ISPRA Publication
The urban green areas represent a key resource for the sustainability and quality of life in the cities. Besides the well known aesthetic and recreational functions, they help to mitigate the pollution of various environmental media (air, water, soil) improving the microclimate of the city, maintaining biodiversity, contributing to the welfare of citizens and to the aesthetic quality of urban landscapes. However, to date, these features and benefits are poorly integrated into the management policies of open spaces and, generally speaking, in the local town planning. The present work aims, on one hand, to conduct a comprehensive survey of regulations and interpretations in Italy about urban green spaces, and on the other hand, to develop ideas and proposals for ecosystem management of urban green spaces.