Quando as espécies se encontram na paisagem: pensando socialidades mais-que-humanas em um parque urbano carioca.

When Species Meet in the Landscape: Thinking More-than-Human Socialities in a Rio de Janeiro Urban Park

Proceedings of the International Congress of Landscape Architecture, 2024, Curitiba - PR (Brazil)

How can the more-than-human presence in the city lay the groundwork for the conception of a Multispecies Urbanism? In this article, we aim to contribute to an emerging paradigm committed to taking more seriously the diversity of actors constituting the landscapes of the Anthropocene. In doing so, we hope not only to better understand the multiple interactions occurring in cities but also to envision novel guidelines for the design and planning of open spaces that promote resilience in a context of growing uncertainties. To achieve this, we will introduce a theoretical framework that expands the “social” to include more-than-human actors through Actor-Network Theory, Multispecies Studies, and a certain definition of landscape. Next, by weaving admittedly partial connections, we will shed light on care practices observed when humans and plants meet in a Rio de Janeiro urban park. Finally, we will highlight some sensitive entries that can inspire and, ultimately, help us understand and define more clearly the implications of Multispecies Studies for the field of landscape design.