The role of the state in preserving urban green infrastructure - National Urban Parks in Finland and Sweden

Abstract

The National Urban Park (NUP) is a planning instrument used by the state to preserve cities' green infrastructure (GI). This article compares a top-down approach to the designation of NUP, as it has been applied in Sweden, with a bottom-up approach, as it has been applied in Finland. The application that has taken place in Sweden has contributed to the Royal National Urban Park in Stockholm being the only one in the country so far, partly due to a hesitation among municipalities to implement a tool which limits their future development opportunities. In Finland, on the other hand, where the initiative is driven by municipalities, the NUP has become so demanded that the municipalities compete over approval. In both cases, the study shows that NUP is a strong instrument for protecting green areas, but the implementation approach by the public authorities is crucial for its success.