Citizen science and biodiversity in urban planning. Enhancing public spaces through the URBioPark project

Abstract

The WHO estimates that by 2050, 70% of the global population will reside in urban areas—centers of opportunity but also major health risks. Urbanization contributes to the rise of non-communicable chronic diseases, linked to unsustainable lifestyles and environmental degradation. Addressing these issues requires a holistic perspective on health that connects well-being with the urban environment. The concept of Urban Health, promoted by the WHO, encourages the integration of health and urban planning to improve quality of life. Several studies highlight the benefits of biodiversity in urban green spaces, including ecological functions such as microclimate regulation, pollution reduction, and habitat restoration. Conscious planning can help cities become key actors in biodiversity conservation while improving urban resilience and citizen well-being, by making use of the diverse functions of green spaces, including ecological, sanitary, comfort-related, protective, social and recreational, cultural and educational, aesthetic-architectural, and economic. The UrbioPark project, part of the Research Projects of Significant National Interest (PRIN), funded in 2022 through Next Generation EU and led by the University of Brescia, in collaboration with the Universities of Verona, Padua, and the CNR, investigates how biodiversity conservation strategies can enhance public space quality and promote active mobility. Pilot studies in Brescia use geospatial analysis, participatory design workshops, and on-site fieldwork to assess green infrastructure and public space networks. A Citizen Science workshop, organized with Urban Center Brescia and ATS Brescia, explored the relationship between urban comfort and biodiversity, raising public awareness and fostering understanding of the local environment and scientific thinking.