The Fersina, regenerating an urban river: Trento Municipality, Italy

Urban planning in Italy: Biodiversity in spatial planning is often limited to the recognition of protected natural areas. The emergence of spatial planning-design approaches, such as green/blue infrastructure and nature-based solutions, is helping to increase the recognition and value of biodiversity in urban planning processes and policies. In the Fersina stream, an Adige River tributary flowing in Trento City, the synergy between spatial planning, environmental and economic-financial assessments are to contribute to changes in the urban contexts via ES and their integration into public and private decision-making. 

The case study aimed to transform the Fersina River corridor from a heavily engineered channel into a socio-ecological infrastructure that supports biodiversity, climate resilience, and community well-being. By engaging stakeholders in co-design, it sought to integrate ecosystem services into urban planning and reconnect the river with surrounding communities.

This project has received funding from the European Union’s Horizon Europe Research and Innovation Programme under Grant Agreement No 101060790.

BioValue positioned biodiversity and ecosystem services at the core of Trento’s urban planning, delivering mapping techniques, causal loop tools, and scenario-based planning integrated into the Fersina Masterplan and PRG revision.

This case study will provide evidence of the practice-based criteria and local policies, as well as tools, in place that enable the observed outcomes, including the governance mechanisms being adopted.

Ana Paula Rosa Silva Soares