- University: Technische Universität Dresden
- Place of defence: Dresden
- Keywords: Urban Forest; Urban Forest Policy; Policy Issues; Policy Goals; Policy Instruments; Policy Implementation Provisions; Qualitative Content Analysis; Comparative Analysis
Abstract
This thesis comparatively analyzes urban forest policy in Copenhagen (Denmark) and Lahore (Pakistan) to examine how two contrasting urban contexts define policy issues, formulate goals, select instruments, and structure implementation provisions. Grounded in Krott’s forest policy analysis framework and informed by policy design and implementation theory, the study applies a qualitative comparative case study design using document analysis and semi-structured expert interviews. The findings show that both cities frame urban forests as important for climate resilience, biodiversity, and urban livability, but their policy architectures differ significantly according to context. Copenhagen’s policy is shaped primarily by densification, spatial competition, and the need to integrate urban nature into a compact city, leading to a stronger emphasis on quality, multifunctionality, and institutionalized partnerships. Lahore’s policy is driven by severe canopy scarcity, air pollution, climate stress, and rapid urbanization, resulting in stronger emphasis on expansion, safeguarding, and large-scale institutional mobilization. While both cases show substantial coherence between identified issues and stated goals, the main divergence lies in implementation feasibility. Copenhagen benefits from relatively stable institutional capacity and planning integration, whereas Lahore faces greater coordination, enforcement, and long-term maintenance challenges. The study concludes that effective urban forest policy depends not only on ambition, but on the coherence between problem diagnosis, goals, instruments, and implementation capacity. It further argues that planting targets alone are insufficient unless supported by monitoring, maintenance, and explicit attention to distributional equity.
