Urban Sustainability and River Restoration: Green and Blue Infrastructure [Hardcover]

Urban Sustainability and River Restoration: Green and Blue Infrastructure considers the integration of green and blue infrastructure in cities as a strategy useful for acting on causes and effects of environmental and ecological issues. River restoration projects are unique opportunities for sustainable development and smart growth of communities, providing multiple environmental, economic, and social benefits.This book analyzes initiatives and actions carried out and developed to improve environmental conditions in cities and better understand the environmental impact of (and in) dense urban areas in the United States and in Europe.

Preface ix

About the Authors xi

Acknowledgements xiii

Foreword xiv

Part a Definition of the Issue 1

1 Green and Blue Infrastructure in Cities 3

1.1 Definitions 3

1.2 Economic and environmental benefits 5

References 7

2 Climate Change: Mitigation and Adaptation Strategies 10

2.1 Climate change and sustainable development 10

2.2 Impacts and risks in (of) urban areas 11

2.3 Mitigation and adaptation strategies 12

References 14

3 Environmental and Ecological Imbalances in Dense Urban Areas 17

3.1 Sustainable urban design 17

3.2 Imbalances in cities 19

3.3 Benefits connected to vegetation 20

References 22

4 Water in Urban Areas: Ecological and Environmental Issues and Strategies 26

4.1 Urbanisation and the water cycle 26

4.2 Perspectives and strategies 30

References 33