Does Nature have a place in the city? People in towns and cities want to be surrounded by trees and flowers, parks and gardens: every survey on the issue confirms that this is a major concern. Certu constantly monitors the natural heritage and its protection, development and management, in close liaison with urban planning and development policy, in response to increasing demand on the part of local authorities. Through the organisation of numerous conferences, technical information sessions and lectures, it has been possible to measure the importance of this study topic in economic, environmental and social terms.