainability of urban forestry projects. Particularly, research on financing mechanisms is essential to unlocking sustainable funding sources for urban forestry, a critical barrier to its expansion. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Urban Landscapes, Forestry and Green Infrastructure: From a Sustainable Perspective)

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Other

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21 pages, 2445 KiB

Open AccessSystematic Review

Cooling Benefits of Urban Tree Canopy: A Systematic Review

by Yihan Yin, Song Li, Xiaoyi Xing, Xinyi Zhou, Yujie Kang, Qi Hu and Yanjing Li

Sustainability 2024, 16(12), 4955; https://doi.org/10.3390/su16124955 - 10 Jun 2024

Cited by 13 | Viewed by 7952

Abstract

As an important part of urban ecosystems, trees can effectively alleviate the urban heat island effect. Tree canopies cool and humidify through shading and evapotranspiration, regulating the urban thermal environment. So far, many studies have analyzed the heat mitigation effect of urban green spaces; however, there are relatively few studies on the cooling effect of tree canopies. Specifically, relevant research focusing on different spatial scales has not been explored. Therefore, this review systematically summarizes the research on the benefits of tree canopy cooling carried out in recent years, analyzes the research content, and evaluates the indicators and key influencing factors of the benefits of tree canopy cooling from four different spatial scales: urban, block, community, and individual. It was found that canopy factors, other vegetation factors, and environmental factors jointly affect the benefits of canopy cooling. This research focuses on the benefits of canopy cooling at different spatial scales. The smaller the research scale, the more discussion and attention will be paid to vegetation factors. This paper puts forward major directions for future research and development, providing optimization strategies for urban planning or plant design at different scales in the context of climate change. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Urban Landscapes, Forestry and Green Infrastructure: From a Sustainable Perspective)

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