Local Governance, Valuation and Access to Urban Nature-based Solutions

Cities are starting to recognise the many benefits that nature can provide to its infrastructure and people. In particular, nature-based solutions are slowly being adopted to address specific urban challenges (i.e. heatwaves, flooding, etc.) while providing a range of additional services to humans and biodiversity. 

However, the distribution of nature in cities is rarely equal. Studies have shown that wealthier areas tend to have more trees and parks than lower-income neighbourhoods. Furthermore, resources to implement nature-based solutions tend to be focused on affluent parts of the city that can afford to invest in innovative approaches while at the same time responding to demand for green spaces. 

Through an interactive discussion, participants will identify opportunities to bring the values and qualities of thriving urban ecosystems into underserved areas, and to make the "voice of nature" more central to urban public policy and planning.