Reinventing urban nature

List of interviews

Introduction

1. Public green policies: from horticulture to environmental commitment

Horticultural management of public green spaces in the 1950s-1980s

The pioneering Northern Europe model in the 1970s-1980s

Early ecological experiments in France in the 1980s

A more environmentally oriented management of green spaces after the international Rio alert (1992)

The emergence of public landscape policies in the 1990s

The 2000s: a new approach to urban nature engineering

After 2007: the development of a regulatory framework for public green spaces

In 2025, towards new city-nature models?

Part I. New challenges for nature in cities

2. Urban nature and biodiversity

From green spaces to biodiversity

Greening the built environment and biodiversity

Dark corridors: intégrating nocturnal darkness into ecological corridors

3. Climate mitigation and adaptation

Nature as a source of climate solutions

Policies and actions to prevent urban heat islands

Green spaces, climate change mitigation, and energy efficiency

Towards the renaturalization of urban stormwater management

4. Urban soils as foundations for nature

Rediscovering urban soils

Urban soils biodiversity

Soil quality and its link to vegetatiob, particularly food crops

De-sealing and renaturalizing urban soils

Promoting the development of urban soil phytomanagement

Conclusion: spotlight on living urban soils

5. Urban nature and health issues

Well-being, health, and urban nature: what connections ?

How vegetation can improve urban air quality ?

Part II. The contribution of urban nature to new urban landscapes

6. Types of urban green spaces

Evolving typologies of green spaces

Understanding the value of trees and assessing damage cost

7. Heritage gardens and environmental aspirations: a historical perspective

Rethinking the future of landscape heritage at the crossroads of disciplines

The 1930s: a urban planning momentum giving way to the garden dimension

From conservation to ecosystem services: changing perspectives on historic urban parks

8. Landscapes of ecological transition

Landscape as a pathway for transition towards a post-oil city

Participatory science in cities and the ecological transition

9. From the edible city to the food-providing city

Urban agriculture: constructed, lived, and perceived landscapes

Landscape transformations linked to urban agriculture: socio-ecological changes in the garden?

Part III. A hybrid and shared governance of urban nature

10. Centralized territorial steering for planning, designing, and managing urban nature

Urban nature in the metropolitan area of Bordeaux: from spatial planning to a territorial resilience approach

The Montpellier metropolitan area: proactive biodiversity and urban agriculture development

Nantes: when municipal gardeners actively contribute to creating a nature-friendly city

How professional networks of green space managers promote garden cities

11. Renewed state goverance in the construction and management of urban nature in France?

Introduction

Renewing state incentives to mobilize local authorities in their urban nature actions

Urban center revitalization programs developed by the state in cooperation with cities

12. The role of European institutions in urban nature projects

Introduction

NBS at the local level: role of the European Union

The leverage effect of the Green Deal: example of Île du Ramier in Toulouse

Implementing NBS in a neighborhood: example of the European URBiNAT project

When European labels reward leading cities in the ecological transition

13. Citizens’ contribution to the construction of urban nature

The pivotal role of local elected officials in mediating with users

Inclusion of all audiences in urban nature spaces: exchanges with disability advocacy associations

Raising urban residents’ awareness through sustainable development education associations

Co-constructing urban nature policies with or against local institutions

14. Involvement of artists, scientists, and experts in public policy development

Collaborations between cities and artists

Collaborations between cities and scientific researchers

Setting up an expert steering committee of experts: example of Rennes

15. The role of other actors in protecting and creating green heritage

Incentives and support for social landlords

Impacts and contributions of developers and urban planners in creating a green urban territory

Sponsorship: another way to involve companies in creating green cities

General conclusion

List of authors

List of interviewees