Wild Encounters. Toward a reinterpretation of urban green policies by the rivers in Rome and Cagliari

This chapter critically examines urban green policies and reveals underlying agendas of control and land value extraction. Two case studies – Quartucciu (a small town near Cagliari) and Rome – highlight how green initiatives often prioritize beautification and economic interests over environmental and social stewardship. In Quartucciu, a proposed linear park along the Is Cungiaus river reflects a neoliberal approach to urbanization, while in Rome, the transformation of the Tiber riverbanks represents control under the guise of ecological restoration. By embracing the concept of “wildness” this chapter challenges conventional notions of urban nature and highlights the complexities of interstitial spaces, where diverse socio-environmental practices resist commodification. Ultimately, this chapter calls for a reevaluation of urban green policies through the encounters with the spatial practices that still exist in these two contexts.