Connecting Nature
Entry No | ECOWISE - 3 |
Strategic area(s) | NBS Air Pollution and Decarbonisation Citizen Science, Cultural and Creative GDE&I (Gender, diversity, equality and inclusion) |
Name of partner | EcoWise - Emily |
Resource / link | |
Location, Description of intervention/project | 30 partners investigating large-scale NBS in 11 European cities. Glasgow, Genk, Poznan, A Coruna, Bologna, Burgas, Ioannina, Malaga, Nicosia, Sarajevo and Pavlos Melas. Common aims: Each example has an ‘NBS exemplar’ which intends to act as a blueprint for rolling out similar solutions both across the cities themselves as well as in other locations. These exist with a variety of scales and objectives. In this way, cities with different expertise and levels of NBS in place, can learn from each other. |
Geographical scale of the project | In the case of each city opportunities have been mapped beginning at a larger urban scale and eventually focusing in on more localised opportunities. |
Background information | Glasgow: a post-industrial city. Aims to find opportunities for development and funding for other open spaces. Genk: Sewage in river makes the valley unattractive despite opportunities for it to connect nature reserves. Also flood risks. Poznan: green areas not distributed equally in city. A Coruna: Lack of biodiversity in city centre putting pressure on waste management, also heat stress from lack of vegetation. Bologna: City ecosystem is disconnected from nature and agriculture. Burgas: Park at city centre is derelict and needs restoring in a way that ensures biodiversity and social opportunities. Ioannina: Park at city centre is neglected. Lake water is also poor quality. Malaga: Heavily reliant on tourism and construction industries, and at risk of gentrification in certain parts which locals do not want. Nicosia: National forest park is an area of combined human and natural use. Fragmented responsibilities and disconnected current strategies. Sarajevo: Urban poverty is an issue as well as poor quality of river. Pavlos Melas: Forest fires and high unemployment are city’s main challenges. |
Objectives defined | Glasgow: Network of good quality multi-functional open spaces by 2050 Genk: Useable river valley to connect natural sites and for people to use. Poznan: River as multifunctional space, ‘pocket gardens’ in densely populated parts of the city. A Coruna: Development of a local economy related to NBS. Bologna: Relationship between agriculture and city. ‘Edible landscape’. Burgas: Change mindset of authorities re. NBS being a great solution; monitor air quality throughout city. Ioannina: Green employment; clean lake front; involving children. Malaga: Development of pocket parks and green corridors; resisting gentrification; diversify the economy. Nicosia: Natural corridors between green spaces to allow more people to use green modes of transport. Also want to improve green energy. Sarajevo: Multifunctional green spaces; clean river water; reduced pollution from vehicles. Pavlos Melas: Transformation of former military camp into park, to become a biodiversity hotspot and create jobs; improvement of air quality through restricting car use. |
Metrics used | Some cities also have specific metrics identified: Glasgow: Accessibility Standard - aimed at delivering access to a good quality open space, of >0.3ha, within a 400m walk of people’s homes; a Quality Standard – to ensure the open spaces used to meet the Accessibility Standard are of good quality in terms of usability and multi-functionality; a Quantity Standard – to ensure there is enough open space, per head of population, in each part of the City. Nicosia: Aims to reduce GHG emissions by 50% Sarajevo: Metric/ objective of river water being clean enough to swim in. Very clear aim even if not a specific metric. |
Diversity dimension and findings | Glasgow: Seeks to ensure open space access for everyone through co-creation, including disabled people, minority ethnic groups, children, young people, carers, older people, economically or socially disadvantaged groups. Burgas: Aims to involve young people as it is a university town with a youthful population. Sarajevo: NBS exemplar is an urban garden proposed in a state-run children’s home and next door to a Centre for Healthy Ageing. It intends to encourage intergenerational learning between these 2 groups and could be rolled out elsewhere throughout the city if successful. |
Result summary | Project is ongoing until May 2022. Connecting Nature Enterprise Platform (naturebasedenterprise.eu) has been created which connects places with urban challenges, with organisations who offer services which can fix them. Connecting nature framework in 3 phases (planning, delivery, stewardship) which each have 7 objectives a city must address when they are designing/ implementing their NBS. Glasgow: Opportunity mapping to find locations which can be improved. E.g. Commonwealth athletes village development has integrated green spaces + SUDS stormwater management. Collaborative governance: Governance guidebook Finance models – 75% of NBS is public-funded hence the proposal for nature based enterprises |
Input for DivAirCity and action items | Very specific in its aims with a timeline. Connecting nature framework is also very simple and described in understandable terms e.g. at https://youtu.be/bM3ds_ZdYfc.
Project has identified barriers to engagement which are very relevant. Engaging the UN-usual Suspects | Connecting Nature This includes a ‘box ticking’ culture making it hard to engage diverse groups.
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