Sustainable and together: between ecology, health and governance

This chapter examines the effects of biodiversity loss, which have dra- matically highlighted how humanity is constantly dependent on ecosystem services even though the majority of the world’s population doesn’t even know what they are. This dependence is particularly evident in urban ecosystems, which are often characterized by a deficient and inefficient ecological network that is unable to provide sufficient services. We need to bring nature back to the cities to increase social well-being, to provide services to citizens and to ensure a greater resilience of cities, especially in this period in which the negative feedback of climate change is dramatically emerging. The statement “More nature in the cities” also means con- tributing to the conservation of biodiversity, which should become a primary objective in urban areas. Instead, very often it sounds like an empty slogan or an environmental policy issue restricted to protected natural areas only. While the main goal is one, the solutions may be multiple and must necessarily be shared by involving city administrators, citizens and the scientific community. The skills of the scientific community will need to be different but complementary to propose a consistent pattern of multidisciplinary nature-based solutions. Accord- ingly, the specific contribution provided by each discipline should fit in with those provided by the other disciplines and be designed to maximize the effectiveness of the results. One of the most suitable solutions adopted by designers to counter the harmful effects of global warming is nature based and is known as “Green Infra- structure”. The design of various types of green infrastructures is the basis of all sustainable development policies, both at the national and EU community level. If we are talking about green infrastructures, such as urban forests, rain gardens and green roofs, it is evident that they share a common element, namely the use of plants, species and/or plant communities. However, an essential rule should be followed, namely that the plant material used in green infrastructure projects would be better if it were of local origin and preferably consistent with the landscape and biogeograph- ical context of the project sites. In addition to avoiding problems of genetic pollution for the natural ecosystems surrounding the cities, this a priori choice would be ecologically sustainable and respectful of the identity of the places. Plants are a great resource to heal the wounds that we ourselves are inflicting on our quality of life in cities, but they have their own identity card and, like all medicines that treat diseases, they have their own leaflet which cannot be ignored.