Urban greenway systems within the context of sustainable landscapes

Abstract

The use of greenways is encouraged in both rural and urban areas for land conservation. Urban greenways are mostly used for recreational greenways in cities with paths and different kinds of trails based on natural corridors in addition to public rights of way, abandoned rail beds and canals. Greenways are networks of land containing linear elements that are planned, designed and managed for multiple purposes including ecological, recreational, cultural, aesthetic or other purposes compatible with the concept of sustainable land use. In addition to facilitating the planning and shaping of communities, they also improve the quality of life of neighborhoods and communities while protecting the cultural and historic resources in cities. Cultural resources may be connected via greenways into a type of network or system with greater value and higher use than the sum of the constituent parts as a kind of landscape synergy. Greenway systems are important for improving urban quality of life, contributing to urban ecology and urban aesthetics, protecting natural and cultural landscape values, providing urban biodiversity, presenting urban recreational area, emphasizing urban identity, contributing to social sustainability and evaluating sustainable transportation options in an integrative and multidisciplinary framework within the context of the planning and design of sustainable landscapes. © 2021 Elsevier B.V., All rights reserved.