The Forest and the City

Amsterdamse Bos, Bois de Boulogne, Epping Forest, Grunewald, Zoniënwoud; throughout history, cities in Europe and elsewhere have developed close relationships with nearby woodland areas. In some cases, cities have even developed - and in some cases are promoting - a distinct 'forest identity'. This book introduces the rich heritage of these city forests as cultural landscapes, and shows that cities and forests can be mutually beneficial.

Essential reading for students and researchers interested in urban sustainability and urban forestry, this book also has much wider appeal. For with city forests playing an increasingly important role in local government sustainability programs, it provides an important reference for those involved in urban planning and decision making, public affairs and administration, and even public health.

From providers of livelihoods to healthy recreational environments, and from places of inspiration and learning to a source ofconflict, the book presents examples of city forests from around the world. These cases clearly illustrate how the social and cultural development of towns and forests has often gone hand in hand. They also reveal how better understanding of city forests as distinct cultural and social phenomena can help to strengthen synergies both between cities and forests, and between urban society and nature.

Autorentext

Dr Cecil Konijnendijk, a Dutch national based in Vancouver, British Columbia, has studied and promoted the role of woodlands and trees in urban societies throughout his career. After employment in the Netherlands, Denmark, Finland, Sweden and Hong Kong, he started as professor of urban forestry at the University of British Columbia in 2016. His present work includes, among other, research, teaching, advising urban forestry practitioners, and writing about urban forestry issues. He has coordinated several international networks and research projects dealing with city forests and other green space. Cecil is also editor-in-chief of the scientific journal Urban Forestry & Urban Greening, and series editor of Springer's Future City book series.

Inhalt

Preface

1) Introduction

· Culture, landscape and forest

· The urban era

· Cities and trees

· Cities and forests

· City forests as cultural landscapes, Place and Space

· The city forest defined

· Contents of this book

2) The Spiritual Forest

· Ancient spiritual links between forests and people

· Forest and religion

· Forest and myths

· Modern spirituality

· (Re)Creating spiritual links

3) The Forest of Fear

· Primeval forest fear

· Criminal forests

· Nature's dangers

· From fear to excitement and adventure

4) The Fruitful Forest

· Subsistence forests

· Appropriation of city forest use

· City forests and societal development

· The rise of municipal forest

· The Fruitful Forest today

5) The Forest of Power

· From wooded commons to elitist prestige

· Military forests

· City forests and democratisation

· City forests and city image

· City forests and environmental justice

· City forest governance

6) The Great Escape

· An antidote to the city

· Recreate and enjoy

· Window to the world

· New ways of escaping

· Different people, different escapes

· Escape from city rule

7) A Work of Art

· City forests as source of inspiration · &a...