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Requiem for the urban weeds: an exploration of green spaces in Amsterdam

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Abstract

This article will explore the Cradle to Cradle (C2C) framework for urban environments, focusing on the perception, utilization and maintenance of parks. The case study explores the perception of urban flora and the value of greenery in everyday life in The Netherlands. The reflection section addresses the difference between conventional and C2C approaches to greenery on the one hand and current green management policies and public opinion on the other hand. The author reflects on how urban planning policies can be better geared towards public awareness of C2C, and towards the implementation of ecologically benign management of urban flora. It is proposed that an implementation of urban green management consistent with C2C is feasible and desirable. It is feasible given the favorable shifts in public opinion in relation to urban sustainability, and it is desirable due to the basic cost-benefit analysis and increased need for urban sustainability.

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Correspondence to Helen Kopnina.

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Kopnina, H. Requiem for the urban weeds: an exploration of green spaces in Amsterdam. Urban Ecosyst 18, 1125–1137 (2015). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11252-015-0468-2

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11252-015-0468-2

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