Improved soil quality

MINI Ireland, in collaboration with conservation charity Earthwatch Europe, has launched Ireland's first "Tiny Forest" at the Tolka River Project, a community-driven rehabilitation program in Co. Dublin. In a space the size of a tennis court (195m²), nearly 600 native trees have been planted, creating a densely packed, environmentally efficient green area.
This partnership with Earthwatch aims to raise awareness for local environmental projects and foster community bonds. Green spaces like this offer valuable areas for people to connect with nature, exercise, unwind, and reduce stress—one reason the Tolka River Project center was chosen as an ideal location. "Tiny Forests" are remarkable for their impressive efficiency within a small footprint: by planting 600 native trees closely together, the forest grows naturally with increased density, achieving up to 30% more plant density, ten times faster growth, and up to thirty times better carbon dioxide absorption. Over the next three years, this forest is expected to attract more than 500 animal and plant species, transforming into an accessible mini-ecosystem.
The project uses a variety of locally sourced native trees, including silver birch, alder, hazel, hawthorn, and gorse, which together will form the natural layers of a forest. Ireland's first Tiny Forest was planted on March 22, 2023, at the Tolka River Project site in Dublin's Buzzardstown area. The Tiny Forest, located near the center, will serve as a space for reflection and recovery, supporting clients on their journey to rehabilitation. The planting event was a day of celebration, with Tolka River Project clients and MINI Ireland staff working side-by-side to create this thriving green space.. The space is utilized to create recovery-focused programs, including mindfulness and yoga, while functioning as a social gathering area (7).

This series of projects in the Trinity Garden aims to improve sports fields, enhance drainage, and replace HVAC (Heating, Ventilation, and Air Conditioning) systems at the community center in the Trinity Garden community (Ref 1). The first project involves a complete renovation of the playground area at Trinity Gardens Park. The entire playground will be rebuilt with a new drainage system, along with the installation of a new play structure, benches, and trash receptacles (Ref 2). Another key component of the project includes the construction of a new natural baseball/football combo field, with a new infield, bases, outfield fencing, foul poles, and with improved drainage (drain piping, inlets, sodding, and irrigation) for the sports field (Ref 3). On the subject of recreation and public health, Councilman Fred Richardson emphasised the significance of Trinity Park, stating, “Good public parks are key to creating healthy children and, in turn, strong communities. I am so happy that we are able to bring these major improvements so local children will have a great place to come play, and their caregivers will have a place to watch them from” (Ref 2).
Additionally, another major project on the agenda focuses on street and drainage improvements within the community. This will address issues on Warsaw Avenue and Collins Avenue, from Main Street to Jessie Street, aiming to resolve several hazardous open ditches that currently run through the neighborhood (Ref 2).

The Digital Hub, a campus in Dublin 8 offering 49,000 sq. ft. of office, studio, and workspaces for small businesses in technology, creative industries, social enterprises, and artisans, has partnered with Pocket Forests to establish Ireland’s first urban native tree nursery. Located on The Digital Hub campus, the Pocket Forests Tree Hub will grow native Irish trees, including birch, rowan, and alder, to support the planting of over 600 trees throughout Dublin 8 and beyond.
As Dublin 8 district faces a noted lack of green spaces and low tree density, as highlighted by the Mapping Green Dublin project from University College Dublin and local groups, the Tree Hub is set to address this gap. This innovative initiative aims to improve the local natural environment and bolster biodiversity in a rapidly urbanizing area.
Pocket Forests, co-founded in 2020 by Ashe Conrad-Jones and Catherine Cleary, is inspired by the Tiny Forest concept, which brings diverse native plants to small urban plots. Using permaculture methods, Pocket Forests regenerates depleted soil and creates diverse micro-forests on plots as compact as six square meters. This approach, which enriches soil and encourages biodiversity, has a unique capacity to transform urban areas into lush, green spaces, contributing to improved air quality and local ecosystems.
The Covid-19 pandemic has underscored the importance of access to nature for well-being, and The Digital Hub offers an ideal location for this first-of-its-kind urban initiative. The Tree Hub will serve as a valuable resource for greening Dublin 8, promoting community engagement, and fostering a greater connection to nature.
Beyond the nursery, Pocket Forests will run a series of six half-day workshops at The Digital Hub to educate the community on biodiversity, pollination, compost, soil health, and the importance of urban forest ecosystems. The Digital Hub’s Tree Hub boosts well-being, biodiversity, and green space for future generations. (1-5

On a small roadside green space in Berlin, a tiny forest was created. The idea of Tiny Forests comes from Japan, there are already some in France and the Netherlands, and since 2020 also in Germany. Tiny forests are constituted of trees planted densely next to each other in small spaces, such as tiny green roadsides.
At Oderstraße, the NGO TinyForestBerlin planted an even smaller forest, a nano forest on a roadside where trees cool down the area, filter the air and create a habitat for insects. Trees in urban areas loosen up the dense and degraded soil, allowing it to store carbon and let rainwater properly seep into the ground to prevent urban flooding. Roadsides are hardly utilised or recognized in their environmental potential, such as hosting a nano forest. Projects like the one implemented by TinyForestBerlin present an approach for collaboration between the district and civil society, as the district's park department lack the capacity to maintain small roadsides. The project at Oderstraße is the first official tiny forest in Berlin, as a previous planting campaign in Friedrichshain was not entirely legal due to missing approval of local authorities. (Ref. 2; Ref. 5)
The TinyForestBerlin association has set itself the goal of creating such small nano-forests all over Berlin. An ambitious project that aims to enrich the city's green spaces and contribute to improving the urban climate. The trees planted on Oderstraße are one of many smaller planting projects that are spread throughout the city on public as well as private land. (Ref. 3)

"Urban Natural Area Ciric" is an initiative aimed at designating the forest and lakes of the Ciric area, located on the outskirts of the city of Iași, as an Urban Natural Area. To achieve this goal, the initiating organizations—NGO Civica and the Ornithological Association of Iași (SOR)—have developed a comprehensive report focused on the Ciric natural area, which monitors species and habitats while identifying pressure points on biodiversity and necessary conservation actions, as well as the benefits these areas provide.
In the Ciric area, various flora and fauna species have been identified, with some holding high protection status (14 bird species) or being of community importance and conservation interest. However, this ecological richness faces threats, as factors such as rapid urbanization, water pollution, and waste disposal have been identified as significant risks to the ecosystems.
In response to these challenges, the NGO aims to collaborate with the municipality to create protective municipal laws that will not only recognize the area as an Urban Natural Area but also ensure its inclusion in development plans. This partnership seeks to establish regulatory measures and strategies that will safeguard and enhance the biodiversity and ecosystems of Ciric. Additionally, the organizations have highlighted the social and physical benefits of the area for residents, including flood regulation and prevention, pest control, provision of clean air, and recreational and scientific opportunities.
To further raise support and awareness for their efforts, SOR and Civica conduct guided tours, educational workshops, and photographic exhibitions. They have also set up two informational panels in the area that highlight the biodiversity of Ciric. Furthermore, the two NGOs have partnered with regional organizations to create the "Rețeaua națională de arii naturale urbane" (The National Network of Urban Natural Areas) and have received funding from the EEA Grants. (1-8)

Martinique is a biodiversity hotspot, home to over 1,500 endemic plants, 70% of which are under threat from human activities. In response to these pressures, the Péyi Vert [Green Country] initiative was launched to plant endemic trees and strengthen the island's biodiversity. Beyond simply preserving species, these trees are crucial in maintaining healthy ecosystems, as they provide essential services such as carbon sequestration, shade, food for human consumption, soil decontamination, pollination, and protection against coastline erosion.
Launched in June 2020 by Entreprises et Environnement (EE), a not-for-profit business association representing 80 Martinican companies, the Péyi Vert initiative aims to plant 1 million native trees (either Martinican or Caribbean) over five years. It can be seen as a Martinique-wide strategy to adapt to and mitigate climate change. Péyi Vert facilitates connections between people who want to plant trees and Martinican companies that serve as financial sponsors. The initiative emphasizes conserving natural heritage by planting endangered species, as well as promoting native species that, while not necessarily threatened, provide valuable ecosystem services or contribute to biodiversity restoration.
Between 2020 and 2023, EE reported planting 50,000 trees (Refs 1, 4, 6, 7). Although individuals can make donations, Péyi Vert primarily seeks funding from companies looking to offset their carbon emissions or enhance their Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR). To achieve its goals, the initiative mainly collaborates with municipalities, companies, and farmers (Ref 3).

Rapid urbanization and a population density of 6,247 people per km² have placed significant stress on Nairobi's natural resources (Ref 1). The 40-km long Nairobi River Basin, originating from the Ondiri Swamp, serves as a vital water source for the city (Ref 1, 2). However, it has suffered severe pollution from untreated sewage, solid waste, industrial contaminants, plastics, and agricultural runoff (Ref 1, 3). This degradation has had a serious impact on the ecosystem, local residents, and biodiversity (Ref 3).

To address these issues, the Nairobi River Basin Programme (NRBP), sponsored by UNEP, was launched in 1999 (Ref 4). Since then, government and non-state actors have worked together on solid waste management, riparian restoration, and wastewater control (Ref 1). The program was implemented in two phases: Phase I (2003–2006) and Phase II (2006–2009), involving stakeholders from the government, private sector, and civil society (Ref 1, 4, 5). Despite these efforts, a study from 2017 found significant tree removal along the river, and between 1988 and 2014, encroachment into the 30-meter riparian buffer zone dramatically increased, particularly between 2010 and 2014, further degrading the river’s health (Ref 1).

The increasing volume of solid waste, driven by Nairobi's growing population, has become one of the city's major challenges (Ref 1, 2). To address this issue and promote better environmental practices, authorities plan to convert all reclaimed illegal dumpsites into recreational and green spaces. The transformation of the former Kangemi Cemetery, abandoned for over 20 years and used as an illegal dumpsite, was the first initiative in this effort.
Led by Nairobi's Governor, H.E. Mike Sonko, and supported by the City County, the project was completed in 2018 and serves as a key example of these transformative measures (Ref 1, 2, 3). Previously, Kangemi Cemetery contained over 500 loads of illegal waste, but following a successful clean-up, it has been rehabilitated into a children's playground with recreational area, now named Kangemi Cemetery Memorial Park (Ref 3).

Ngong is a town in southern Kenya, located near Nairobi in Kajiado County, on the slopes of the Ngong Hills. The municipality has experienced significant development and population growth due to improved infrastructure and social amenities. However, this expansion poses a threat to biodiversity, as increased demand for agricultural land, wood, and raw materials is depleting the area's forests and putting many species at risk of extinction. Overgrazing, illegal logging, invasive species, and climate change-induced extremes like droughts and floods have further exacerbated the situation.

In response, the Rufford Foundation proposed the Improving Ngong Hills Forest Conservation Efforts through Raising Local Community Awareness of Biodiversity Conservation project. The initiative seeks to restore the Ngong Hills forest ecosystem through community-driven conservation. A nursery for native species was established, and tree planting campaigns were conducted in collaboration with national and local governments, community-based organizations, indigenous groups, and schools. Additionally, awareness programs and capacity-building efforts were launched, engaging local schools in restoration activities and organizing workshops to train community members and officials. (Ref. 1, 2, 3, 4, 5)

Kungsgärdet Byaodling is an urban farm set up by local farming association Kungsbacka Tillsammansodling, in Kungsbacka south of Gothenburg. Since 2023, the project has been funded by a 78 000 EUR grant via the non-profit organisation Lokalt ledd utveckling Halland (locally led development) using funds from the EU and the Swedish Board of Agriculture (Jordbruksverket) [Ref. 1, 2, 4]. The goal is to grow food in a sustainable and circular way, building soil health and promoting biodiversity. Using a total area of 4500 m2 on former unused grassland, the urban farm includes: 1100 m2 of effective growing area, 1000 m2 of flowering meadows, fruit and berry trees and bushes, and functional and social areas. The meadows and trees are intended to contribute to biodiversity, while social areas are meant to create a sense of community and benefit the well-being of the people active at the farm [Ref. 1, 3]. The farming association has been around for a few years, but the project funds will allow them to expand and develop the farm over three years, invest in new equipment and arrange free lectures for the public about sustainable farming practices [Ref. 1, 4]. The grant will also allow them to take in more members without anyone having to pay anything, promoting social inclusion.