Improved waste management

This initiative focused on creating a management plan for the Uricani forest, a protected area located near Iasi. Designated as both a nature reserve and a Natura 2000 site, the forest is crucial for its "Dacia oak & hornbeam forests" habitat and the presence of the stag beetle, the largest beetle in Romania and Europe.
Despite existing nature protection designations, the environmental NGO "Asociația Ecoturistică Prietenii Pădurii Bălțătești" recognized the need for an updated management plan. With European funding, the NGO developed a model plan for protected areas in Neamt and Iasi counties, including Uricani forest.
The NGO conducted monitoring activities in cooperation with forestry directorates to assess habitat conditions and stag beetle populations. The goal was to identify risks and requirements for species conservation and design appropriate management actions. Additionally, the organization aimed to promote the area's tourism potential and conduct awareness-raising activities with local communities and schools.
The completed management plan, developed through public consultation and approved by the Romanian environmental ministry, included measures for natural habitat regeneration, ensuring suitable conditions for the stag beetle, addressing illegal logging, pasturing, and waste disposal, and establishing information points and educational activities for the community. (1-7)

The Prinzessinnengarten Kollektiv Berlin is a community garden in the New St Jacobi Cemetery in Berlin-Neukölln that invites people to join in gardening and experience nature. As part of open gardening days, people can participate in the design of the garden areas and gain experience in the local, ecological cultivation of useful plants. The main aim of their work is to provide opportunities for education and participation. Activities are open to everyone and range from sowing, planting and harvesting to seed production, processing and preserving vegetables, keeping bees to questions of community-based urban habitat design.The community also has its own farm shop where seeds, food and processed products are sold. (Ref. 1; Ref. 4) Numerous projects for recycling and upcycling, innovative cultivation methods, organic beekeeping, composting methods and post-fossil mobility use the Prinzessinnengarten as a platform for sustainable urban living. Artists also work in the garden with participatory methods on the question of how cities and their coexistence can be designed in a sustainable and resource-saving way. Outside the Prinzessinnengarten, offshoot gardens are set up and collaborations are developed to build nationwide and European networks. Through lectures, workshops, study visits and participatory research in the garden, we endeavour to include and further develop the topics associated with the Prinzessinnengarten in discussions and education. (Ref. 7)

The project is located on a cemetery, which has been partially closed since 2016. This means that burials are no longer carried out on the site and the existing rights of use of the 500 or so remaining graves will no longer be extended after expiry. The church association lends the land to the project in exchange for maintenance work on the surrounding grounds. (Ref. 6)

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).

The John Michuki Memorial Park was transformed from a vast dumpsite in 2008 and established in honor of John Michuki, the Environment Minister during the Kibaki administration, in 2012. Michuki garnered admiration and accolades for his enthusiasm and determination to clean and preserve the environment (Ref 1, 2). Situated along the Nairobi River, the park serves as a historically rich recreational facility (Ref 3).
However, several issues arose after the park was transferred to the county administration in 2013 (Ref 2). A section of the Nairobi River flowing through the park experienced severe environmental degradation due to illegal discharges and poor waste management, negatively impacting the riparian ecosystem and biodiversity (Ref 4). Additionally, the park became a refuge for drug users, street children, and thieves, with stray dogs posing safety threats in the area (Ref 1, 2).
As the first project within the Cleaning Up Kenya Campaign, the restoration of Michuki Memorial Park was launched in 2020 by the government (Ref 5). The park is now managed by the Kenya Forest Service (KFS) following a directive from the national government (ibid.). With funds from the treasury, a perimeter fence was erected, a 2.4 km walkway was constructed, and 4,200 seedlings and 6,357 indigenous trees were planted, along with the establishment of a nursery (Ref 1, 6). A total of 20,000 tons of solid waste were removed (Ref 6). Additionally, a community forest association was formed to ensure community engagement (Ref 2).

In 2001, the local municipality of La Paz, in collaboration with the International Union of Architects (UIA), launched a design contest to create a central park within a protected natural area (3). The park's aim was to develop urban infrastructure while connecting nature with the city (3). The winning architectural design envisioned an infrastructure that would harmonize with the existing natural surroundings and minimize interference with the environment (4).
The park's implementation included pedestrian and bike pathways, numerous panoramic viewpoints, facilities for exercise and cultural events, buildings dedicated to science, historically significant monuments, playgrounds, and the rehabilitation and creation of multiple green spaces (1 & 4 to 6).
While most of the project was completed by 2009, the area's exposure to recurrent landslides, droughts, and illegal waste disposal, combined with ongoing degradation, has necessitated afforestation efforts and maintenance actions from the municipality to ensure the protection of the natural area and enhance its benefits (7 & 8). Recently, the park has been part of a national citizen monitoring program for species, which has improved the categorization of wildlife in the area (11 & 12). Additionally, 2,000 trees were planted in the park in 2023 as part of a reforestation campaign, and cleaning and watering maintenance work has been carried out to support their growth (7 & 13). This initiative is part of a larger project to revitalize the park (10 & 13).
Overall, the park aims to protect local wildlife and plant species while acting as a "green lung" for the city, regulating the climate, providing recreational spaces, and improving livability (14).

This initiative was launched by the local government of La Paz, focusing on afforestation of the Mallasa landfill, which was closed in 2004 (1-4 & 6-10). While some plantations were established in the area when the landfill was closed, the overall plan aimed to manage the waste until the site was sufficiently clean for new projects—a process expected to take at least a decade (6). By 2021, signs of biodiversity, including flora and fauna, had begun to return to the former landfill. In response, the municipality of La Paz implemented a project to plant 6,000 native tree species, along with other shrub species, to further enhance biodiversity regeneration and establish a second urban forest in the city (3 & 4 & 7 & 8).

The afforestation efforts took place between 2021 and 2022, coordinated through "forestry brigades" made up of diverse volunteer groups. These groups included members from public institutions, private company representatives, NGOs (both environmental and non-environmental), universities, religious organizations, and local citizen groups (8-10). A total of 12 hectares were reforested out of the 33-hectare area (1 & 7). Following this, the area was closed to the public and is expected to become a biodiversity sanctuary within ten years, with ongoing monitoring by the municipal environmental agency (7). Among the trees planted, some were chosen to attract birds with their fruit, others to support the pollination of hummingbirds and bees, while others were intended to enrich the soil with nutrients—all species being native to the region (3 & 7).

Additional goals of the initiative include raising awareness about climate change, fostering a sense of environmental stewardship through community engagement, and advancing the municipality's decarbonization plans (3 & 9). Some of the seedlings and saplings were purchased by the municipality at a cost of 6,160 euros, with private companies also contributing financial support to the initiative (1 & 7).

The Metropolitan Linear Park is a project initiated by the national government of Bolivia, funded by the Inter-American Development Bank (IDB) (1-8). The proposed park will be located along a disused railway corridor between the cities of La Paz and El Alto, spanning 18.2 km (8, p. 8). The project involves the construction of a linear park, divided into five sections, each with distinct objectives, uses, and designs (8, p. 9). This large-scale initiative aims to improve access to public spaces in La Paz and El Alto, enhance connectivity between the two cities, protect surrounding biodiversity and natural spaces, and strengthen resilience to and mitigate the effects of climate change (3 & 8, pp. 11-12).
To achieve these goals, the project design includes outdoor sports and recreational facilities, pedestrian and cycling circuits, as well as the restoration of parks, squares, and public spaces adjacent to the park corridor (8, p. 9). Some features include balcony corridors, flower and food-producing urban gardens, and viewpoints (5). The project also plans for the re-vegetation of the area with native species and aims to stop the environmental degradation of surrounding natural environments, such as the Pura Pura forest, which has been suffering from ongoing deforestation and waste dumping (8, p. 9). These efforts are expected to increase and support biodiversity in the area (7 & 8, p. 12).
Additionally, the project emphasizes social inclusion, with policies designed to incorporate women, indigenous populations, and persons with disabilities (8, pp. 7-8). The park is intended to raise awareness about climate change and biodiversity, ultimately improving the quality of life and health of nearby residents and the citizens of La Paz and El Alto (8, p. 13).

The Recovery of Cienaga Juan Polo project is primarily aimed at reopening the natural mouth of the Manzanillos to restore water flow between the sea and the Juan Polo coastal wetland, which has been affected by human activities leading to high salinity and water stagnation issues (ref 2). The project is led by Fundacion Serena del Mar. Environmental and social sustainability are core components of the project design, which has included extensive community consultations since 2013. These consultations have resulted in agreements covering employment opportunities, education, and infrastructure development (ref 2). Key implementation activities include the reforestation of mangroves and targeted interventions to address ecological degradation, such as increased salinity, water stagnation, and biodiversity loss (ref 2). The project also seeks to enhance the quality of life for surrounding communities by restoring traditional economic activities, particularly fishing, and integrating sustainable urban planning elements such as canals, sluices, and navigable waterways. These features are designed to support the development of a "blue corridor" for aquatic mobility within Serena del Mar (ref 2, 3). In addition, it also contributes to local capacity building through environmental education programs that engage community members, researchers, and NGOs in biodiversity monitoring and sustainable practices​ (ref 1).

The urban farm of Lak'a Uta is an initiative launched by the NGO Fundación Alternativas, which established the first community garden in Bolivia, located in the city of La Paz at an altitude of 3,600 meters above sea level (1-3). The initial plan was to develop the garden on private land, but since the goal was to create an open space accessible to all citizens, the project eventually sought a public location (3). The subdistrict of Cotahuma granted them permission to use the Lak'a Uta park, an abandoned area rendered unusable by two landslides in the previous year (3). Through voluntary efforts and an investment of 2,800 euros, the land was transformed over three years to accommodate 40 plots of 16m² each, with individual families cultivating a variety of vegetables (3).
Now celebrating its 10-year anniversary, the project adheres to many principles of organic agriculture in an urban setting (5). The area has become a biodiversity hotspot, featuring an artificial pond, 16 wild plant species, and 39 fauna species, including 34 bird species, two types of frogs that provide natural pest control, and three bee species (3-5). Compost is produced naturally using waste management practices and worms (4-5). In addition to edible vegetables, the garden produces medicinal plants, some of which help stabilize the soil and prevent further landslides (3-4). The infrastructure also includes a rainwater collection system (3-5).
Originally, the project aimed to improve access to food, particularly in response to the growing urban population (1-3). Over time, it has also fostered a strong sense of community, while promoting urban gardening through educational workshops and disseminating information nationwide (1-5). It is estimated that 20,000 people have been educated on urban agriculture, healthy eating, and reconnecting with nature (5). The project has also contributed to shaping a local government law supporting urban gardening within the municipality (3).