Animals and Cities: A Reflection on Their Potential in Innovating Nature-Based Solutions
In recent decades, nature-based solutions (NBSs) have spread in scientific research, and they are increasingly deployed in cities’ strategic planning. While the number of nonhuman animals in cities is growing, a specific reflection on the advantages of human–animal interactions as potential NBSs is...
| Main Authors: | , , , |
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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MDPI AG
2024-02-01
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| Series: | Animals |
| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | https://www.mdpi.com/2076-2615/14/5/680 |
| _version_ | 1797264904837660672 |
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| author | Giulia Granai Carmen Borrelli Chiara Mariti Francesco Di Iacovo |
| author_facet | Giulia Granai Carmen Borrelli Chiara Mariti Francesco Di Iacovo |
| author_sort | Giulia Granai |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | In recent decades, nature-based solutions (NBSs) have spread in scientific research, and they are increasingly deployed in cities’ strategic planning. While the number of nonhuman animals in cities is growing, a specific reflection on the advantages of human–animal interactions as potential NBSs is still lacking. This article aims to provide an overview of the current situation of animals in cities and to explore the roles of animals and their interactions with humans in such a context. These topics are crucial to the European project IN-HABIT in Lucca (Italy), which aims to codify an integrated policy on the relationship between people and animals; its outputs will then be transferred and replicated in other cities. This article concludes by highlighting the need for the involvement of different stakeholders in public–private–people partnerships to implement actions that aim to valorize human–animal relationships and their positive effects. This study presents a perspective on the relevance of animal NBSs to increase the quality of life in cities, both for citizens and for animals living in cities, and to also introduce the opportunity to develop an integrated animal urban policy able to valorize human–animal interactions in cities. |
| first_indexed | 2024-04-25T00:36:19Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-3b2fd64e05fa46ad99a8bfdd4fdfbec9 |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 2076-2615 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-04-25T00:36:19Z |
| publishDate | 2024-02-01 |
| publisher | MDPI AG |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Animals |
| spelling | doaj.art-3b2fd64e05fa46ad99a8bfdd4fdfbec92024-03-12T16:37:50ZengMDPI AGAnimals2076-26152024-02-0114568010.3390/ani14050680Animals and Cities: A Reflection on Their Potential in Innovating Nature-Based SolutionsGiulia Granai0Carmen Borrelli1Chiara Mariti2Francesco Di Iacovo3Department of Veterinary Science, University of Pisa, Viale delle Piagge 2, 56124 Pisa, ItalyDepartment of Veterinary Science, University of Pisa, Viale delle Piagge 2, 56124 Pisa, ItalyDepartment of Veterinary Science, University of Pisa, Viale delle Piagge 2, 56124 Pisa, ItalyDepartment of Veterinary Science, University of Pisa, Viale delle Piagge 2, 56124 Pisa, ItalyIn recent decades, nature-based solutions (NBSs) have spread in scientific research, and they are increasingly deployed in cities’ strategic planning. While the number of nonhuman animals in cities is growing, a specific reflection on the advantages of human–animal interactions as potential NBSs is still lacking. This article aims to provide an overview of the current situation of animals in cities and to explore the roles of animals and their interactions with humans in such a context. These topics are crucial to the European project IN-HABIT in Lucca (Italy), which aims to codify an integrated policy on the relationship between people and animals; its outputs will then be transferred and replicated in other cities. This article concludes by highlighting the need for the involvement of different stakeholders in public–private–people partnerships to implement actions that aim to valorize human–animal relationships and their positive effects. This study presents a perspective on the relevance of animal NBSs to increase the quality of life in cities, both for citizens and for animals living in cities, and to also introduce the opportunity to develop an integrated animal urban policy able to valorize human–animal interactions in cities.https://www.mdpi.com/2076-2615/14/5/680nature-based solutionsanimalshuman–animal interaction |
| spellingShingle | Giulia Granai Carmen Borrelli Chiara Mariti Francesco Di Iacovo Animals and Cities: A Reflection on Their Potential in Innovating Nature-Based Solutions Animals nature-based solutions animals human–animal interaction |
| title | Animals and Cities: A Reflection on Their Potential in Innovating Nature-Based Solutions |
| title_full | Animals and Cities: A Reflection on Their Potential in Innovating Nature-Based Solutions |
| title_fullStr | Animals and Cities: A Reflection on Their Potential in Innovating Nature-Based Solutions |
| title_full_unstemmed | Animals and Cities: A Reflection on Their Potential in Innovating Nature-Based Solutions |
| title_short | Animals and Cities: A Reflection on Their Potential in Innovating Nature-Based Solutions |
| title_sort | animals and cities a reflection on their potential in innovating nature based solutions |
| topic | nature-based solutions animals human–animal interaction |
| url | https://www.mdpi.com/2076-2615/14/5/680 |
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