Green infrastructure as a geographical concept: Bridging spatial planning, ecological and social dimensions

Abstract

The concept of Green Infrastructure (GI) bridges spatial planning, ecology, and social sciences, yet its application in geography is often hindered by conceptual ambiguity and disciplinary fragmentation. This study aims to synthesize these fragmented perspectives into a robust geographical framework. We employed a hybrid review methodology, combining a systematic search with a qualitative thematic synthesis of 106 core studies published between 2000 and 2025. Our analysis categorizes the existing literature into five distinct thematic pillars – ranging from conceptual definitions and ecosystem benefits to critical governance challenges-demonstrating that these domains often operate in isolation. The analysis reveals that contemporary GI research is characterized by a “paradox of sophistication”: while methods for measuring ecosystem services are advanced, they are applied within a narrow geographical scope, overlooking the Global South and failing to integrate critical social dimensions. In response, we introduce the Form-Process-Power framework. This model integrates the physical configuration of green spaces (Form), their dynamic ecological and social functions (Process), and the political economies determining their distribution (Power). By systematically linking these dimensions, the proposed framework provides geographers and planners with a comprehensive tool to address the complexities of urban resilience and environmental justice.