THE INSERTION OF GREEN <BLUE> INFRASTRUCTURE IN URBAN AND REGIONAL PLANNING: BARRIERS AND INVISIBILITY

Abstract

The concept of Green Infrastructure (GI) generally refers to issues related to sustainability, green spaces and is associated with Sponge Cities (SCP), Nature-based Solutions (NbS), and water management, such as Best Management Practices (BMPs) and Low Impact Development (LID). Included in this concept is Blue Infrastructure (BI), which is implied in many studies and even implicit in others. This research investigates the integration of Blue Infrastructure (BI) in the link between Green Infrastructure (GI) and urban and regional planning. Through an analysis of 50 scientific articles, the visibility of BI in strategies for sustainable urban and regional planning using GI was observed. The publications show varied levels of exposure and emphasis on BI, which is often implicitly integrated within the broader concept of GI. The goal of this paper is to demonstrate that the role of BI extends beyond water resource management, flood control, and mitigation solutions, and that, in order to increase urban sustainability and resilience, its interconnection with other planning elements must be considered from the start of projects and interventions. As part of an urban management system that contributes to several ecosystem services, this paper emphasizes the critical importance of increased visibility and integration of BI in the urban and regional planning process so that, in the face of current climate challenges, sustainable and resilient landscapes can be regenerated and/or built.