The increasing urbanization of contemporary cities calls for innovative strategies to support biodiversity conservation, enhance the quality of public spaces, and promote sustainable mobility. Urban areas face significant challenges related to climate change and public health—recognized by the World Health Organization as essential to sustainable urban development [1]. Numerous studies show that urban biodiversity contributes to physical and mental well-being by reducing stress, alleviating chronic disease symptoms, and decreasing health disparities [2,3,4,5,6,7,8,9]. The URBioPark Project, funded in 2022 under the PRIN program with Next Generation EU resources, responds to these challenges through an integrated approach to urban planning. Led by the University of Brescia, in collaboration with the universities of Verona, Padua, and the Italian National Research Council (CNR), the project combines geospatial analysis, participatory workshops, and fieldwork in pilot areas of Brescia. Its goal is to develop practical guidelines for integrating biodiversity into urban planning processes. A key strategy explored is the 3–30-300 rule: every citizen should see at least three trees from their home, live in a neighborhood with 30% tree canopy, and access green space within 300 m. This rule serves as a practical tool to foster biodiversity, improve environmental quality, and support healthier, more resilient cities.
The URBioPark Project: Bridging Biodiversity, Urban Public Spaces Quality and Public Health
Giovanni Dal Corso;Tiziana Pandolfini;Giancarlo Renella;
2026-01-01
Abstract
The increasing urbanization of contemporary cities calls for innovative strategies to support biodiversity conservation, enhance the quality of public spaces, and promote sustainable mobility. Urban areas face significant challenges related to climate change and public health—recognized by the World Health Organization as essential to sustainable urban development [1]. Numerous studies show that urban biodiversity contributes to physical and mental well-being by reducing stress, alleviating chronic disease symptoms, and decreasing health disparities [2,3,4,5,6,7,8,9]. The URBioPark Project, funded in 2022 under the PRIN program with Next Generation EU resources, responds to these challenges through an integrated approach to urban planning. Led by the University of Brescia, in collaboration with the universities of Verona, Padua, and the Italian National Research Council (CNR), the project combines geospatial analysis, participatory workshops, and fieldwork in pilot areas of Brescia. Its goal is to develop practical guidelines for integrating biodiversity into urban planning processes. A key strategy explored is the 3–30-300 rule: every citizen should see at least three trees from their home, live in a neighborhood with 30% tree canopy, and access green space within 300 m. This rule serves as a practical tool to foster biodiversity, improve environmental quality, and support healthier, more resilient cities.
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