Future of Nature Seen from a Perspective of Urban Sustainability

Dear Colleagues,

This Special Issue aims to discuss the role nature and Nature-based Solutions (NbS) can play towards urban sustainability. It is well recognized that the quality of the natural and physical environment are key determinants of social well-being and urban quality of life. An important precondition for health and well-being in urban environments is access to nature. Evidence supporting the health benefits of nature has grown considerably, with an increasing number of studies highlighting the links between accesses to greenspaces/having visual contact with nature and health. Several studies suggest links between well-being and biodiversity and point to the positive influence of nature on stress relief. Physical activity in nature is valuable for mental health problems and a buffer against depression and anxiety disorders.

We invite you to contribute to this issue by submitting research articles or comprehensive reviews from all disciplines, including, but are not limited to i) Case studies and existing projects illustrating how nature and NbS contribute to improving health and well-being in cities; ii) Outline the future potential of nature and NbS and the role it can play in the perspective of urban sustainability; iii) Analyze good practice of nature and NbS linking biodiversity and climate change strategies in cities; and iv) showcase the benefits of nature and NbS during the Covid-19 pandemic.

We envisage this Special Issue becoming a cornerstone of the literature, illustrating how the quality of the natural and physical environment and livability in cities are key determinants of social well-being and urban quality of life. Papers selected for this Special Issue are subject to a rigorous peer-review procedure in accordance with the journal with the aim of rapid and wide dissemination of research results, developments, and applications.

Dr. Hai-Ying Liu
Dr. Giovanna Ottaviani Aalmo
Dr. Xianwen Chen
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. 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.