Library of Birmingham’s rooftop secret garden
Birmingham faces several immediate risks due to climate change, including heatwaves, water shortages from droughts, floods, and extreme weather (Ref 11). To address these challenges, Birmingham City Council has set a goal to reduce carbon emissions by 60% by 2027. As part of this effort, the new Birmingham Library project, initiated by the council, includes a rooftop garden designed to contribute to this target (Ref 3). The library was designed by the Dutch firm Mecanoo Architecten, with a design process spanning from 2008 to 2012 (Ref 5). The two outdoor rooftop gardens, located on levels 3 and 7, were completed in 2013 (Ref 1). These gardens provide green spaces in the city center, enhance water management through rainwater harvesting, serve as educational facilities for sustainable food innovation, and create natural habitats for wildlife (Ref 1, 3, 4, 6). Their contributions helped the library achieve a BREEAM 'Excellent' rating and have garnered various awards (Ref 1, 10). The new library aligns with Birmingham City Council's Big City Plan to regenerate the city center, with the green roof gardens playing a key role (Ref 4).
More bees for Berlin
Mehr Bienen für Berln - Berlin blüht auf is a project that aims to provide an example of how public green spaces can be upgraded to be pollinator-friendly, thus creating urban habitats for wild bees and other insect species (Ref. 4). The project was implemented by the German Wildlife Foundation in cooperation with the Berlin Senate Department for Mobility, Transport, Climate Protection and Environment and other stakeholders, in all 12 Berlin districts, whereby the districts support the allocation of the exact location for the NBS (Ref. 3; Ref. 4). Measures for each location are compiled based on the specific surroundings, use and existing vegetation with a low mowing frequency in all areas (Ref. 2; Ref. 4). Most of the areas are road median strips, roundabouts, designated areas in parks or residual commercial areas (Ref. 4). After the first phase (2018-2022), the project has now entered its second phase (2023-2025) and was renamed to “Mehr Bienen in Berlin - Aus Grün wird Bunt” (engl.: More bees in Berlin - from green to colourful) (Ref. 3). The main goals are to reach a minimum of 100 flowering areas in 2025, to halt the sharp decline in bees and other insects, and to inspire citizens to protect wild bees (Ref. 1,2, 3). The project has so far limited acceptance among the population, as the areas are regarded as unkempt due to the low mowing frequency. Public relations work, like the installation of information signs next to the areas, is intended to increase understanding among the public (Ref. 4).
The Rio Salado Habitat Restoration Area
The Rio Salado Habitat Restoration Area is a urban green space that transformed a former 5-mile-long city dump into a thriving riparian corridor (2, 3, 7, 9). The project, spearheaded by the City of Phoenix in collaboration with the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Maricopa County Flood Control District, and the Arizona Water Protection Fund, has revitalized a degraded ecosystem (9). Through decades of concerted effort, involving government agencies, non-profits such as the Arizona Sustainability Alliance, and community engagement, the area has been restored to a lush habitat supporting diverse wildlife, including over 200 bird species (1, 2, 7). The project aimed to mitigate the pressing issues of urban heat, air pollution, and habitat loss that Phoenix grappled with (1). By creating green spaces, improving air quality, and offering recreational opportunities, the Rio Salado Habitat Restoration Area stands as a testament to the power of collaborative conservation and community resilience (1, 6, 7, 9). The restoration area now boasts hiking and biking trails, a nature center, and various educational programs, making it a community space (3, 7, 9).
Nisarg Udyan: From dumpyard to forest
In 2021, the local municipal government of Navi Mumbai City and a local NGO converted a neglected urban space used as a dump yard in Nisarg Udyan into a healthy and dense forest (Ref 1,2). The aim of the project was to improve biodiversity and complement the local ecosystem, choosing specifically native species from the local area for plantation (Ref 3). By applying the Miyawaki forest technique, the project was able to transform the wasteland into a 3-acre mini-forest quickly. A civic officer on behalf of the Navi Mumbai Municipal Corporation (NMMC) drove the re-forestation project jointly with the support of Green Yatra, a local NGO, and corporate social responsibility (CSR) funding support from Sony Music Entertainment (Ref. 1, 3).
Evozone Rain Garden
Spanning over 32000 square meters and featuring a landscaped rainwater catchment basin [5], the Rain Garden was created in 2014 in the Nuvali district of Santa Rosa. The garden offers an example of eco-friendly urban planning in the Philippines, as the Nuvali district is an eco-city itself with residential, business and commercial areas. Besides the Evozone Rain Garden, Nuvali also has various nature amenities, including a multi-functional lake, cycling and hiking paths, a wildlife and bird sanctuary and camping grounds. The Evozone Rain Garden was established in a commercial development area and it includes spacious open areas and cycling paths, along with the footbridge and view deck and adjacent to the manmade lake in Nuvali [2]. The Rain garden also serves as a rainwater catchment basin, rainwater harvesting system, and fire reserve, providing recycled water for landscaping, irrigation and other non-potable water uses [1]. In addition, the garden has been developed to serve as a habitat for various bamboo varieties and birds [4], also making the garden an ideal birdwatching spot [3]. The EvoZone Rain garden is free and open to the public [2].
Thane Creek Flamingo Sanctuary: management plan
The northern part of Thane Creek in Navi Mumbai was declared a 'Protected Area' in 2015 by the Maharashtra Government (1,2,4). As the Central Asian Migratory Flyway (CAMF) ecosystem, it is occupied by a large number of wading birds, especially Lesser Flamingos and Greater Flamingos (1,2). Recently, a Management Plan has been proposed to guide the sustainable management of the 'Thane Creek Flamingo Sanctuary (TCFS)' (1).
The Management Plan (2020-2030), proposed by the Mumbai Mangrove Conservation Unit (MMCU) proposed implementation plans for the conservation of Flamingo species, mangrove management, eco-tourism, education and awareness raising, as well as participatory decision-making (1).
Thane Creek harbours rich biodiversity and spreads over an area of 1690ha (896ha of mangroves and 794ha of adjacent creek water body) (1,2,3). Also, it is located right amidst a mega-city, being crucial to conserving this unique natural environment with its eclectic mix of mangroves, mudflats and threatened bird species (1,2).
The Management Plan (2020-2030), proposed by the Mumbai Mangrove Conservation Unit (MMCU) proposed implementation plans for the conservation of Flamingo species, mangrove management, eco-tourism, education and awareness raising, as well as participatory decision-making (1).
Thane Creek harbours rich biodiversity and spreads over an area of 1690ha (896ha of mangroves and 794ha of adjacent creek water body) (1,2,3). Also, it is located right amidst a mega-city, being crucial to conserving this unique natural environment with its eclectic mix of mangroves, mudflats and threatened bird species (1,2).
Justice Shahabuddin Ahmed Park Renovation
Rapid urbanization and a steep increase in population determined a loss of open spaces in Dhaka, the capital and the largest city of Bangladesh. To counteract these issues, Dhaka North City Corporation (DNCC) (one of the two municipal corporations in Dhaka, a governmental unit responsible for administering and providing basic infrastructure to the city) has implemented the Green Dhaka Campaign. One of the initiatives under the Green Dhaka Campaign is the renovation of Justice Shahabuddin Park, located in a dense area of Dhaka. (1, 6)
The intervention was initiated in 2017 and consisted of revamping the park by revitalizing the existing pond, planting new trees, and providing amenities for the people living in the neighbourhood where the park is located. The design decisions were taken by prioritising the opinions of different user groups and in consultation with naturalists. The idea of the 9-acre park was to create a safe, "inclusive and accessible public space for all inhabitants, free of crime and violence". (2)
The renovation also consisted in retaining the majority of trees present in the park, as they offered a variety of species such as medicinal trees, fruit trees, and floral trees. This helped with preserving the biodiversity of the space as well as a healthy environment, lauded by the majority of visitors, making the park a favourite of the locals. Three distinct lanes are also made available in the park for jogging, walking, and cycling. (1,2,3,4)
The intervention was initiated in 2017 and consisted of revamping the park by revitalizing the existing pond, planting new trees, and providing amenities for the people living in the neighbourhood where the park is located. The design decisions were taken by prioritising the opinions of different user groups and in consultation with naturalists. The idea of the 9-acre park was to create a safe, "inclusive and accessible public space for all inhabitants, free of crime and violence". (2)
The renovation also consisted in retaining the majority of trees present in the park, as they offered a variety of species such as medicinal trees, fruit trees, and floral trees. This helped with preserving the biodiversity of the space as well as a healthy environment, lauded by the majority of visitors, making the park a favourite of the locals. Three distinct lanes are also made available in the park for jogging, walking, and cycling. (1,2,3,4)
Ningbo Eastern New Town Ecological Corridor
The Ningbo Ecological Corridor is a post-industrial landscape ecological reconstruction project. It is located in the middle of the Eastern New Town in Ningbo, with a total area of 90 hectares [4]. Built upon a typical post-industrial site with degraded ecologies that needs to be healed and would soon become part of a new urbanized district, this project is holistic ecosystem services-oriented, introducing terraced wetland to manage elevation change of the site to slow the flows of urban runoffs from the street down to the river and remove the nutrients [1]. “Before being designed, the site and surrounding areas were fragmented farmland, villages and factories that were planned to be relocated - a typical brownfield in the rural-urban fringe of the southern region of China”[1]. With the implementation of the project, "the original channelized river is transformed into a meandering eco-friendly waterway dotted with tree isles to increase the interface between organisms and water bodies to empower the river’s purification capacity. The project uses productive crops and annual flowers that are rotated to bring seasonal surprise and agricultural vitality to the growing city. Boardwalks are designed to allow visitors to have intimate experience of nature and the nostalgic pastoral landscape. Pavilions made of corten steel floats on wetlands and terraces, giving the ecological corridor a touch of contemporary urban life and art. [1] "As a result, this project demonstrated landscape as an ecological infrastructure that heals the degraded ecological system meanwhile provides social and cultural services to the establishing communities." [1]
Mandaue City Mangrove Eco Park
Touted as a long-term solution to flooding of Mandaue City, establishment of a mangrove eco-park has begun, having received funding from the Department of Budget and Management (DBM) (Ref. 1). Through establishment of mangroves, the eco-park will "perform a significant role in shoreline protection, acting as a buffer against strong winds and waves", which is considered particularly important in light of the anticipated effects of climate change (Ref. 6).
A total 17-hectare plot is to be rehabilitated, as identified in the Mandaue City Government's Comprehensive Land Use Plan (Ref. 3). At present, it is unclear whether nature-based solutions (including mangrove restoration) are to be implemented across the entire 17ha of the site, but initial efforts have been focused on the restoration of a 5-ha section of mangrove forest (Ref. 2). Due to the lack of data on how exactly the remainder of the 17-ha area will be restored, the total NBS area for this project has only been recorded as 5-ha (5000m2) within this case study, rather than the entire 17,000m2 which is encompassed within the site.
The site is situated at the outfall of the Butuanon River which frequently overtops as a result of heavy rain and has been considered "biologically dead" since 1992 (Ref. 7). The site itself comprises a former dumpsite which had been "left derelict and filled with piles of trash", hence in addition to reducing flood risk, its rehabilitation will serve as green space in which "the residents of Mandaue City [can] gather and enjoy a breath of fresh air" (Ref. 2). The eco-park is considered to bring the added benefit of filtering water as it enters the Mactan Channel, in addition to reducing greenhouse gas emissions through carbon dioxide absorption (Refs. 1 & 6).
A total 17-hectare plot is to be rehabilitated, as identified in the Mandaue City Government's Comprehensive Land Use Plan (Ref. 3). At present, it is unclear whether nature-based solutions (including mangrove restoration) are to be implemented across the entire 17ha of the site, but initial efforts have been focused on the restoration of a 5-ha section of mangrove forest (Ref. 2). Due to the lack of data on how exactly the remainder of the 17-ha area will be restored, the total NBS area for this project has only been recorded as 5-ha (5000m2) within this case study, rather than the entire 17,000m2 which is encompassed within the site.
The site is situated at the outfall of the Butuanon River which frequently overtops as a result of heavy rain and has been considered "biologically dead" since 1992 (Ref. 7). The site itself comprises a former dumpsite which had been "left derelict and filled with piles of trash", hence in addition to reducing flood risk, its rehabilitation will serve as green space in which "the residents of Mandaue City [can] gather and enjoy a breath of fresh air" (Ref. 2). The eco-park is considered to bring the added benefit of filtering water as it enters the Mactan Channel, in addition to reducing greenhouse gas emissions through carbon dioxide absorption (Refs. 1 & 6).
One school, 5 hectares of forest
Ensuring that Ivorians, from an early age, pay attention to the environment, it is one of the Ivorian government’s many environmental objectives. As such, in 2019, the Ministry of Water and Forests initiated a project in the Mamie Fêtai Highschool of the city of Bingerville. The initiative is part of a bigger project that aims at raising awareness and tries to engage the Ivorian school in the recovery of the forest cover of the country. Ivory Coast is a delicate case in West Africa, from a forestry point of view. Since 1960 the country lost more than 80 percent of its forests, mainly to cocoa production and agricultural practices (1,3)
