Speaker
Description
Urban wastelands, as abandoned, underutilized, or functionally ambiguous lands, are often regarded as "spatial fragments" or "marginal spaces" in urban development, typically lacking clear functional designation purposes (Gandy, 2013). In the Chinese context, informal farms are generally part of urban wastelands created by urban villages or other communities using minimal materials and basic construction methods. The emergence of such informal farms is entirely spontaneous, driven by the self-organized actions of surrounding communities. However, informal farms often lack legal land use rights and remain excluded from formal urban planning frameworks. These place informal farms in a "gray zone", with their existence largely contingent on local governmental tolerance and enforcement discretion. Nevertheless, these spaces maintain significant eco-cultural, and social value, contributing to efforts to reduce carbon footprints, tackle food security challenges, and empower marginalized groups, which were understudied (Wang, 2024).
The study examines the social and environmental justice value of informal farms in urban wastelands in Xi'an, northwest China. Research methods use field observations, in-depth interviews, and textual analysis to investigate informal farm practices in these urban wastelands. The study further explores the significance of incorporating such practices into urban planning frameworks, emphasizing their potential to become an integral component of urban ecological and cultural services.
Four key findings are revealed in this study. Firstly, informal farms significantly enhance food security by providing safe and reliable food sources for urban low-income and marginalized groups, reducing their dependence on expensive organic markets. Moreover, to strengthen community cohesion, informal farms foster collaboration and interaction among neighbors through shared labor, resources, and spaces, improving social relationships. Community participation in farmland management further enhances residents' sense of belonging and responsibility toward their community, promoting overall community cohesion. Additionally, in terms of community empowerment, the cultivation process not only increases residents' control over public spaces but also reflects respect for the participation rights and voices of marginalized groups in urban governance. Finally, regarding environmental equity, the transformation and reutilization of urban wastelands mitigate the uneven distribution of green space to some extent, especially in low-income communities, which improves the overall accessibility of urban green spaces, contributing to a more equitable distribution of environmental resources. Informal farms, as a form of spontaneous participation, represent community residents' response to urbanization, serving as a platform to express their needs. These contested spaces require inclusive engagement to safeguard residents' rights to the city and prevent marginalization from exacerbating inequalities (Nikšič, 2017).
This study fills the research gap for informal farms on urban wastelands in northwest Chinese cities, emphasizing that community-driven informal farms represent a crucial pathway to achieving spatial justice, environmental equity, and social sustainability. It offers policy development and urban planners a more sustainable and equitable perspective. Future research should further explore how policy tools and community engagement mechanisms could transform informal farms from temporary and fragile into long-term social and ecological benefits.
References
Gandy, M. (2013) ‘Marginalia: Aesthetics, Ecology, and Urban Wastelands’, Annals of the Association of American Geographers, 103(6), pp. 1301–1316. doi: 10.1080/00045608.2013.832105.
Nikšič, M. and Sezer, C., 2017. Public space and urban justice. Built Environment (1978-), 43(2), pp.165-172.
Wang, H. (2024). The role of informal ruralization within China’s rapid urbanization. Nature Cities, 1(3), 205-215. https://doi.org/10.1038/s44284-024-00038-4
| Keywords | Urban wasteland; Informal Farm |
|---|---|
| Best Congress Paper Award | Yes |
