Planning and Preservation of Natural Areas in Urban Contexts: Application of Biophilic Approach in Kufa City

Abstract

This paper focuses on sustainable biophilic planning and its application in urban natural spaces. It examines key factors, such as natural green and blue spaces, that contribute to preserving natural areas in biophilic cities. Field surveys, observation, GIS, and mathematical models were used to analyze indicators derived from these factors in Kufa City, Iraq. The study identifies several effective indicators for achieving biophilic planning characteristics in Kufa City, including the urban forest index, urban orchard index, green eco-corridor index, and diversity of uses index. The findings highlight that Kufa City possesses important biophilic city characteristics, primarily due to its natural areas, as indicated by factors such as urban forests, urban pastures, and diverse land uses. These results suggest that Kufa City has the potential to transform into a biophilic city by leveraging its abundant natural areas. This has significant implications for enhancing the city's sustainability and livability.