Integrative green space planning for regenerative urban nature

Public lecture by Rieke Hansen, Professor of Open Space and Ecological Urban Design at Geisenheim University

Monday 23 June 15:00, Rolighedsvej 23, Frederiksberg C, Auditorium 'Landscape' 

Global, EU, and national policy frameworks such as the Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework, the EU-Biodiversity Strategy 2030 or the new EU Nature Restoration Regulation emphasize the urgency to halt biodiversity loss also in cities by protecting and restoring urban green spaces. However, urban green spaces need to be designed and maintained for multiple purposes, including quality of life of diverse urban societies and climate action. Thus, planners are confronted with conflicting priorities and values and a lack of planning methods for integrating socio-ecological perspectives. Furthermore, combining expertise for biodiversity protection and effective climate action with inclusive co-design approaches poses enormous challenges for municipalities.
Against this backdrop, Rieke Hansen will present approaches from applied research on integrative green space planning, the regeneration of urban nature and present examples from teaching in landscape architecture programmes at the University of Geisenheim. These include German R+D projects such as (1) the development a guide on ”Urban Nature Plans” as a strategic tool for integrated green space planning, (2) the development of the digital ”Toolbox Urban Nature” to promote biodiversity integration as well as a broad range of co-creative approaches to green space planning, implementation and maintenance, and (3) strategies for the integration of biodiversity in urban redevelopment.

About Professor Rieke Hansen: 
Rieke Hansen is a landscape architect and Professor for Open Space and Ecological Urban Design at the Institute of Open Space Development at Geisenheim University in Germany. Her research concerns strategic planning of green infrastructure and the design of urban nature from an integrative perspective. She teaches landscape and open space planning in urban regions as well as ecological open space design with special consideration of planetary challenges such as the protection of biodiversity or climate adaptation. She is a member of the German “Scientific Advisory Board for Natural Climate Protection”.