Urban Greening Strategies for Compact Cities, An-Najaf Historical City, Iraq, A Case Study Sarah R. Hamza * , Tuqa R. Alrobaee Faculty of Physical Planning, University of Kufa, Najaf 54001, Iraq Corresponding Author Email: sarar.wahab@student.uokufa.edu.iq Copyright: ©2024 The authors. This article is published by IIETA and is licensed under the CC BY 4.0 license (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/). https://doi.org/10.18280/ijsdp.190525 ABSTRACT Received: 14 March 2024 Revised: 24 April 2024 Accepted: 11 May 2024 Available online: 29 May 2024 Urban greening is a crucial trend for achieving sustainability as it helps enhance the local climate and lower temperatures. So interesting green elements in cities is an urgent necessity, not an option. This study tries to elucidate suitable urban greening solutions in cities compact and limited in space. This study aims to clarify relevant urban greening strategies in densely populated cities with limited space, particularly old historical cities, by employing a methodology that involves formulating effective and suitable indicators to enhance urban greening in such places. The findings of the theoretical framework revealed various approaches to implementing urban greening in densely populated cities. These include the establishment of a network of green spaces, the installation of green roofs, the incorporation of front balconies, the use of temporary vegetation, and the creation of gardens and parks outside the city. These strategies were assessed using descriptive methods. These indicators were implemented in the ancient city located in the Al-Najaf Governorate, which is a historically significant city and a crucial hub. The implementation of these strategies can enhance the local climate of the city and transform its roadways and structures in a sustainable manner. Keywords: compact cities, urban greening, green roofs, network of green spaces, An-Najaf historical city 1. INTRODUCTION Integrating green spaces into cities, particularly those of historical significance, has a profound influence on cultivating the essence of the location and enhancing the sense of attachment to it. People perceive these spaces as areas for leisure, communal gatherings, and recreational activities for children, ultimately enhancing the residents' quality of life. Green spaces are integral to urban areas due to their role in preserving the environment. The quality and durability of the urban environment. Urban green spaces such as gardens, parks, and green roofs offer benefits to inhabitants by acting as vital components in urban environments. They absorb pollutants, release oxygen, maintain clean air, water, and soil, and contribute to ecological balance. The city aids in the recovery from physical and emotional stress, enhances social security, and promotes increased social engagement. It also provides a stunning visual display [1, 2]. Variations in land utilization and development approaches have resulted in the formation of green areas with distinct geometric, distributional, and compositional characteristics. Consequently, the compact city encounters significant physical and institutional barriers as a result of its limited size, which restricts the availability and quality of ample vegetation. The presence of plentiful plant elements and green areas is a defining characteristic of cities that prioritize comfort. Effective planning and management ensure the creation of a conducive and secure habitat for both humans and wildlife [3]. Without these natural spaces, there is no linked and connected life in society. Due to the lack of green spaces in Iraqi cities, particularly in ancient historical cities, there is an urgent need to develop solutions for urban greening to address this deficit [4]. It has become necessary for there to be diligent efforts to improve the reality of green spaces in these cities. Therefore, from the above, the research attempts to find a solution to the research problem represented by the lack of knowledge about urban greening strategies appropriate for compact, limited- area cities, especially historical ones, to achieve the goal of the research, The objective is to identify suitable strategies and policies for implementing urban greening initiatives in old historical compact cities to address the lack of green spaces and vegetation. This includes developing strategies and policies that are specifically tailored to the environmental conditions of old Iraqi cities, with a particular focus on the ancient city of Najaf. The aim is to emphasize the significance of urban greening in achieving urban sustainability. 2. URBAN GREENING AND ITS IMPORTANCE Smaniotto Costa et al. [5] defined urban greening as the sum of green spaces that together create the urban green fabric or system. It is situated inside intricate social-ecological systems comprising various locations such as public lands and private residential, commercial, and industrial areas [6]. Urban greening can manifest as projects or programs promoting more environmentally friendly urban living [7]. The European International Journal of Sustainable Development and Planning Vol. 19, No. 5, May, 2024, pp. 1875-1881 Journal homepage: http://iieta.org/journals/ijsdp 1875