The Role of Urban River Valley Restoration in Developing Green Tourism and Sustainable Infrastructure

Urban river valleys, as integral components of urban green and blue infrastructure, play a pivotal role in enhancing quality of life and fostering sustainable tourism development. This study, employing an analytical-descriptive approach, investigates the capacities of Tehran's river valleys in connection with global experiences. The theoretical foundations of sustainable development, ecosystem services, and green infrastructure were first reviewed, and a conceptual framework was then constructed using domestic and international scientific sources. A comparative analysis of restoration projects in China and Seoul revealed that the success of urban river restoration depends on the integration of ecological rehabilitation, socio-cultural revitalization, and active community participation. The findings indicate that Tehran's river valleys, with their natural landscapes and seasonal water flows, possess significant potential to become hubs of green tourism. However, the absence of integrated management, weak cultural infrastructure, and limited participatory programs hinder the full realization of these capacities. Finally, policy and management strategies including integrated governance, local community empowerment, ecological restoration, and green economy development—are proposed to transform river valleys into sustainable urban corridors and driving forces of the green economy.

کلیدواژه ها:

Sustainable Development ، Urban River Valleys ، Green Tourism ، Green and Blue Infrastructure