Indicators for managing and planning urban green spaces: a case study in Padova (Northern Italy)

Sustainable and integrated management of urban green spaces is fundamental for the planning of our cities and towns. Therefore, understanding current conditions and informing citizens on urban green spaces is critical for such sustainable and integrated view. Furthermore, this knowledge is essential to appreciate existing and potential ecosystem services and disservices derived from urban trees. Here we present the usage of simple indicators to analyze and present current conditions of urban green spaces and their management. The final aim is to highlight possible scenarios and models for future planning and management. A subarea of Padova (Northern Italy), the basso Isonzo, was used as a test area and as part of the Urban Green Belts (UGB), an Interreg Central Europe project aiming to “smart integrated models for sustainable management of urban green spaces for creating healthier and liveable urban environments”. A number of indicators have been used, among which the share of green space, number of public trees per inhabitant, number of tree species, and age distribution of trees. Results enabled to represent GIS based solutions with reference to inventory information, types of urban green spaces, and supply of different functions. Richness and composition in tree species in different urban areas highlighted diverse conditions and can be used to detect possible different influences on related ecosystem services or disservices. Future management and planning options are proposed aiming to sustainable and integrated green spaces. For example, management efforts should be concentrated on those urban areas with un-balanced diameter distributions with a particular attention towards lack of small diameters, indicating a need of increasing tree planting, or large diameter, indicating a difficulty in growing trees to maturity.