Gestion des Espaces Verts à Genes

This research was part of the final assignments for a master’s degree in Urban Planning and Territorial Management, a two-year international program based in a consortium of universities from France, Spain, Italy and Portugal. The paper approaches the green spaces of Genova, using theories of Urban Ecology as ways to understand what a sustainable city is, and through the process understand how an ecosystem relates to system theory in general.

The single most visible element when we talk about sustainable city is probably vegetation, so the research starts with a simple question: What are the costs of planting trees in the city of Genova? By analyzing the management of green spaces in an Italian metropolis, one can approach the ecology of the city by its economic variables, mapping the relationships between territorial management and sustainability.  The analysis of the generic regional rules for green infrastructure gets translated to the site-specific conditions of a city. 

Having a peculiar topographical setting (mountains and coasts) and a considerable sprawl sheds lights into how non-continuous green spaces function. The understanding of central issues related to sustainable urban development gained over the research served as basis for the academic activity in Paraguay. Key questions about the structure of public administration and de-centralization, the role of government and the private sector in urban functions were also briefly introduced.