A infraestrutura verde surge como ferramenta capaz de transformar o espaço urbano e reconectar o homem com os espaços verdes da cidade. Coloca os elementos naturais como provedores de benefícios fundamentais à vida e os processos ecológicos como estruturadores de um novo pensamento que usa os sistemas fluviais e os fragmentos verdes como espinha dorsal e conectores da malha urbana. Trabalhando em rede, prevê espalhar esses benefícios a pequenas e grandes escalas, melhorando a qualidade ambiental e a vida nas cidades. A dissertação explora a possibilidade de usar a infraestrutura verde como ferramenta para criação de comunidades ecológicas e através de estudos de casos de bairros ecológicos e ecovilas nos Estados Unidos e Europa busca as boas práticas já implantadas nas mesmas. A pesquisa foca na região norte de São Paulo, na bacia hidrográfica do córrego do Índio e na Vila Amélia, agrupamento residencial inserido em meio à área do Parque Estadual Alberto Lofgren, o Horto Florestal. A área foi escolhida por apresentar contexto único e grande potencial de transformação através da aplicação de princípios ecológicos. Para finalizar, o estudo propõe algumas diretrizes que podem contribuir para a criação de uma ecocomunidade que respeite suas características e processos naturais, a capacidade de suporte de seus ecossistemas e que contribua para a construção de uma cidade mais equilibrada, sustentável e resiliente. / The green infrastructure emerges as a tool capable of transforming the urban space and reconnecting man with cities green spaces. It places natural elements as providers of fundamental benefits to life and ecological processes as builders of a new thinking that uses river systems and green fragments as the backbone and connectors of the urban fabric. Working in a network, it plans to spread these benefits to small and large scales, improving environmental quality and city life. The dissertation explores the possibility of using green infrastructure as a tool to create ecological communities and through case studies of econeighborhoods and ecovillages in the United States and Europe seeks their good practices. The research focuses on the northern region of São Paulo, the stream basin of Indio stream and Vila Amélia, a residential group placed in the middle of the area of the Alberto Lofgren State Park, the Horto Florestal. The area was chosen because it presents an unique context and great transformation potential through the application of ecological principles. To conclude, the study proposes some guidelines that can contribute to the creation of an ecocommunity that respects its natural characteristics and processes, the support capacity of its ecosystems and that contributes to the construction of a more balanced, sustainable and resilient city.

Ecovillages acting as experimental community models have the potential to help move society towards sustainability by developing alternative solutions for sustainable living. Their contribution is through the power of example, demonstrating successful alternative systems that can be replicated at higher scales through the broader community. However, ecovillages often struggle with long-term planning and lack a systematic approach to integrating structure, processes and actions into strategic planning. Research was conducted to examine how ecovillages could be supported in this deficiency to make them more successful as models of sustainability. An initial document review of tools and concepts currently used in the ecovillage movement uncovered a recently developed concept called the Wheel of Sustainability (WoS). The Framework for Strategic Sustainable Development (FSSD) was applied to analyse this concept and to inform the development of a new prototype tool. The research was conducted in collaboration with experts in the ecovillage field and FSSD practitioners, through interviews and a final validation survey. The result of the research led to the co-creation of an enhanced communication and strategic planning tool, the Direction Indicator for Sustainable Communities (DISC), intended for use by ecovillage communities. Further research is recommended to field-test and further refine this tool.