Active citizenship for urban green infrastructure: fostering the diversity and dynamics of citizen contributions through mosaic governance

• Published in: Current opinion in environmental sustainability 2016-10, Vol.22, p.1-6
• Main Authors: Buijs, Arjen E, Mattijssen, Thomas JM, Van der Jagt, Alexander PN, Ambrose-Oji, Bianca, Andersson, Erik, Elands, Birgit HM, Steen Møller, Maja
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Alterra - Regional development and spatial use; Alterra - Regionale ontwikkeling en ruimtegebruik; Bos- en Natuurbeleid; Forest and Nature Conservation Policy; GREEN & SUSTAINABLE SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY; Leerstoelgroep Bos- en natuurbeleid; Regional Development and Spatial Use; Regionale Ontwikkeling en Ruimtegebruik; WASS
• ISSN: 1877-3435; 1877-3443; 1877-3443
• DOI: 10.1016/j.cosust.2017.01.002

[Display omitted] •Active citizenship contribute to social, environmental and institutional resilience.•Citizens contribute to innovation, diversification and experimentation.•Challenge for municipalities to adopt enabling and stimulating governance approach.•Mosaic governance infuses polycentric governance with cultural and spatial diversity.•Governance to focus on networking, ecological connectivity and funding opportunity. Active citizens may contribute to the environmental, social, and institutional resilience of cities. This review discusses how citizen initiatives protect biodiversity hotspots, contribute to social cohesion, institutional innovation, and diversity in urban green space management. Challenges related to social inclusiveness, ecological connectivity and continuity suggest government involvement is pertinent, but needs to be refocused. To maximise environmental outcomes of active citizenship, governments may adopt an enabling and stimulating governance style that harnesses the transformative potential of active citizenship. This paper argues for mosaic governance to work with the heterogeneous array of people, institutions, and spatial practices associated with active citizenship. Mosaic governance aims for a context-sensitive way of urban green infrastructure planning, enhancing relationships between the diversity of landscapes and communities across cities.