Experiences of a popular organization for conservation in the Metropolitan Area of Buenos Aires. The cases of Santa Catalina, Isla Verde and Camino de las Flores

The urban expansion in the province of Buenos Aires has led to the fragmentation of natural ecosystems, which has generated a community need to inhabit healthy environments. Therefore, citizens have taken the initiative to organize and establish networks to preserve small relics of nature in the cities. Through the analysis of three cases Reserva Natural Provincial Santa Catalina, Reserva Urbana de la Defensa de El Palomar "Isla Verde" y Paisaje Protegido de Interes Provincial Camino de las Flores) we explore the crucial role of citizen participation in the protection of these urban green areas. We observed common characteristics: organized communities locally rooted, grassroots activists, academics and researchers committed to urban green areas defence. These constitute areas characterized by a collective response oriented aimed at conquering rights and promoting biodiversity with a strong resistance and resignification. We conclude that, due to the current environmental crisis, demands the active preservation of urban green spaces where the community assumes a leading role and faces territorial challenges and political disputes.