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Wiki source code of Connecting Nature

Version 1.1 by Emily West on 2021/11/25 08:41
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3 **Entry No **
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5 ECOWISE - 3
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8 **Strategic area(s) **
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10 NBS 
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12 Air Pollution and Decarbonisation
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14 Citizen Science, Cultural and Creative 
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16 GDE&I (Gender, diversity, equality and inclusion)  
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19 **Name of partner **
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21 EcoWise - Emily
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24 **Resource / link **
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26 **[[Glasgow | Connecting Nature>>url:https://connectingnature.eu/glasgow]] **
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29 **Location, Description of intervention/project **
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31 30 partners investigating large-scale NBS in 11 European cities. 
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33 Glasgow, Genk, Poznan, A Coruna, Bologna, Burgas, Ioannina, Malaga, Nicosia, Sarajevo and Pavlos Melas. 
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35 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. 
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38 **Geographical scale of the project **
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40 In the case of each city opportunities have been mapped beginning at a larger urban scale and eventually focusing in on more localised opportunities.
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43 **Background information  **
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45 Glasgow: a post-industrial city. Aims to find opportunities for development and funding for other open spaces.
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47 Genk: Sewage in river makes the valley unattractive despite opportunities for it to connect nature reserves. Also flood risks. 
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49 Poznan: green areas not distributed equally in city. 
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51 A Coruna: Lack of biodiversity in city centre putting pressure on waste management, also heat stress from lack of vegetation. 
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53 Bologna: City ecosystem is disconnected from nature and agriculture.
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55 Burgas: Park at city centre is derelict and needs restoring in a way that ensures biodiversity and social opportunities.
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57 Ioannina: Park at city centre is neglected. Lake water is also poor quality.
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59 Malaga: Heavily reliant on tourism and construction industries, and at risk of gentrification in certain parts which locals do not want. 
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61 Nicosia: National forest park is an area of combined human and natural use. Fragmented responsibilities and disconnected current strategies. 
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63 Sarajevo: Urban poverty is an issue as well as poor quality of river. 
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65 Pavlos Melas: Forest fires and high unemployment are city’s main challenges.  
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68 **Objectives defined **
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70 Glasgow: Network of good quality multi-functional open spaces by 2050
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72 Genk: Useable river valley to connect natural sites and for people to use.
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74 Poznan: River as multifunctional space, ‘pocket gardens’ in densely populated parts of the city. 
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76 A Coruna: Development of a local economy related to NBS. 
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78 Bologna: Relationship between agriculture and city. ‘Edible landscape’. 
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80 Burgas: Change mindset of authorities re. NBS being a great solution; monitor air quality throughout city. 
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82 Ioannina: Green employment; clean lake front; involving children.
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84 Malaga: Development of pocket parks and green corridors; resisting gentrification; diversify the economy.
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86 Nicosia: Natural corridors between green spaces to allow more people to use green modes of transport. Also want to improve green energy. 
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88 Sarajevo: Multifunctional green spaces; clean river water; reduced pollution from vehicles.
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90 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. 
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93 **Metrics used **
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95 Some cities also have specific metrics identified:
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97 Glasgow: Accessibility Standard - aimed at delivering access to a good quality open space, of >0.3ha, within a 400m walk of people’s homes;
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99 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;
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101 a Quantity Standard – to ensure there is enough open space, per head of population, in each part of the City.  
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103 Nicosia: Aims to reduce GHG emissions by 50%
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105 Sarajevo: Metric/ objective of river water being clean enough to swim in. Very clear aim even if not a specific metric. 
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108 **Diversity dimension and findings **
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110 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.
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112 Burgas: Aims to involve young people as it is a university town with a youthful population. 
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114 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.  
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117 **Result summary **
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119 Project is ongoing until May 2022. [[Connecting Nature Enterprise Platform (naturebasedenterprise.eu)>>url:https://www.naturebasedenterprise.eu/]] has been created which connects places with urban challenges, with organisations who offer services which can fix them. 
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121 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. 
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123 Glasgow: Opportunity mapping to find locations which can be improved. E.g. Commonwealth athletes village development has integrated green spaces + SUDS stormwater management.
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125 Collaborative governance: Governance guidebook 
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127 Finance models – 75% of NBS is public-funded hence the proposal for nature based enterprises  
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130 **Input for DivAirCity and action items **
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132 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.>>url:https://youtu.be/bM3ds_ZdYfc.]]
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134 * Action item: Possible inspiration for structuring our framework categories
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136 Project has identified barriers to engagement which are very relevant. [[Engaging the UN-usual Suspects | Connecting Nature>>url:https://connectingnature.eu/engaging-un-usual-suspects]] This includes a ‘box ticking’ culture making it hard to engage diverse groups.
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138 * Action item: Examine these items, particularly around co-creation. 
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