The Importance of Planning for Green Spaces

Green spaces are often perceived as a luxury, especially in rural areas in need of basic services and characterized by housing needs. Recent studies proof the necessity of providing green spaces, captured in terms of the social, environmental, health and economic benefits that such spaces offer to (urban and rural) communities, along with the core linkage to sustainability and enhanced quality of life. Acknowledging the constrains of providing green spaces including issues such as limited municipal budgets, conflicting development priorities, and increasing urbanization placing pressure on space for development, this paper explores the importance of planning for green spaces in terms of the direct and indirect benefits it offers to communities and to the sustainable development approach.