How can an ecological perspective be used to enrich cities planning and management?

Abstract

Abstract This conceptual article presents a comprehensive overview of principles, new urban descriptors and analysis methods that provide relevant ecological information, which can be fully incorporated into the planning process, by connecting ecological perspectives to planning and management issues. Section one summarizes the different notions of ecological urbanism and explores what concepts and basic assumptions can constitute a guide to implement an ecological perspective into urban planning. Section two covers what frameworks exist for planning and managing the city under an ecological perspective; and what methods and tools are being used by different stake holders to implement an ecological vision today. As a synthesis, the paper suggest that ecological urbanism applies through six concepts (ecological networks, nestedness, cycles, flows, dynamic balance and resilience), which can be covered by three principles: I) an eco-systemic understanding and management of the city; II) a bioregional governance; III) an ecologically balanced planning. By doing so, this piece of work builds conceptually and practically a frame towards the transformation of current planning and management practices outlining clues for reinterpreting strategies to re-signify and re-conceptualize the existing dichotomous relationship between city-nature, environment-society, while strives for a new understanding of the way we inhabit the habitat.