Promoting ecological value by the design of public spaces: possibilities in the case of the riverfronts of Valdivia, Chile

Faced with the contemporary challenge of designing urban solutions based on nature, we are faced with the question of how to reconcile the objectives of protecting natural ecosystems with the interests of safety, accessibility, legibility, and sociability in public spaces. It is postulated that the design of public space affects the conservation of biodiversity, being relevant when it is located within consolidated urban areas, as is the case of urban rivers in the city of Valdivia. Based on a multi-criteria evaluation, this research seeks to provide recommendations on the factors and criteria that foster a doubly beneficial relationship, both for society and for the environment in riverside areas.