Recent Progress in Urban Forest Planning and Monitoring

In order to tackle key challenges related to sustainable urban development, urban forests are widely recognized as effective nature-based solutions. Accordingly, several strategies and tree-planting campaigns are being launched worldwide, highlighting the need for synergies between central government regulations and local authorities' implementation. Besides the issue of multiple planning levels, advancing knowledge on other relevant topics is increasingly needed for making urban forestry and greening truly effective. In this respect, this Special Issue brings together a collection of theoretical models and empirical studies that offer significant insights into the progress of urban green planning and monitoring. The published contributions address a range of key themes, including multi-disciplinary planning of urban and suburban green infrastructure, the integration of environmental, societal, and economic challenges, and the enhancement of landscape ecological connectivity. Further topics explored include biodiversity conservation, the dynamics of ecosystem services and disservices across different spatial and temporal scales, urban resilience to climate and habitat changes, and innovative approaches to ecosystem monitoring. Altogether, these contributions provide a comprehensive overview of research and practices, offering valuable perspectives for scholars, practitioners, and policymakers engaged in sustainable urban development and restoration.