Use of urban green areas as a Nature-based Solution in the city of São Paulo, SP: a focus on urban agriculture

• Ano de defesa: 2025
• Autor(a) principal: Bennedetti, Luiza Vigne
• Tipo de documento: Tese
• Tipo de acesso: Acesso aberto
• Idioma: eng
• Instituição de defesa: Biblioteca Digitais de Teses e Dissertações da USP
• Palavras-chave em Português: Agricultura urbana; Soluções-baseadas na Natureza; Serviços ecossistêmicos; Urban agriculture; Nature-based Solutions; Ecosystem services
• Link de acesso: https://www.teses.usp.br/teses/disponiveis/106/106132/tde-03102025-094309/

Urban centers face growing socio-environmental challenges, including climate change, pollution, food insecurity, and unequal access to green infrastructure. These issues are often exacerbated by rapid urbanization and socio-spatial inequalities. In response, Nature-based Solutions have emerged as promising strategies to mitigate urban pressures while enhancing resilience. Among these, Urban Agriculture stands out as a multifunctional practice capable of delivering environmental, social, and economic benefits. By reconnecting food production with urban life, UA can support ecosystem services, promote community engagement, and foster more equitable and sustainable urban development. This thesis presents an applied scientific contribution to addressing socio-environmental conflicts in São Paulo, the largest city in Brazil. By integrating diverse methodological approaches with strong potential for public policy application, the research aims to advance both theoretical understanding and practical solutions related to Urban Agriculture. The study begins with a comprehensive review of the scientific literature, identifying key gaps and opportunities in knowledge concerning the potentials and limitations of urban agriculture. The second phase of the research focuses on analyzing the provision of ecosystem services associated with UA. This analysis combines an environmental quality assessment of urban territories with qualitative insights gathered through questionnaires with urban producers. Finally, the thesis presents an assessment of the socio-environmental vulnerabilities of the city of São Paulo, including the mapping of inequalities in access to green areas and the identification of priority regions for the implementation of transformative interventions. The analysis highlights the role of Urban Agriculture not only as a provider of environmental and social benefits, but also as a tool to strengthen access to green areas in the municipality.