In an urbanizing world, the implementation of strategies that aim for the sustainability of cities is increasingly necessary, especially of those related to the conservation of biodiversity and with a socio-ecological character. Amongst the elements that make up the green inside and near cities, there are green areas with high levels of biodiversity or relevant natural values with the potential to become protected areas. As these green areas provide ecological and social functions within the urban landscape, they require a differentiated management from an ecological, social and normative perspective that explicitly considers the context in which the cities are found. Therefore, this paper intends to be a step towards the construction of a comprehensive vision about the identity and management of urban protected areas in Colombia, so that such vision may be incorporated to the sustainability of the territory and lead to the conservation of urban biodiversity.