SUR Lab Director Edoardo Croci highlights the value of urban parks at Corriere della Sera’s Pianeta 2030 Festival
On 5 June 2026, World Environment Day, Edoardo Croci, Director of the Sustainability and Resilience (SUR) Lab at Bocconi University and President of Italia Nostra, participated in the Biodiversity session of Pianeta 2030 – Il Festival, the annual event organised by Corriere della Sera and dedicated to nature, climate and sustainability. Held at Milan’s Teatro Franco Parenti, the festival brought together experts, institutions and civil society representatives to discuss environmental challenges and pathways towards a more sustainable future.
During the discussion, Professor Croci focused on the role of urban parks as providers of ecosystem services that generate tangible environmental, social and economic benefits for cities and communities. Drawing on research conducted on Milan’s green areas, he explained how parks contribute to reducing urban heat island effects, mitigating noise pollution, enhancing biodiversity and improving environmental quality. At the same time, they provide opportunities for relaxation, recreation, sport and social interaction, supporting citizens’ physical and mental well-being.
Professor Croci emphasised that the benefits generated by urban green spaces vary according to the characteristics of each park, including its infrastructure, available services, maintenance standards and perceived level of safety. These factors significantly influence how people experience and value urban nature, shaping the frequency and quality of park use.
From an economics perspective, Professor Croci illustrated how researchers have assessed citizens’ willingness to pay for the preservation and maintenance of urban parks. This is a way to estimate the value people attribute to the benefits generated by green spaces. Research findings indicate that, in the case of Milan’s most appreciated parks, this value can reach up to €25 per person per week. These results demonstrate that urban parks create substantial value for society, even when such value remains largely invisible in conventional economic metrics.
Professor Croci also highlighted the experience of Boscoincittà, one of Milan’s most significant urban forestry projects, managed by Italia Nostra. Developed within the Parco Agricolo Sud Milano, Boscoincittà anticipated many of the principles now embedded in the European Union’s Nature Restoration Law. Over the years, the project has successfully combined ecological restoration, biodiversity enhancement and the provision of recreational and educational services, becoming a model for urban nature-based solutions and community participation.
The discussion reaffirmed the importance of investing in urban green infrastructure not only as a climate adaptation strategy but also as a means of generating social value, strengthening community ties and improving the quality of life in cities. As highlighted by Professor Croci, recognising and measuring the benefits provided by urban nature is a crucial step towards integrating biodiversity and ecosystem services into urban planning and policy decisions.
Here you can watch the event. Professor Croci's intervention begins at minute 48.
Photo credits: Luiza Giannelli