Call for Thematic Dossier

Thematic Dossier 01 – Ecosystem Services in the Context of Climate Change

Ecosystem services — provisioning, regulating, supporting, and cultural — constitute a set of functions and benefits provided by ecosystems that sustain human life and environmental quality. In urban environments, they play a central role in climate change mitigation and adaptation, directly influencing thermal comfort, air quality, water management, biodiversity conservation, and public health.

The strategic integration of these services into urban planning and design is essential for cities and metropolitan regions to become more resilient and sustainable. Urban forestry, green areas, ecological corridors, preserved water bodies, and nature-based solutions form a network of ecological infrastructure capable of reducing socio-environmental risks, enhancing climate resilience, and improving quality of life.

Despite their recognized importance, the effective implementation of these services in Brazilian cities still faces barriers such as fragmented planning, lack of precise indicators, and insufficient integration between environmental, architectural, and urban policies. This special issue seeks to gather contributions that not only describe and analyze ecosystem services but also present design, technological, and management solutions capable of expanding their presence and effectiveness in urban space.

Submissions are expected to:

  • Assess and map urban and metropolitan ecosystem services using quantitative and qualitative indicators;

  • Present architecture, urbanism, and landscape architecture projects that enhance climate regulation, water management, and ecological provisioning services;

  • Develop methodologies for integrating ecosystem services into master plans, urban projects, and public policies;

  • Discuss nature-based solutions and climate change adaptation strategies applied to different urban contexts;

  • Report case studies demonstrating measurable results from the implementation of ecosystem services in urban areas;

  • Propose governance mechanisms and social participation strategies for the integrated management of these services.

By prioritizing a critical and forward-looking perspective, this special issue aims to encourage reflections and actions that transform urban planning and design into instruments for building fairer, more resilient, and ecologically functional cities.

Publication Guidelines

Participation in special issues is entirely free, with no submission, editing, or publication fees for approved articles. However, authors of selected papers must provide an English version of their article, which will be reviewed and standardized by the editors to ensure high-quality dissemination and greater international reach.

Evaluation criteria will strictly follow the journal’s editorial guidelines, prioritizing:

  • Theoretical and scientific contribution of the manuscript;

  • Originality and relevance of the study;

  • Methodological consistency;

  • Excellence in academic writing.

Article selection will be based exclusively on the quality of the submitted text, valuing research that offers significant contributions to Architecture and Urbanism and their intersections with urban planning and management.

Article Submission

  • Use the template provided by the journal (mandatory);

  • When submitting the manuscript through the system, include a reference to this special call at the end of the title;

  • Only articles written in Portuguese will be accepted.

Deadlines

  • Submission deadline: November 30, 2025

  • Notification of accepted papers: February 15, 2026

  • Expected publication: June 30, 2026