Governing Urban Blue-Green Infrastructure for Biodiversity and Climate Change Adaptation: A Social-Ecological Network Perspective

Cities face growing pressures from climate change and biodiversity loss, compounded by increasing urban densification and fragmentation of green and blue infrastructure. Urban Blue-Green Infrastructure (UBGI), such as parks, rivers, and vegetated roofs, provides critical ecosystem services, spanning from temperature regulation to water retention, that underpin climate adaptation and biodiversity conservation. However, governance of these multifunctional spaces remains fragmented across policy domains and stakeholder groups. This paper relies on theories of governance networks and urban political ecology to explore how governance networks comprising actors with their interests, resources, and interactions differ between UBGI types, and how these differences affect ecosystem services and the support of biodiversity in urban settings. Focusing on Zurich as a case study, the research investigates the structural features of actor networks managing different types of UBGI with varying levels of biodiversity. For data gathering, we will first do grey literature analysis, and then conduct interviews of relevant stakeholders responsible for UBGI. Using social-ecological network analysis, the paper examines collaboration patterns, bridging roles, and information flows among stakeholders, identifying gaps and synergies in network governance arrangements. Previous research on governance networks suggests that certain network configurations, such as those with central brokers or strong cross-sectoral ties, can be associated with improved outcomes. This paper assesses these hypotheses related to urban governance networks, biodiversity outcomes, and ecosystem service provision. This research contributes to urban political ecology and environmental governance by offering empirical insights into how actors and their network structures interact with UBGI. Findings of the analysis hold implications for urban planning, particularly the design of institutional arrangements that integrate fragmented actors in UBGI for climate and biodiverse resilient cities.