Short brief on planning and routines for urban nature plans
This short brief outlines how to nature-proof spatial planning. Spatial Planning Schemes (SPS) are support structures that can help cities and regions develop and implement urban nature plans effectively.
This brief highlights that integrating nature into urban planning turns cities from climate liabilities into climate assets, supporting carbon sequestration, flood and wildfire risk reduction, and regional ecological health. Despite commitments, biodiversity is still weakly embedded due to siloed regulations and rigid procedures. Spatial planning coordinates policies across scales, ensuring equitable benefits and accessibility. Long-term goals focus on mainstreaming biodiversity so it guides land-use decisions, using tailored interventions and available planning tools. A cascade urban-regional approach ensures coherence, translating broad strategies into local, context-specific actions.
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The UrbanByNature programme is funded by the Horizon 2020 Framework Programme of the European Union under Grant Agreements No. 730222 and No. 776604. It has received funding for an update by the Horizon Europe Programme under the Grant Agreement No 101003818. The sole responsibility for the content of this website lies within UrbanByNature and in no way reflects the views of the European Union.