Special issue - Call for paper

2024-11-25

URBAN SOIL AND GREEN QUALITY FOR HUMAN HEALTH


In 2024 the world population has reached 8 2 billion people, 57 of whom living in urban areas (Worldometer 2024, Trading Economics, 2024). By 2030 with a population of about 8 5 billion, the urban population is expected to be 70% (World Bank Group, 2024). Given these numbers, planning our cities has become essential, as people seek not only services but also well being and recreational spaces.

A better urban organization implies integrating nature into cities. There are several solutions to put nature into urban environment parks, tree lined avenues, gardens, flowerbeds, single trees, and other green spaces all help to (re)create patches able to purify air and water, and provide habitats for animals (small mammals, birds, insects) In many cases it is even necessary to requalify degraded and abandoned urban areas, eliminating sources of contamination and reconstructing soil able to support vegetation suitable for urban spaces Today, the network of naturalized patches within the city is recognized to have beneficial effects on physical and psychophysical human health.

However, healthy greenery relies on soils or reconstructed substrates able to support the life of the plants. This aspect has been often neglected, with the assumption that plants can either find or create soil conditions adequate for their survival and growth. Although this can sometimes occur combining soil with appropriate plants provides more effective and sustainable solutions and can reduce maintenance costs and plant failures Further, well matched soil plant systems deliver more ecosystem services, including the mitigation of temperature extremes Proper plant care and soil management are also key strategies for maintaining a vibrant and healthy urban greenery.

With this special issue, EQA seeks to publish scientific papers that expand knowledge on urban soils and plants, from planting to ongoing management. Additionally, we are interested in studies on ecosystem services provided by the soil plant system in urban areas, including air purification, water circle, nature based approaches to alleviate human physical and mental health conditions, wildlife colonization of urban spaces, the creation of new parks, the renaturalization of brownfields.


The deadline for submitting manuscripts is February 28, 2025

 

The special issue is released under the auspices of:

Assoverde and Kèpos (https://www.assoverde.it) and Italian Society of Soil Science (https://www.scienzadelsuolo.org)