Urban Diversities Environmental and Social Issues

Biological and human-cultural diversity are crucial aspects of sustainable life on this planet, a fact that was recognized by the United Nations which declared 2010 as the International Year of Biodiversity. Managing diversities in urban contexts, where more than half of the world's population currently live, represents a fundamental aim for sustainable urban development. If this is to be achieved it requires collaboration among different scientific and technical disciplines, many of which are represented in this book. Drawing on a diversity of epistemological, theoretical, and methodological approaches is key to understanding people-environment relations and for promoting the quality of urban life. The volume is organized around different research themes, relevant for understanding current trends and future developments in the study of people-urban environment relations, with an emphasis on the key concept of diversity. This is explored in relation to: * Theoretical and methodological approaches * Visual processes and urban landscapes * Urban green spaces * People's lifestyles and urban sustainability * Social groups and inclusive urban environments