Introduction. Urban Natures

Abstract

This introduction focuses on the main directions explored in this issue. Urban protected areas appear to be more and more frequent spatial configurations that reveal the limits of the traditional nature/culture partition. The different field cases also reveal the lack of urban governance about socio-ecological issues of these urban parks, underlined by their multiple and changing statuses. Although protected areas appear to be a useful tool to affirm their metropolitan rank, many cities fail to manage the conflicts generated by the exclusion processes caused by these parks; reversely, urban parks often make urban social injustice more visible.