Planning for urban biodiversity: Lessons from Swiss municipal land-use plan revisions скачать в хорошем качестве

Planning for urban biodiversity: Lessons from Swiss municipal land-use plan revisions

Local land-use planning plays a key role in shaping urban and peri-urban landscapes, influencing how biodiverse, healthy, and resilient cities are. In Switzerland, municipalities use building and zoning regulations to define where development can occur, and which areas should be preserved as green space. Yet, little is known about which biodiversity-friendly standards are adopted and when they are introduced during plan revisions. This presentation examines how such standards have been integrated into municipal land-use regulations through a qualitative assessment of six Swiss municipalities. It explores the types of ecological standards adopted—such as protection of trees, green areas, and riverbanks; greening measures; and limits on soil sealing—as well as the processes through which they were introduced. By analysing institutional enablers, barriers, and local decision-making dynamics, the study sheds light on how environmental objectives are negotiated alongside economic development. The talk shares insights from the Swiss experience as a basis for dialogue on how local planning systems can better support biodiversity conservation.