What is a biocity?

A biocity is a new term created to describe a city that is “hosted by nature”, where trees, forests, plants, animals and microorganisms are central parts of its living urban environment, and green infrastructures are at the core of urban planning. This type of city is more resilient, as it constantly evolves and adapts to new ecological and societal challenges. 

A biocity urban environment has central elements: conservation of biodiversity, expansion of urban tree cover to improve air quality and microclimate, and the use of renewable materials to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and increase carbon storage. It is also important to educate citizens on the benefits of trees and green areas and to promote their participation in planning, designing and managing urban environments. Securing social inclusion of marginalised groups and civil society is also vital. Furthermore, combining ideas of entrepreneurship, civic engagement and societal transformation, and promoting innovative financing approaches, as well as supporting initiatives in relation to a circular economy are crucial in a biocity context. 

Global social and ecological challenges stress the urgency to transform current cities into biocities to create healthy, resilient and liveable environments for the wellbeing of humans, animals and nature. Examples of potential biocities include Barcelona (ES), Vancouver, (CA) and Baden (CH).

Further reading

Scarascia-Mugnozza et al. (eds.) 2023. Transforming biocities, designing urban spaces inspired by nature. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-031-29466-2