Study identifies great potential for forest restoration in urban fringe areas
These peripheral areas are characterized by diverse land uses, such as residential neighborhoods, agricultural land, recreational spaces, urban infrastructure, and aquatic zones. They are not normally included in surveys of potential restoration areas.
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Aerial view of the Parelheiros region in the municipality of São Paulo. Urban fringes have multiple uses, including housing, forests, pastures, and food cultivation
view moreCredit: Luciana Schwandner Ferreira/BIOTA Synthesis
A study conducted at the University of São Paulo (USP) by researchers from the Nucleus of Analysis and Synthesis of Nature-Based Solutions (BIOTA Synthesis), a FAPESP Science Center for Development (SCD), identified approximately 410,000 hectares in the state of São Paulo, Brazil, with potential for forest restoration in urban fringe areas.
These peripheral areas of urban centers are characterized by diverse land uses, such as residential neighborhoods, agricultural land, recreational spaces, urban infrastructure, and aquatic zones. They are not normally included in surveys of potential restoration areas. The findings of the study are equivalent to nearly one-third of the state’s goal of restoring 1.5 million hectares by 2050.
The results of the study were published in the journal Scientific Reports.
“These are interesting areas because they’re close to cities and people, which maximizes the benefits of restoration. We saw that regeneration has exceeded deforestation since 2005, despite urban pressure,” Luciana Schwandner Ferreira explains to Agência FAPESP. She is a researcher at the Institute of Advanced Studies (IEA) at USP and the lead author of the study, which was funded by a scholarship from FAPESP.
The research analyzed three decades (1990-2020) of deforestation and regeneration data collected by the MapBiomas project across the state of São Paulo. MapBiomas is a collaborative network formed by non-governmental organizations, universities, and technology startups that maps land cover and land use in Brazil. For the first time, the research distinguished between dense urban areas, urban fringes, and rural areas. The results show that forest transition has already occurred in all regions studied. Urban fringes show the highest rates of regeneration, albeit with limited support from public policies.
“Even without specific policies, urban fringes already show significant regeneration rates, indicating significant potential for forest restoration. This process could be stimulated and expanded through public policies focused on these areas, bringing restoration closer to the 96% of the state’s population that currently lives in cities,” says Jean Paul Metzger, a professor at the Institute of Biosciences (IB) at USP and coordinator of BIOTA Synthesis, who led the study.
The São Paulo macrometropolis, a region comprising 174 municipalities, is an interesting case for considering restoration on urban fringes. Its proximity to well-preserved areas, such as the Serra do Mar State Park and other conservation units, may facilitate natural regeneration and reduce costs. In cases where active planting is necessary, proximity to the most populous area of the state facilitates access to labor and job creation.
According to the researchers, restoration projects are easier to implement in areas where the opportunity cost of land is low – that is, where the land’s value and potential gains from other uses are low. However, the environmental and social benefits are amplified when these projects are carried out near cities.
In addition to promoting biodiversity and protecting the environment, restoring urban and peri-urban areas can contribute to human health and well-being, regulate the climate, mitigate extreme events, improve water and air quality, and provide recreational spaces.
Numbers
The 410,000 hectares with restoration potential are equivalent to 51% of the total area of these regions. Of these, 235,000 hectares are located in the São Paulo macrometropolis, directly benefiting 32.7 million people.
Thirty-nine thousand hectares of the total potential areas are in regions that are both at risk and subject to permanent preservation (APP), such as riverbanks and hilltops. These areas require urgent restoration under the Brazilian Forest Code (Law No. 12,651/2012).
“More detailed studies on ecological and socioeconomic suitability still need to be carried out to guide which strategies are most appropriate in each case,” says Ferreira.
The study acknowledges that urban fringes are highly contested territories, often earmarked for urban expansion or agriculture, particularly small-scale family farming. Therefore, restoration efforts will need to coexist with other uses. The researchers take into account the need to mitigate social risks, such as the displacement of vulnerable populations or gentrification processes associated with environmental improvement.
The authors also emphasize that urban fringes have many different actors and socio-environmental characteristics. This requires the types of restoration to be defined in a contextualized manner. In some cases, natural regeneration and ecological restoration are prioritized. In others, it is productive models that integrate the cultivation of native species for food and wood. In certain contexts, the focus is on objectives related to urban green infrastructure.
The work was also supported by FAPESP through the project “Resilience and adaptation to climate change in cities: time to act with nature-based solutions” and postdoctoral fellowships (22/07415-0 and 22/09161-6).
About São Paulo Research Foundation (FAPESP)
The São Paulo Research Foundation (FAPESP) is a public institution with the mission of supporting scientific research in all fields of knowledge by awarding scholarships, fellowships and grants to investigators linked with higher education and research institutions in the State of São Paulo, Brazil. FAPESP is aware that the very best research can only be done by working with the best researchers internationally. Therefore, it has established partnerships with funding agencies, higher education, private companies, and research organizations in other countries known for the quality of their research and has been encouraging scientists funded by its grants to further develop their international collaboration. You can learn more about FAPESP at www.fapesp.br/en and visit FAPESP news agency at www.agencia.fapesp.br/en to keep updated with the latest scientific breakthroughs FAPESP helps achieve through its many programs, awards and research centers. You may also subscribe to FAPESP news agency at http://agencia.fapesp.br/subscribe.
Journal
Scientific Reports
Article Title
Urban boundaries are an underexplored frontier for ecological restoration
Cities missing out on nature-based solutions that could boost climate resilience, global experts warn
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Unintended and positive effects of green and blue infrastructure
view moreCredit: University of Surrey
With climate change expected to intensify heatwaves, flooding and air pollution in cities worldwide, why are we not tapping into the full potential of nature-based solutions? An international study led by the University of Surrey’s Global Centre for Clean Air Research (GCARE) in collaboration with 86 specialists across 11 countries explores the current barriers hindering the implementation of green and blue infrastructure (GBI) that could help build climate resilience – such as parks, trees, rivers, wetlands and green roofs.
Drawing on more than 500 scientific papers and insights, this research provides the most comprehensive analysis to date of why GBI projects often fail to achieve their intended impact, offering actionable strategies for practitioners and policymakers to enhance GBI resilience across diverse urban settings.
Where previous studies have focused on the benefits of GBI, this new review examines 21 critical but overlooked factors spanning four interconnected domains: technical and systems integration challenges, social and economic barriers, and governance gaps.
Among these are conflicts with net-zero and renewable energy targets, research fragmentation, unintended environmental consequences such as allergenic pollen or greenhouse gas emissions from poorly designed wetlands, fragmented regulations and the persistent undervaluation of biodiversity and social equity. Researchers also identified social barriers, cultural misalignment, safety and security concerns, low public adoption, the need for more resilient plant species, design taste differences and weak policy integration as significant obstacles.
Professor Prashant Kumar, Founding Director of the University of Surrey’ Global Centre for Clean Air Research (GCARE), Co-Director of the Institute for Sustainability, and lead author of the study, said:
“We all want to see more city parks, more street trees, canals and living plant walls as green and blue infrastructure is increasingly recognised as vital for cooling cities, reducing flood risk, cutting air pollution and improving mental and physical health. However, our research shows implementation too often lags behind policy priorities. It has been a pleasure to lead this unique high-quality work, contributed by a multidisciplinary team of experts from four continents.”
Published in The Innovation, the study presents twelve recommendations to help integrate GBI more effectively into urban areas. These include creating context-specific design frameworks, investing equitably in underserved neighbourhoods, developing innovative financing such as green bonds and embedding participatory approaches that give communities a genuine voice in shaping their environment.
Dr Maria Athanassiadou, Scientific Manager of Urban Climate Applications team at the UK Met Office, and co-author of the paper, said:
“The work brings together environmental and social scientists, engineers, economists, urban planners and stakeholders to map 21 underexplored barriers to the implementation of nature-based solutions in the real world, across environmental, social, economic, governance and policy domains. In bringing together such a wide range of disciplines and international perspectives, we have been able to show not just what works, but why it sometimes doesn’t.”
Dr Ajit Ahlawat, co-author of the paper from Delft University of Technology, said:
“This provides empirical evidence that green and blue infrastructure constitutes a practical, actionable pathway for immediate climate action. By enabling policymakers to mainstream nature-based solutions, it offers a means to reduce emissions, mitigate climate risks, enhance urban resilience, and advance net-zero targets, while promoting healthier and more equitable cities for current and future generations.”
This work has been carried out under the framework of UKRI Funded RECLAIM Network Plus (EP/W034034/1) and the GP4Streets (UKRI1281) projects. The research builds on Surrey’s long-standing leadership in nature-based solutions and clean air research, including major international collaborations through its Global Centre for Clean Air Research and Institute for Sustainability. The work directly supports global initiatives such as the UN Sustainable Development Goals, the European Green Deal and the Paris Climate Agreement, positioning Surrey and its partners at the forefront of sustainable urban development.
[ENDS]
Notes to editors
Professor Prashant Kumar is available for interview; please contact mediarelations@surrey.ac.uk to arrange.
The full paper can be found here: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.xinn.2025.101184
Reference: Kumar, P., et al., 2025 - Overlooked Considerations in Prescribing Green and Blue Infrastructure Solutions for Urban Environments. The Innovation
Journal
The Innovation
Article Title
Overlooked Considerations in Prescribing Green and Blue Infrastructure Solutions for Urban Environments
Article Publication Date
19-Nov-2025
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