Sustainable Cities: The Role of Urban Gardening
Deadline for manuscript submissions: 30 June 2024
The open access journal “Sustainability” (www.mdpi.com/journal/sustainability) is currently running a Special Issue “Sustainable Cities: The Role of Urban Gardening”.
Dear Colleagues,
The concept of sustainability and a sustainable city has been over-simplified. This has led to policymakers focusing mostly on the multi-functional dimensions of sustainability without considering their complementary and sometimes conflicting interactions. The role of urban agriculture in building sustainable cities is undeniable. However, the nature of agriculture in cities should be informed by the unique characteristics of the particular city. This means that applying agriculture in sustaining cities each time requires a case-specific approach. The research shows that the social, economic and environmental functions of urban agriculture have both positive and negative outcomes.
Likewise, urban gardening is a multifaceted issue with many often contradictory visions and interests involved. Urban agents (gardeners, citizens, technicians, managers, politicians, businessmen, etc.) have singular visions of urban gardens, in some cases similar, but in other cases, contradictory. This Special Issue seeks, in particular, to provide information on these contradictions. We want to know what contradictions exist in the complex social, spatial, environmental and economic relationship of urban gardens. Of particular interest are articles that focus on:
Different perspectives on urban gardens as tools for social development;
Different visions of the spatial policy of urban gardening;
Local examples of the impact of urban gardens on the sustainability of cities;
Economic conflicts of urban gardens.
Dr. Barbara Ma?kiewicz
Dr. Raúl Puente Asuero
Guest Editors
