Autonomous re-naturalization of cities in a context of degrowth

Abstract

Planetary urbanization is considered to be one of the leading causes of the current global process of the degradation of nature, and a reduction in urban consumption becomes, therefore, a crucial goal for degrowth. Three fundamental premises underly an investigation of these issues. Firstly, territorial management underpins global environmental justice through the implementation of conservation policies; Secondly, degrowth narratives must operate in the urban context; and thirdly, there is a need for a paradigm shift at an economic, social and nature-relational level. This article presents two research approaches. Firstly, it sets out a theoretical framework in the field of 'urban degrowth', collecting arguments from political ecology, urban planning, deep ecology and degrowth thinking; and secondly, it proposes a preliminary line of investigation towards the process of urban de-occupation and re-naturalization through a bibliographic analysis of urban-ecological variables fostering natural recovery. The aim of the study is to stir up discussion about urban degrowth, as an essential mechanism to counter increasing land consumption, and global habitat and biodiversity loss. Anthropized landscapes require care for nature, conservation, collective action and initiatives at the practical and experimental level, and further research.