Creole Herbal Dispensary
Herboristerie Créole, established in 2012 in Martinique by Séverine and Rémi Asensio, is a private farm and business focused on cultivating aromatic and medicinal plants, managing all stages of production, processing, and marketing. Situated in the commune of Gros-Morne, the farm draws on traditional Creole knowledge to produce medicinal plants and Creole cosmetics. Spanning 1.8 hectares, it is organized as a forest garden, featuring a diverse ecosystem that includes aromatic and medicinal plants, spices, fruit trees, and tropical flowers. Agroecological practices are central to its operation, with natural mulching from coconuts and green waste, and composting from the forest garden enriching the soil.
In addition, Herboristerie Créole operates a certified organic herbal dispensary in Saint Joseph, specializing in medicinal plants. The dispensary merges ancestral knowledge from the local "Rimèd Razié" tradition—a practice involving the use of native plants and natural remedies for healing, passed down through generations—with modern pharmaceutical standards. It produces a range of products, including herbal teas, infusions, spices, oils, and capsules for pharmaceutical and cosmetic use.
The farm is instrumental in preserving and passing on ancestral knowledge, which was once banned during the period of slavery, while ensuring that its artisanal products comply with dosage and safety regulations. Located at the foot of the Carbet peaks, the farm holds the Biological Farming (AB) label and follows agroecological methods through its "Jardin Créole" approach. It avoids the use of phytosanitary products, aims for zero waste, and implements measures to preserve biodiversity. (ref. 1, 2, 5, 6)
In addition, Herboristerie Créole operates a certified organic herbal dispensary in Saint Joseph, specializing in medicinal plants. The dispensary merges ancestral knowledge from the local "Rimèd Razié" tradition—a practice involving the use of native plants and natural remedies for healing, passed down through generations—with modern pharmaceutical standards. It produces a range of products, including herbal teas, infusions, spices, oils, and capsules for pharmaceutical and cosmetic use.
The farm is instrumental in preserving and passing on ancestral knowledge, which was once banned during the period of slavery, while ensuring that its artisanal products comply with dosage and safety regulations. Located at the foot of the Carbet peaks, the farm holds the Biological Farming (AB) label and follows agroecological methods through its "Jardin Créole" approach. It avoids the use of phytosanitary products, aims for zero waste, and implements measures to preserve biodiversity. (ref. 1, 2, 5, 6)
Ballyfermot People's Park
In 2021-2022, the fenced grassy area beside the Ballyfermot Community Civic Centre was transformed into a welcoming 'people’s park'—an open green space for the community (2). Designed by Dublin City Council’s Parks, Biodiversity, and Landscape Services, the park reflects ideas from local residents gathered over eight months of on-site conversations and two community consultation events.
The new park features a winding perimeter path, earth mounds planted with a variety of trees and plants for seasonal color, and infrastructure to support small community gatherings. An open pergola and a designated market space for food, plant, and craft markets provide inviting spots for social events. Along the park’s edge, a movement trail with playable elements for exercise and play adds a dynamic feature to the space.
Furthermore, a Jackstraws See-Saw is ideal for older children to play in groups and learn about movement whilst also being a tremendous informal seating area for them to gather and chat. Trees cover the See-Saw, offering shade and shelter from the weather, making it a great social space all year round. A Rope Course provides a physical challenge for older children to climb and balance at height while exploring the area. Informal play opportunities are found throughout the park to, with trees, fallen logs, benches and planting that create sensory, imaginative and physical play experiences. (5-7)
Additionally, an edible garden is planned to be developed collaboratively with local residents over the next 2-3 years (4).
The new park features a winding perimeter path, earth mounds planted with a variety of trees and plants for seasonal color, and infrastructure to support small community gatherings. An open pergola and a designated market space for food, plant, and craft markets provide inviting spots for social events. Along the park’s edge, a movement trail with playable elements for exercise and play adds a dynamic feature to the space.
Furthermore, a Jackstraws See-Saw is ideal for older children to play in groups and learn about movement whilst also being a tremendous informal seating area for them to gather and chat. Trees cover the See-Saw, offering shade and shelter from the weather, making it a great social space all year round. A Rope Course provides a physical challenge for older children to climb and balance at height while exploring the area. Informal play opportunities are found throughout the park to, with trees, fallen logs, benches and planting that create sensory, imaginative and physical play experiences. (5-7)
Additionally, an edible garden is planned to be developed collaboratively with local residents over the next 2-3 years (4).
Medicinal plant library in Tivoli
The first medicinal plant library in Martinique was created by the Ypiranga Martinique association, which inaugurated the project in 2019. The initiative was developed to preserve and revitalize traditional knowledge of medicinal plants in Martinique, integrating agroecology , modern scientific understanding, and ancestral practices.
The project is located on land provided by the municipality in the Tivoli neighborhood, and it serves as an educational resource, a functional pharmacy, and includes a small shared vegetables garden. Visitors, local residents, and researchers can access information on over 150 native Caribbean plants and their medicinal properties. The site includes two educational trails: one following the river that crosses the garden and a sensory trail designed to help visitors "reconnect with nature." Each plant is identified with information boards detailing its medicinal uses, including whether these uses are scientifically validated.
The project also aims to address social exclusion by offering reintegration workshops to troubled teenagers and the unemployed.
The project was financed through a combination of sources: an EU-funded call for projects, a crowdfunding campaign, and regional and national public subsidies.
As a result of its success, in 2021 the initiative was formally replicated with the support of the Caribbean Interreg "OSAIN" project, which led to the creation of 14 additional plant libraries in schools and public spaces. Volunteers and community-based efforts continue to sustain the project, and it has become a model for similar initiatives. (Ref. 1,2,4,5,6,7)
The project is located on land provided by the municipality in the Tivoli neighborhood, and it serves as an educational resource, a functional pharmacy, and includes a small shared vegetables garden. Visitors, local residents, and researchers can access information on over 150 native Caribbean plants and their medicinal properties. The site includes two educational trails: one following the river that crosses the garden and a sensory trail designed to help visitors "reconnect with nature." Each plant is identified with information boards detailing its medicinal uses, including whether these uses are scientifically validated.
The project also aims to address social exclusion by offering reintegration workshops to troubled teenagers and the unemployed.
The project was financed through a combination of sources: an EU-funded call for projects, a crowdfunding campaign, and regional and national public subsidies.
As a result of its success, in 2021 the initiative was formally replicated with the support of the Caribbean Interreg "OSAIN" project, which led to the creation of 14 additional plant libraries in schools and public spaces. Volunteers and community-based efforts continue to sustain the project, and it has become a model for similar initiatives. (Ref. 1,2,4,5,6,7)
"Uuliin Nuur" Park
Uuliin Nuur (Mountain Lake or Green Lake) is a community park located in the ger district area known as Denjin Myanga of Ulaanbaatar city. The Ger district is a term commonly used in Mongolia to refer to a type of settlement located on the outskirts of the country's capital city and characterized by traditional Mongolian gers, or yurts. The area was once a quarry for the city’s construction during the socialist regime (from 1946 to the late 1960s) and was turned into a dumping ground after its closure. In 2009, a private citizen, Ulziitogtokh Sodnomsenge, gained approval to develop Uuliin Nuur. He cleaned up the area and used his savings to turn the former dumpsite into a green garden in the middle of ger areas to create a healthy, green, public space, especially for children living in the area. He opened an ice rink in the winter of 2012 and officially opened the Uuliin Nuur park in May 2014. From 2013 to 2019, approximately 1000 trees and shrubs were planted in this park during the spring and autumn. The trees were planted by the founder of the project by locals and foreign visitors as memorial trees. Over the years, the park was equipped with various community facilities to support social interaction and educational purposes. Uuliin Nuur is one of the few public places launched and developed by an individual. It showcases how abandoned places can be transformed into valuable places and how the local community's attitudes and awareness can change. (Ref. 1, 3, 4)
Eco-district in Ulaanbaatar
Eco-district creation in Ulaanbaatar comes under the Ulaanbaatar Green Affordable Housing and Resilient Urban Renewal Project (AHURP). The planned development areas are hotspots of greenhouse emissions and air pollution, mainly due to the widespread use of coal for heating and cooking. The project will transform the highly climate-vulnerable and polluting "ger" areas (traditional Mongolian tents) into zones that are low-carbon emitting, climate-resilient and affordable. This will be done through low-cost urban infrastructure, public facilities, and social housing units. The project's five phases will deliver about 20 eco-districts or sub-projects, with each covering an average of 5 ha. The project is a large-scale demonstration initiative that will leverage private sector investment to deliver affordable and green housing stock, and redevelop "ger" areas into urban areas that are resilient to climate change, contribute to decreased air and soil pollution, and will provide a liveable urban environment to "ger" area residents. It will also establish policies, mechanisms, and standards for sustainable affordable housing and green urban redevelopment. [1, 2, 3]
President Place Green Building
Having been awarded the LEED Gold certification, the President Place building is considered the greenest building in the city. The building has been designed to create an exceptional balance between work, life and the environment. The 9th and 13th levels of the building have green roofs and terraces. President Place selected climate-tolerant plants that can survive on natural rainfall, and thus the green roof system does not require a permanent irrigation system. Effective practices were considered during the installation of the green roof, such as mulch for trees to conserve moisture, choosing plant species that can easily adapt to the site and need less irrigation. Trees have also been planted on the ground level. Additionally, the building is surrounded by permeable paving to help rainwater percolate easily. The aim was to create a visually appealing office building that leads the way in environmental, design-led construction in Saigon. [1, 2]
Traditional cultivation practices in Xochimilco borough
The Xochimilco borough of Mexico City is a World Heritage and Globally Important Agricultural Heritage System wetland site, with significant cultural and ecological importance in food cultivation and water ecosystem (1). Due to the deterioration of the area and lack of top-down initiatives for the restoration and conservation of the area, a number of grassroots initiatives trying to revive the traditional chinampa cultivation and restore the natural state of the ecosystem function and its native species such as the Xochimilco axolotl through reinvigorating sustainable practices that produce quality food and foster water supply. This NBS introduces 3 such grassroot intiatives: (a) Cooperativa Chinampayolo (b) Restauración Ecológica y Desarrollo A.C. (REDES) with its EcoQuilitl producer-consumer network and (c) Umbral Axochiatl A.C. (local community organisation). (1)
Parc Marianne ecodistrict
Parc Marianne is an ecodistrict that aims to address multiple challenges such as climate action for adaptation, environmental quality, flooding, and in response to the high population growth in Montpellier. Parc Marianne is connected to public transportation, has bicycle lanes and car parks, and the sidewalk is shared between pedestrians and bicyclists and structured with trees and other greenery. The park was certified with the ecodistrict label in 2015 following requirements like environmental sustainability, thermal performance, quality of life, nature and biodiversity, and mobility (Ref. 1). Parc Marianne is a mixed neighbourhood with an ability to combine city and nature, quality of life and centrality (Ref. 2).
Arrenberg climate district: Arrenbergfarm
Based on an urban regeneration project in the city district of Arrenberg, an association called “Awakening of the Arrenberg” formed in 2008, consisting of citizens, entrepreneurs and real estate owners seeking to transform their district. Under the umbrella of the project “climate quarter Arrenberg” initiated in 2014, whose goal is to make the district CO2 neutral by 2030, the development of a city farm covering 60,000 sqm on former railway premises - a Europe-wide unique project in urban farming – is one of their most important plans that make up their vision of becoming carbon neutral. (Ref. 1, 2 and 3). The goal of the farm is to produce healthy and locally produced food, while creating employment opportunities and remaining carbon-neutral, using power only from the sustainable power plant that will be installed for the project. (Ref. 2) In February 2020, the implementation has not yet started, but the “Awakening of the Arrenberg” association says the vision of the urban farm is stronger than ever before and that the project has received funding approval, with experts now working on feasibility studies. (Ref. 8).
Vegetable and plant production on industrial wastelands
The acronym VERDIR stands for Sustainable Rehabilitation and Responsible Innovation (Valorisation de l’Environnement par la Réhabilitation Durable et l’Innovation Responsable) and is a project of the University of Liège, about the development of local economic activities based on urban and peri-urban agriculture. It aims to convert existing brownfield sites according to the needs of the population. This involves the large-scale production of vegetables and plants which can be used for food but also for the pharmaceutical industry and the production of biomass, which is increasingly needed (Ref. 1).
