Cities are territories vulnerable to climate change. An alternative to increase resilience and mitigate the effects of the climate context is urban forest planning to increase ecosystem services. This research constructed a forest cover sustainability index, based on 147 semi-structured interviews with residents of four residential areas of the city of Santo Domingo (Gazcue, Zona Colonial, Ciudad Nueva, and San Carlos), in which information was collected based on both benefit perception and tree management in their home and nearby public areas. The socioeconomic characteristics of the population and the information gathered from the measurements of the urban forest in both public and private areas of the city during the 2016–2019 period were considered, including these four residential areas, which established the ecosystem services provided by the urban forest. The results showed that Gazcue had a higher value in the forest cover sustainability index. The factors that influenced this result were: job stability, medium-high income, and property ownership. Likewise, the added value of the territory, whether in terms of tourism or the socioeconomic value of the population that inhabits it, is closely related to a greater attention to urban planning, prioritizing the conservation and landscape harmony that the arboreal component can provide. In conclusion, urban forest planning in cities should consider tree species, the design and structure of spatial arrangements, and a competent legal framework that can meet the challenges of territorial sustainability and contribute to the resilience and mitigation of climate change impacts.

The rapid urbanization of cities has resulted in the deterioration of urban forests and the loss of important benefits from green infrastructure, such as the removal of Greenhouse Gases (GHG) and carbon sequestration. The Mirador Sur Park is one of the main green spaces in the city of Santo Domingo. The objective of this research was to identify citizen participation in the design and management of urban forests as a strategy for guiding cities towards a more sustainable and resilient model in the face of climate change. In this study, changes in the park’s land use were identified, 136 park users were interviewed to find out their perception of the benefits of forest cover, and the ecosystem services of Mirador Sur Park were quantified using the i-Tree Canopy tool. It was found that the ecosystem services related to the removal of atmospheric pollutants are clearly perceived by the users of the park. However, there are other services that could not be identified if there is no relationship with the users of the park, such as those related to the benefits of human well-being. Citizens’ perception and appropriation are important elements for the co-management of the park, and it would be appropriate for them to become involved in the design and implementation of environmental public policies, as well as nature-based solutions, that contribute to adequate and inclusive urban planning aimed at adapting to climate change.

En Chiapas existen 44 áreas naturales protegidas (ANP), las cuales sufren de constante presión por el cambio de uso de suelo a sistemas agropecuarios que son relacionados con impactos negativos en las ANP. Este documento analizó la influencia de la ganadería en zonas de amortiguamiento. Se eligieron 32 productores en 3 comunidades. Se recabó información con entrevistas semi-estructuradas y talleres participativos. La información fue analizada con un FODA modificado contrastando la actividad ganadera con el enfoque de capitales de la comunidad. El estudio evidenció que alrededor de 2007 la influencia institucional en la expansión y manejo de las actividades agropecuarias promovieron impactos negativos al ambiente. Debido a esto, los objetivos institucionales se enfocaron al desarrollo de prácticas sostenibles. Durante el acompañamiento institucional se llevaron a cabo capacitaciones a los diversos grupos de productores; como resultado se fomentó la organización local y la implementación de tecnología agropecuaria (sistemas silvopastoriles). La actividad ganadera en las tres comunidades tiene distintos grados de desarrollo; sin embargo, son coincidentes de manera general en el manejo poco amigable con el ambiente. No obstante, la intervención institucional ha influido en cambios del sistema productivo, orientando a implementar prácticas más sostenibles. Se considera que procesos participativos e inclusivos fomentarán una re-culturalización productiva dirigida a la sostenibilidad integral del territorio.