Social Contexts, Local Practices, and Urban Projects for a Bioregional Postcrisis Recovery: The Emblematic Example of Athens’ Fringe, Greece

Abstract

A new spatial relationship among cities, territories, and landscapes has emerged in the last half century, shading progressively the role of urban-rural gradients in regional studies. Addressing complex realities and increasingly debated regional issues, bioregional approaches have acquired a strong interest in recent years. The present study has focused on a case study in Greece (Thriasio Plain) representative of complex socio-ecological systems with a long industrial tradition and transforming relationships between urban and rural areas. Industrialization of the area and the related land-use changes were realized through a sequence of official revisions of zoning plans. Thriasio Plain has been characterized by spontaneous development of different activities with increasing impact on a fragile environment dominated by Mediterranean-type vegetation, poor soils, and arid climate. By defining a consistent set of environmental indicators (Ecosystems and Air Quality Stress Indices), the present work aims at investigating recent dynamics typical of Mediterranean agro-urban outskirts, discussing suitable practices and projects for a bioregional recovery of degraded areas.