Urban Gardens and Parcs Multidimensional services for socially, ecologically and economically sustainable management of urban areas and flows of materials

The project investigates the multidimensional services of urban gardens and parks for urban society. An extended evaluation of these services provides reliable information that should be considered in political decisions regarding the development of sustainable urban land management. Thus, the project team examines, quantifies and evaluates the material flow (e.g. water, biomass, food, energy), the ecological effects (e.g. on urban climate and biodiversity) and the social effects (e.g. increase of quality of life, social exchange, integration, participation, transformative learning) based on participative valuation methods. The project further investigates the governance framework of urban land management which determines the definition of public and private space with respect to the entire range from public parks through community gardens to private gardens. Also, it controls the issue of access and participation in green spaces for recreation, exchange and nature experience.

Together with the cities of Stuttgart and Berlin as well as with a selection of innovative park projects, urban gardening initiatives, roof gardeners, allotment garden colonies and technologically advanced water treatment projects, the developed analysis tool will be applied to specific case studies. In addition, the tool will be discussed with the active and administrative participants and provided for the support of practical planning and development processes. A living lab will be devised, executed and accompanied over three years together with the two cities, the urban gardening initiatives and innovative park projects. As a result, strategies of action for the protection and development of urban gardens and green spaces will be developed. These strategies might execute during the subsequent implementation phase.