A research lab at ICTA-UAB
Francesc is Asst. Professor at the Geography and Sociology Departments of the Vrije Universiteit Brussel (VUB), Belgium, where he leads an interdisciplinary research lab on urban ecology and social-ecological systems. He is also an affilated senior researcher with BCNUEJ, where he mainly contributes to the research line “Urban Environments, Health and Equity”. He obtained a PhD in Environmental Science and Technology (2016) awarded with Excellent Cum Laude and the Special Prize for Doctoral Studies from UAB (Autonomous University of Barcelona). His PhD thesis examined the concepts of ecosystem services and green infrastructure in the urban context, developing a pioneering framework to assess (mis)matches between (urban) ecosystem service provision and demand.
Since then, his research has been motivated to understand the role of urban nature towards more just, (climate) resilient, healthy and sustainable cities, combining geospatial and advanced quantitative and qualitative data analyses, including participatory methods. He has participated in several EU-funded research projects (URBES, OpenNESS, Naturvation, GreenLULUs, etc.) with multiple roles and responsibilities. Since 2022, he is the co-coordinator and PI of the European project “Coolschools”, a partnership of 16 organizations including universities, local governments, SMEs and international NGOs examining the role of climate nature-based solutions in school environments.
Keywords
- Urban Ecosystem Services
- Green Infrastructure
- Nature-based Solutions
- Spatial Analysis
- Landscape and Urban Planning
- Social-Ecological System
- Urban Resilience
Affiliated Projects
Selected Publications
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Calderón-Argelich, A., Anguelovski, I., Connolly, J.J.T., Baró, F.*, 2023. Greening plans as (re)presentation of the city: Toward an inclusive and gender-sensitive approach to urban greenspaces. Urban Forestry & Urban Greening 86, 127984. Doi: 10.1016/j.ufug.2023.127984; IF: 6.4 / Q1 (Env. Studies; 2022).
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Anguelovski, I.*, Connolly, J.J.T., Cole, H., (…), Baró, F. (6/18), (…), Minaya, J.M., 2022. Green gentrification in European and North American cities. Nature Communications. 13, 3816. doi:10.1038/s41467-022-31572-1; IF: 16.6 / Q1 (Multi-disc. Sci.; 2022). 99 citations (Google Scholar).
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Ribeiro, A.I., Triguero-Mas, M., Jardim Santos, C., (…), Baró, F.* , 2021. Exposure to nature and mental health outcomes during COVID-19 lockdown. A comparison between Portugal and Spain. Env. International. 154, 106664. Doi: 10.1016/j.envint.2021.106664; IF: 11.8 / Q1 (Env. Sci.; 2022). 112 ci.
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Baró, F.*, Camacho, D.A., Pérez Del Pulgar, C., Triguero-Mas, M., Anguelovski, I., 2021. School greening: Right or privilege? Examining urban nature within and around primary schools through an equity lens. Landscape and Urban Planning 208, 104019. Doi: 10.1016/j.landurbplan.2020.104019; IF: 9.1 / Q1 (Env. Studies; 2022). 49 citations.
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Baró, F.*, Langemeyer, J., Łaszkiewicz, E., Kabisch, N., 2021. Advancing urban ecosystem service implementation and assessment considering different dimensions of environmental justice (editorial of SI). Environmental Science & Policy 115, 43–46. Doi: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.envsci.2020.10.008; IF: 6.0 / Q1 (Env. Sci.; 2022). 15 citations.
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Baró, F.*, Calderón-Argelich, A., Langemeyer, J., Connolly, J.T. 2019. Under one canopy? Assessing the distributional environmental justice implications of street tree benefits in Barcelona. Environ. Science & Policy 102, 54–64. Doi: 10.1016/J.ENVSCI.2019.08.016; IF: 6.0 / Q1 (Env. Sci.; 2022). 101 c.
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Baró, F.*, Gómez-Baggethun, E., Haase, D. 2017. Ecosystem service bundles along the urban-rural gradient: Insights for landscape planning and management. Ecosystem Services. 24, 147–159. Doi: 10.1016/j.ecoser.2017.02.021; IF: 7.6 / Q1 (Env. Sci.; 2022). 254 citations.
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Baró, F.*, Palomo, I., Zulian, G., Vizcaino, P., Haase, D., Gómez-Baggethun, E. 2016. Mapping ecosystem service capacity, flow and demand for urban planning and policy: a case study in the Barcelona metropolitan region. Land Use Policy 57:405-417. Doi: 10.1016/j.landusepol.2016.06.006; IF: 7.1 / Q1 (Env. Studies; 2022). 409 citations.
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Baró, F.*, Haase, D., Gómez-Baggethun, E., Frantzeskaki, N. 2015. Mismatches between ecosystem services supply and demand in urban areas: A quantitative assessment in 5 European cities. Ecol. Indicators 55:146–158. Doi: 10.1016/j.ecolind.2015.03.013; IF: 6.9 / Q1 (Env. Sci.; 2022). 303 ci.
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Baró, F.*, Chaparro, L., Gómez-Baggethun, E., Langemeyer, J., Nowak, D. J., Terradas, J. 2014. Contribution of Ecosystem Services to Air Quality and Climate Change Mitigation Policies: The Case of Urban Forests in Barcelona, Spain. Ambio 43:466–479. Doi: 10.1007/s13280-014-0507-x; IF: 6.5 / Q1 (Env. Sci.; 2022). 521 citations.
Media Mentions
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Interview on COOLSCHOOLS project and the relevance of school NBS for children’s wellbeing – Scientix 25 October 2022
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Interview “School greening: Right or privilege? Examining urban nature within and around primary schools through an equity lens” – Sostenible.cat 18 June 2021
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Interviews in Radio Sabadell and Radio Cornellà on the publication “Nature-based solutions in the municipal context”
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Interview on study of the role of private green space/elements during the home confinement in Spain during COVID-19 – TV3 6 May 2020
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COOLSCHOOLS project launch interview – TV3 21 June 2022
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First prize in the research activity category of the 5th Environmental Science Awards – Colegi d’Ambientòlegs de Catalunya
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The green infrastructure in Barcelona is still very insufficient to have positive effects on the environment quality and wellness – UAB Divulga