Highlights We investigated the change in visitation of urban green spaces (UGS) during COVID-19 pandemic. Social isolation reduced extent, type and distance of visited UGS on the basis of legal restrictions. Reasons for visiting UGS changed from non-essential before the pandemic to essential during it. Respondents missed visiting UGS regardless of the view of UGS from their window. Respondents expressed the need for UGS integrated within the urban fabric.

The impact of allergens emitted by urban green spaces on health is one of the main disservices of ecosystems. The objective of this work is to establish the potential allergenic value of some tree species in urban environments, so that the allergenicity of green spaces can be estimated through application of the Index of Urban Green Zones Allergenicity (IUGZA). Multiple types of green spaces in Mediterranean cities were selected for the estimation of IUGZ. The results show that some of the ornamental species native to the Mediterranean are among the main causative agents of allergy in the population; in particular, Oleaceae, Cupressaceae, Fagaceae, and Platanus hispanica. Variables of the strongest impact on IUGZA were the bioclimatic characteristics of the territory and design aspects, such as the density of trees and the number of species. We concluded that the methodology to assess the allergenicity associated with urban trees and urban areas presented in this work opens new perspectives in the design and planning of urban green spaces, pointing out the need to consider the potential allergenicity of a species when selecting plant material to be used in cities. Only then can urban green areas be inclusive spaces, in terms of public health.

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El artículo aborda la ecoplanificación como estrategia para solucionar algunos problemas característicos de las ciudades del siglo XXI. Se analiza el crecimiento poblacional urbano, el fenómeno de las megaciudades, y los problemas que generan. Se revisan movimientos, teorías y estrategias que permiten buscar soluciones, haciendo énfasis en conceptos clave como biofilia y biomímesis. Se plantean reflexiones y enfoques metodológicos concernientes a las posibilidades de una planificación territorial más natural, en la línea de los planteamientos de la infraestructura verde o de las NBS (natural based solutions), analizando sus variados componentes y los beneficios que generan. Se concluye que es prioritario avanzar en el estudio y la aplicación de soluciones integradoras en la línea de las ciudades biofílicas, pues se cuenta con las herramientas y el apoyo de gran parte de los agentes involucrados.