Water scarcity is an increasingly urgent issue, worsened by climate change, with cities and urban green spaces playing a key role in mitigation efforts. While many adaptation strategies are documented and applied worldwide, sustainable water management in urban areas remains complex and faces diverse challenges. Identifying the most effective strategies is often difficult, as much of the relevant information is spread across various scientific platforms. This paper presents findings from a systematic literature review, systematising the uncovered measures into urban green spaces and municipal scales. Five key themes are highlighted at the urban green spaces scale: soil as a critical resource, vegetation characteristics and composition, sustainable design principles, smart irrigation systems and long-term maintenance. At the municipal scale, recommendations focus on understanding environmental conditions, monitoring water use and distribution, implementing nature-based solutions, protecting ecosystems and fostering empowerment and mindset shifts. This work aims to deepen the discussion on the essential role of urban green infrastructure in supporting urban populations’ health and well-being and encourage proactive investment in preventive measures instead of reactive approaches to water scarcity.

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Blue Resources, Green Solutions. Guidelines for Sustainable Water Management in Urban Landscapes

  • Cláudia Fernandes,
  • Ana Medeiros,
  • Sidiane Tramontina,
  • Gonçalo Andrade,
  • Ana Lindeza,
  • Paulo Farinha Marques

摘要

Water scarcity is an increasingly urgent issue, worsened by climate change, with cities and urban green spaces playing a key role in mitigation efforts. While many adaptation strategies are documented and applied worldwide, sustainable water management in urban areas remains complex and faces diverse challenges. Identifying the most effective strategies is often difficult, as much of the relevant information is spread across various scientific platforms. This paper presents findings from a systematic literature review, systematising the uncovered measures into urban green spaces and municipal scales. Five key themes are highlighted at the urban green spaces scale: soil as a critical resource, vegetation characteristics and composition, sustainable design principles, smart irrigation systems and long-term maintenance. At the municipal scale, recommendations focus on understanding environmental conditions, monitoring water use and distribution, implementing nature-based solutions, protecting ecosystems and fostering empowerment and mindset shifts. This work aims to deepen the discussion on the essential role of urban green infrastructure in supporting urban populations’ health and well-being and encourage proactive investment in preventive measures instead of reactive approaches to water scarcity.