Urban planning for biodiversity. An assessment of green plans in Northern Italy

In the recent debate on the urban planning-biodiversity nexus, much attention is being given to the identification of goals, targets, and indicators from the global, European, and national levels and the application of these at the local scale through targeted policies and specific actions. This article attempts to identify a theoretical framework for the integration of biodiversity in spatial planning processes at different scales, through mainstreaming the ecological transition, rightsizing the strategies and policies for biodiversity recovery, and overcoming the different challenges found in local contexts. Furthermore, a sample of green plans and strategies from the Italian context is analyzed across a deducted analytical framework including four dimensions: biodiversity goals, targets, commitment to implementation, and public participation. Results from the analysis emphasize that the focus of the green plans is generally oriented to the conservation of existing biodiverse urban areas rather than radically igniting new possibilities in spaces where biodiversity can be restored, or it is already present but not perceived by local communities. Lastly, the article highlights four gaps characterizing the biodiversity-planning nexus in its theoretical and operational implications.