National Botanical Garden
Peru is classified as one of the 17 most biodiverse countries in the world, so biodiversity and its conservation are important national aspects (2, 3, 4). However, one-third of the native flora currently assessed is threatened (3, 4). Thus, the creation of the Botanical Garden represents the opening of a space to learn about, study and conserve the national flora by strengthening Peruvian society's awareness of its value (4, 5).
The Botanical Garden is in its early stages of development and is not open to the public yet, but its development and implementation have the support of several associations such as the British Council, Concytec, the Ministry of Environment, the Ministry of Culture, the British Embassy and the Asociación Pro Jardín Botánico Nacional de Lima (1). The initiative has been incorporated as part of the Bicentennial City project of the Ministry of Environment in Ancon (6).
The implementation began in 2021 on a 10-hectare plot of land donated by the Universidad Nacional Agraria La Molina (UNALM) in Lima (3), and it will be carried out in several stages. An Inter-Institutional Committee has been established to oversee its development (3). In addition, it is planned to extend the idea of botanical gardens to other regions of the country, creating a network that will allow the conservation and study of flora in different contexts (4, 5), as the purpose of its development is to condense in one place all the biological richness of the country (7).
With this project, they aim to strengthen the conservation of plant species, the generation of inputs for education, and as a source of cultural spaces and for the well-being of its citizens, among others (1, 2). The Botanical Garden is intended to house a select sample of the more than 25,000 species in Peru, emphasising those that are endemic, threatened and of social, cultural and economic relevance (8).
The Botanical Garden is in its early stages of development and is not open to the public yet, but its development and implementation have the support of several associations such as the British Council, Concytec, the Ministry of Environment, the Ministry of Culture, the British Embassy and the Asociación Pro Jardín Botánico Nacional de Lima (1). The initiative has been incorporated as part of the Bicentennial City project of the Ministry of Environment in Ancon (6).
The implementation began in 2021 on a 10-hectare plot of land donated by the Universidad Nacional Agraria La Molina (UNALM) in Lima (3), and it will be carried out in several stages. An Inter-Institutional Committee has been established to oversee its development (3). In addition, it is planned to extend the idea of botanical gardens to other regions of the country, creating a network that will allow the conservation and study of flora in different contexts (4, 5), as the purpose of its development is to condense in one place all the biological richness of the country (7).
With this project, they aim to strengthen the conservation of plant species, the generation of inputs for education, and as a source of cultural spaces and for the well-being of its citizens, among others (1, 2). The Botanical Garden is intended to house a select sample of the more than 25,000 species in Peru, emphasising those that are endemic, threatened and of social, cultural and economic relevance (8).
New greenhouses in Gothenburg Botanical Gardens
The Gothenburg Botanical Gardens are replacing and expanding their old greenhouses, which had serious flaws in terms of work environment, climate and accessibility [Ref. 1]. The new greenhouses will be divided into sections with a diverse set of climates and preserve over 4000 species, some of which are extinct in their natural environments [Ref. 1-2]. A new visitors centre is also being built and will have ameneties such as a café, a shop, toilets and places to sit, which will improve the Botanical Gardens' ability to invite the public and educate about biodiversity. The greenhouse project aims to strengthen the Gardens' national and international standing within research and education [Ref. 4]. A significant share of the visitors today are domestic and international tourists, and the new greenhouses aim to promote that further. The Botanical Gardens are owned by the regional government (Region Västra Götaland), which is funding these new project activities. The construction is ongoing and plans to finish in 2028, but the greenhouses will not be fully open to the public before the inauguration in 2030. The project has an investment budget of about 56 million EUR, and will, in total, occupy 6600 sqm [Ref. 1-3].
Vertical Forest at CCB
The Bosque Vertical do Centro Cultural de Belém (CCB) in Lisbon (Vertical Forest at CCB), designed by Francisco Caldeira Cabral, is an innovative vertical garden inaugurated in 2020. Spanning two 17-meter-high walls with 7,524 plant pots, it enhances urban biodiversity by attracting birds and insects (Ref 3). This project offers recreational and aesthetic benefits, making the entrance of the cultural centre into a green space (Ref 4).
The garden helps reduce air pollution by absorbing pollutants and producing oxygen. It uses a drop-by-drop irrigation system made from recycled PVC, ensuring efficient water usage and retention (Ref 1). Furthermore, the garden improves air quality, aims to mitigate urban heat island effects, and conserves water (Ref 2, Ref 5).
The garden helps reduce air pollution by absorbing pollutants and producing oxygen. It uses a drop-by-drop irrigation system made from recycled PVC, ensuring efficient water usage and retention (Ref 1). Furthermore, the garden improves air quality, aims to mitigate urban heat island effects, and conserves water (Ref 2, Ref 5).
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).
Living Wall at the New Street Train Station
Air pollution is one of the most pressing sustainability challenges in the UK, with particulate levels exceeding both WHO guidelines and EU safe limits in many cities (Ref 6). In 2014, Birmingham was identified by the WHO as one of nine UK cities breaching air pollution safety guidelines (Ref 2, 3).
In 2012, a soil-based green wall was installed at Birmingham New Street Train Station as part of a project aimed at improving air quality, as diesel train services contribute significantly to nitrogen oxide (NOx) pollution. However, most of the plants did not survive. In 2017, Network Rail commissioned a private company to reconstruct the wall using a hydroponic system (Ref 3). The new green wall was installed in 2018 and completed in May 2019 (Ref 1, 3).
This hydroponic green wall not only enhances the urban environment with calming green infrastructure, but also helps mitigate air pollution and promotes biodiversity with the addition of 16,600 plants (Ref 1, 2, 3).
In 2012, a soil-based green wall was installed at Birmingham New Street Train Station as part of a project aimed at improving air quality, as diesel train services contribute significantly to nitrogen oxide (NOx) pollution. However, most of the plants did not survive. In 2017, Network Rail commissioned a private company to reconstruct the wall using a hydroponic system (Ref 3). The new green wall was installed in 2018 and completed in May 2019 (Ref 1, 3).
This hydroponic green wall not only enhances the urban environment with calming green infrastructure, but also helps mitigate air pollution and promotes biodiversity with the addition of 16,600 plants (Ref 1, 2, 3).
Bangkok City Farm
Due to the growing population density and extreme climate events in Bangkok, Thailand, food security has become a more and more pressing issue for urban people. As a response, the Bangkok City Farm project was launched in 2010 by the Food and Nutrition Programme of the National Health Promotion Foundation. Implemented in collaboration with the Sustainable Agriculture Foundation Thailand (SAFT), the project aims to encourage and enable people in urban areas to grow their own food. The project offers financial support to anyone who wishes to start their own urban agricultural project, as well as training courses, access to food markets and knowledge sharing platforms. The implementation sites of the farms varies from private house gardens, community gardens, areas in informal settlements, school gardens and institutional green areas (such as hospitals and factories).(Ref. 1,2) The Bangkok City Farm's role in promoting food self-reliance and food security grew further during the COVID-19. As a result of the pandemic, many people in Bangkok - especially from underprivileged communities lost their jobs and their livelihood and access to sufficient and health food was threatened. Thus, as part of the project, green areas on vacant sites of the city were also created to support the out-of-work people with enabling them for self cultivation of their food. (Ref.6) As of 2022, there are 165 farms in Bangkok created through the project. Given the success and importance of the project, the project was scaled up into a nation-wide initiative called ‘Thai City Farm’. 'Thai City Farm' expanded the network to five other cities in Thailand. (Ref. 1,2)
Kota Malang Urban Farming Programme
Kota Malang is a city for which urbanization coupled with climate change caused an increase in its vulnerability to the urban heat island effect. One of the solutions found to address this issue has been urban farming which has been recognised and acknowledged as a top strategy to improve cities' resilience associated with social and economic co-benefit. Nevertheless, urban farming inventory in Indonesia is still limited (1). Currently, there are 21 urban farming plots throughout Kota Malang, with 210 active urban farmers involved. The city has adopted this trend since 2013 as part of an initiative called Kawasan Rumah Pangan Lestari (Sustainable Food House Region) and the Initiative of Urban Farming Malang. Alongside the local government, the major stakeholder groups are the Department of Agriculture and Food Security of Malang, Family Welfare Empowerment (PKK) Malang and Bank Indonesia (BI) (Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) program, which supports the local government in construction and development in Malang.
In Kota Malang, urban farming comprises five types of urban farming: nursery, allotment, residential, institutional and rooftop farming based on its characteristics (1). A recent report showed that urban farming could contribute to community resilience for feeding potential and nutrient sufficiency, especially for targeted populations with the highest risk during emergencies such as the COVID-19 pandemic. In the case of Kota Malang, the cultivation of specific vegetables could feed up to 50,000 inhabitants aged 60-64 years old (1, 2).
In Kota Malang, urban farming comprises five types of urban farming: nursery, allotment, residential, institutional and rooftop farming based on its characteristics (1). A recent report showed that urban farming could contribute to community resilience for feeding potential and nutrient sufficiency, especially for targeted populations with the highest risk during emergencies such as the COVID-19 pandemic. In the case of Kota Malang, the cultivation of specific vegetables could feed up to 50,000 inhabitants aged 60-64 years old (1, 2).
IKEA's biodiverse extensive rooftop garden
IKEA opened its doors in Budapest in 1990. This was the very first store in Hungary. Twelve years later, the store announced that it would install a green roof. The main purpose of the green roof was to compensate the locals for the loss of green space. The green roof was intended to create a biologically active surface that fits in aesthetically into the suburban landscape and provide a home for animals such as pollinators. The green roof, built in 2002, was covered with a Sedum carpet. In 2014, when the original Sedum vegetation died out, the green roof was completely removed. Then, during the autumn 2014 planting, four types of Sedum shoots were seeded. This was followed in the spring of 2015 by the seeding of herbaceous dicots seed mixes, which contained seeds of roughly 50 plant species. The vegetation is regularly monitored by ecologists: in 2021, more than 160 different taxa were recorded, including spontaneously occurring species. The green roof is closed, not accessible to the public, however tours are occasionally organized for professionals [3] [6] [8] [9] [10] [11].
Green Roof of Banyuwangi International Airport
Banyuwangi International Airport in East Java is the first green airport in Indonesia and was recognized with an award from the Aga Khan Award for Architecture (AKAA) in 2021-22, the world's oldest and most prestigious architecture awards (1,2,3,4). This project was designed and implemented by Architect Andra Matin in 2018 as a corporate social responsibility project for the Banyuwangi Regional Government, Java, Indonesia (1,2,4). The project building was extensively inspired by the houses of the local Osing tribe (1,2). The project aimed to embody a highly efficient passive design, with its remarking green roof feature of a total area of 4765m2 that is planted with grass and routinely maintained (1,2,3,5,6). The green roofs act like a sponge for heat, light and water and conserve energy by maintaining a constant temperature inside the building, and as a result, the airport does not require air conditioning in the main area (5). The green roof of the airport improves air quality as it captures airborne pollutants and atmospheric deposition, and the plants on green roofs also filter noxious gases (5). The eco-friendly airport terminal construction utilizes 'Fast Flow Siphonic System', especially for conventional roof drainage (5). The regional government declared a 10 km radius 'No Development Zone' around the project, protecting the existing paddy fields and villages, which is an exceptional move given the general tendency to exploit land around airports commercially (1,2). The current airport site caters to around 300,000 passengers annually and allows for future expansion to accommodate up to 3 million passengers without encroaching on the No Development Zone (2).
SM Sky Garden
The green roof development forms a 400-meter-long floating green ribbon above the SM North EDSA mall in Quezon City, Philippines. [3] It boasts a 15000m2 area filled with 55 species of native trees, bushes, and flowers that thrive in the local climate, and it relies on stored rainwater runoff to sustain its plant life. Visitors can access the mall via entrances located within the garden's openings and tunnels leading to shops and cafes nestled beneath the botanical landscape. A meandering pathway guides visitors through the space, which features various entertainment options. The garden provides a unique and innovative space for mall-goers and city dwellers to relax and interact with nature. [1,2]
