Public local authority budget

“The Royal National City Park, the world’s first national city park, was created in 1995 by the decision of the Swedish Parliament. The Park was established to safeguard and enhance the unique qualities of this area, containing outstanding natural qualities and heritage sites, ecologically important for the metropolitan area, and situated near and easily accessible from the central parts of Stockholm.” (Ref. 1)
One can experience a truly unique historical landscape, intertwined with parks, beautiful buildings, forests, open fields and beaches. In 2020, the park celebrates its 25 the year. (Ref. 12)

The El Patriarca Park aims to rehabilitate and restore 60 hectares of land for ecological benefits and recreational purposes for the inhabitants of Cordoba (Ref.1,3,4,6). It takes place on a site with distinct areas, including a holm-oak forest with Mediterranean scrubland of extraordinary environmental value. This NBS is an effort to protect natural values, erase the traces of urbanization attempts of the seventies, and repair damages caused by human action (Ref. 6). Implementation of the project is expected to start in early 2021 (Ref. 6).

A water park has been constructed for the treatment of the pumped groundwater and stormwater from Roslagsvägen. A sedimentation basin is being built by the Swedish Transport Administration in connection with the construction of the Northern Link. The stormwater is led via an overloaded sedimentation basin, which is also supplied with large amounts of leaking groundwater from the metro. The goal is to reduce the phosphorus supply by about 25%. (Ref. 3,4)

“The purpose of the C/O City project is to highlight the value of nature in the city, create planning documentation and develop concrete solutions that facilitate work with ecosystem services in urban planning.” The three phases of the project were to develop tools and methods, verify and adjust the tools and make them available to key actors. The final phase was to test the tools/methods and evaluate them. (Note: the starting point of the project was the environmental profiling of the Royal Seaport; i.e. Norra Djurgårdsstaden). Now as the project is completed, the results and lessons are continued by a non-profit association. The purpose of the association is to draw attention to and highlight the value of urban ecosystem services and contribute to increased knowledge in the public construction sector. (Ref. 1, 7, 8)

The project is part of the Environmental Billion project (of the City of Stockholm). The aim is to increase biodiversity, mainly linked to the landscape and also to increase the accessibility for visitors to the Kräppladalen (which is also known as Rågsved’s recreation/outdoors area) and make it more of an attractive area to visit. Also, the project aims to develop a programme and work documents that show how the purpose is to be achieved and also to perform restoration and accessibility measures in accordance with these documents. (Ref 1, 2)
Rågsved's nature reserve is the city's latest reserve and was inaugurated in 2018. It contains a mosaic of open meadows, wetlands, moist deciduous forests, deciduous environments and coniferous forests. (Ref. 7)

A recovered green area next to the Guadaira river, it opened as a park in 2014 (Ref 6). In its planning it reconciles the historical use of the river to power the historic mill and its new use as a green corridor on the Eastern part of the city. Its large dimension allows it to fulfill the quadruple ecological, landscape, leisure, and non-motorized mobility dimensions. (Ref 4,5,6). The park was officially inaugurated but it continues to face challenges. In 2007 the economic crisis led to construction being stopped and the budget of the park cut from 23.8 million euro. Construction was started and the budget re-established at 17.2 million in 2011. (Ref 5)

Via Gandusio is a social housing complex in the North of Bologna that was originally built for hosting workers that migrate from South Italy in the 60s. Nowadays, it hosts two different communities: advanced-age Italians and current international immigrants. The differences create some conflicts and limits relationships among the community. In 2010 a group of researchers tried to implement a community garden that was designed with the aim of setting a meeting point for the community where food production is the link between neighbours to exchange knowledge, culture and experiences. The 250 m2 roof garden started in 2011 becoming the first of the city of Bologna and of Italy (Ref. 7 and 8).
Over the years the project has undergone changes and variations, has seen the end of funding and known voluntary management (2013). Since 2013 there is an urban vegetable garden cared for by some residents with the support of the Biodiversity association. (Ref.10)

“The park, inaugurated in May 2003, [was] part of a 1990s project aimed at recovering the ancient canal, combining social needs and providing a space for citizens to spend their free time.” (Ref. 7) It is located on the south bank of the Guadalquivir river (Ref. 7), and today serves as a space for “leisure, sports, and intergenerational coexistence” (Ref. 1)

‘Slussen and a new water regulation plan for Lake Mälaren’ is part of the rebuilding of the city district Slussen (The Slussen Project) (Ref. 1). In connection with the rebuilding of Slussen, SMHI (Swedish Meteorological and Hydrological Institute) was in 2007 commissioned by Stockholm City to review and propose a new regulatory strategy for the lake Mälaren (Ref. 2). A new regulation prevents floods, reducing the risk of saltwater entering the lake, benefiting the natural environment around Mälaren. Further effects will also benefit the ecosystem of the lake (Ref. 3).

Østensjøvannet is a nature reserve covering an area of 539 acres, which includes both the water body and certain parts of surrounding land. It was established in order to preserve the important wetland area and its associated vegetation, bird and animal life significant for the region. In June 2002, Oslo municipality went further and created the Østensjøvannet Environmental Park, which covers 1187 acres of land and water. The park aims to further protect and strengthen the area, which is one of the most popular recreation areas of Oslo, and acts as an important area for research and education. (Ref. 1, 7)