Public national budget

The green belt regeneration project along the Byzantine Walls of Thessaloniki aims to revitalize the neglected green spaces surrounding these historic fortifications, which span 4 kilometers and are recognized as a UNESCO World Heritage site for their remarkable Byzantine architecture. The walls are located in Thessaloniki’s densely populated Upper Town, a factor that contributed to their environmental degradation. As such, the project focuses on restoring the degraded space surrounding the walls, improving the urban microclimate, and strengthening urban resilience while maintaining the area’s traditional character. By integrating heritage conservation with sustainable green infrastructure, the initiative seeks to provide both environmental and social benefits to the local community. Proposed by the Municipality of Thessaloniki and approved by the Greek government as part of a program that focuses on Central Macedonia, the project envisions a revitalized green zone along the walls, with vegetation and different types of trees being planted. However, some local families have expressed concerns, as the project involved the demolition of certain homes in the officially designated green belt area. (Refs. 1, 2, 3, 4, 14).

Phoenix is America’s fifth largest and hottest city, a sprawling urban heat island which has expanded without adequate consideration to climate and environmental factors like water scarcity and extreme heat (1). ​Multiple heat records were broken in 2023 including 133 days over 100F (37.7C), and 55 days topping 110F (43C) (1). Only around 9% of Phoenix is protected by tree canopies, yet this citywide figure masks vast inequities between wealthy, majority-white neighborhoods (1). As a response, the City of Phoenix has adopted an equity-driven heat mitigation plan to create a shadier, more livable environment amid rising temperatures and hundreds of heat-related deaths (1). Part of this plan created the Community Canopy Grant program, which offers public schools, churches and homes in qualifying census tracts – low-income neighborhoods with little shade funds for tree planting projects (1). One neighborhood, Grant Park is one of the city’s oldest neighborhoods – and one of the most neglected (1). It is a red lined neighborhood with higher pollution levels, less vegetation, more noise pollution and higher temperatures (1). To change the inequity and create enough shade to provide residents and passersby reprieve from the heat, the city planted around 40 trees in the Grant Park neighborhood within household yards (1-2). Residents can choose from a list of 19 native and desert-adapted trees including the Texas olive, Chinese red pistache and Chilean mesquites (1). The trees, which are a couple of years old and pretty heavy, are planted by contracted arborists (1). Following the planting process, each household was provided with a tree kit – a hose, irrigation timer and instrument to measure the soil pH and moisture, as well as written care instructions (1). This is the fourth tree planting effort by this city and the hope with this initiative is that it lasts (1).

Two stages of a project called "Flowering roadsides" have been created along a bike road stretch measuring 6,5 km between the areas of Gunnilse and Bergum in the eastern part of the City of Gothenburg. The projects came to be through citizens' initiatives and are carried out in cooperation between the City of Gothenburg and two local NGOs: The Bergum-Gunnilse Development Association and the Gothenburg branch of the Swedish Society for Nature Conservation (Gunnilse-Bergum utveckling & Göteborgs naturskyddsförening). The first stage of the project was carried out in 2021 and focused on taking inventory of species and ecosystems along the stretch and suggesting management options to promote biodiversity. The second stage is carried out from 2022 to 2024 and focuses on implementing and evaluating alternative management options to today's conventional management. Mowing and scraping are carried out to disturb weeds and benefit meadow flowers. Sand has been placed to create a habitat for wild bees. Signs were put up along the stretch to inform the public of the initiative, and benches will be renovated to create opportunities for recreation. The project receives funding from the Swedish Environmental Protection Agency through their local nature conservation investment, LONA. The project falls under the umbrella project of "the world's longest meadow", organised nationally by the Swedish Society for Nature Conservation [Ref. 1, 3, 4]. The goal of that project is to transform 1000 km of Swedish roadsides into flowering meadows with high biodiversity richness [Ref. 2].

As part of France's New National Urban Renewal Program (NPNRU) and its strategy to enhance urban quality of life, the Urban Integrated Farm in Desclieux was established in 2021, with a particular emphasis on urban agriculture.
This project is implemented by the Centre de Culture Populaire Ypiranga de Pastinha Martinique (CCPYPM or Ypiranga Martinique) in collaboration with the city of Fort-de-France and is located in the socioeconomically disadvantaged Ravine-Bouillé neighborhood. It aims to create a farm on a 2-hectare former military site that previously housed fuel cisterns connected to the French Navy at Fort Saint-Louis. Since falling into disuse in the 1990s, only the reinforced concrete structures remain.
The farm will feature various activities, including a composting zone, a café, a beehive, a botanical trail, a play garden, and areas for crop and animal production. Additionally, it will house a decontamination and materials library and a public living space for community use. Overall, this site aims to serve educational, recreational, and socioeconomic purposes, enriching the local urban ecosystem.
Even though the intervention commenced in 2021 it has encountered several challenges since 2022 due to administrative hurdles. The implementers are currently awaiting temporary authorization to proceed. The primary obstacle remains the development and execution of a comprehensive soil decontamination plan. (Ref 2; 3; 4)

The Färjenäs Agroforestry Garden started in 2013 in the Färjenäs park in Hisingen, Gothenburg. A group of people interested in agroforestry started a study circle on the topic the year before and then formed an association to apply their knowledge in practice. The City of Gothenburg helped the project get started by providing some funding and finding a 2000 sqm spot for the garden on land owned by the city. The Färjenäs agroforestry garden association is run by volunteers, who have planted about 200 different species of trees, bushes and herbs that produce produce. The planting and management of the garden aims to promote soil health and biodiversity. The association received funding from the Swedish Environmental Protection Agency in 2020 and partnered with the Natural History Museum in Gothenburg to further promote biodiversity and wild pollinators, and has partnered with a local beekeeping association to establish a beehive in the garden. The garden is open to the public and invites the public to educational activities and working events such as planting. The association aims to be a meeting place for locals and visitors from all over the city, with different cultural backgrounds and generations. Several courses and educational programs within agroforestry, agriculture and gardening have been held at the garden. [Ref. 1-7]

In 2024, Ozanam (a housing private company) and the French Development Agency (AFD) formalized a partnership to modernize an ecological wastewater treatment plant in Saint-Joseph, a neighborhood in Fort de France. The project focuses on replacing an outdated 30-year-old installation that no longer meets current standards with a plant-based water filtration system based on the ‘Rhizosph’air’ patent. This innovative treatment process utilizes "filter gardens," which combine mechanical systems, a gravity network, and a phytoremediation approach. The system employs filters made of gravel and the roots of local plants, specifically Strelitzia reginae and Cyperus alternifolius, to naturally and effectively filter wastewater without odor (Refs 2, 3, 4).
The nature-based system purifies wastewater over an area of 2,000 square meters, with a capacity equivalent to serving 900 residents. This approach offers several advantages, including reduced maintenance costs due to its simplicity, decreased energy consumption compared to traditional treatment methods, and improved water quality released back into the environment (Ref 2). Beyond its technical efficiency, the filter gardens enhance biodiversity (Ref 2) by improving the quality of water discharged into the environment and providing habitats for various species. The solution also integrates seamlessly into the landscape, showcasing vibrant flowers native to the area (Ref 1).
Additionally, the project implementers plan to construct a walking path, provide recreational equipment, and install benches to encourage residents to utilize the area as a public green space (Refs 2, 5).

The city of Thessaloniki is tackling the energy crisis and climate change risks by prioritizing the installation of green roofs and green walls on school and municipal buildings as part of its resilience strategy, Thessaloniki 2030 (Ref 1, 2). One key project under this strategy has been implemented at EPAL Stavroupoli, one of the largest school complexes in the metropolitan area. The school, with a total built area of 11,918 sq.m and roof surfaces covering 6,042 sq.m, now includes a green roof covering 3,087 sq.m with 25,000 ground-cover plants, along with a vertical garden on three walls at the entrance, covering 100 sq.m and featuring 3,098 plants (ibid.).
The project is expected to yield multiple environmental benefits, such as reduced energy losses, improved thermal performance, enhanced sound insulation, better rainwater management, decreased runoff, and retention of harmful particles, all of which contribute to upgrading the area's green infrastructure (Ref 1). This initiative also strengthens the green fabric of western Thessaloniki and improves the local microclimate while addressing rainwater management issues (Ref 3, 4).

D-Town Farm, located within Detroit’s River Rouge Park, is a landmark urban agriculture initiative led by the Detroit Black Community Food Security Network (DBCFSN). Since its establishment in 2008, this seven-acre farm—the largest in Detroit—has embodied the organization’s commitment to food sovereignty, justice, and security for the city’s African American community. Each year, the farm cultivates over 30 varieties of fruits, vegetables, and herbs using sustainable and regenerative practices. Key operations include large-scale composting, rainwater retention, solar energy generation, and beekeeping, all of which support its ecological and educational missions.
Beyond production, D-Town Farm serves as a community hub. From May through September, it hosts public events that offer educational and recreational opportunities for children and families. The farm also provides hands-on training for aspiring growers through internships and volunteer programs, fostering community engagement and agricultural skill development. Volunteers play a crucial role in daily operations, with ongoing opportunities available throughout the growing season.
D-Town Farm’s mission extends beyond agriculture, serving as a platform for broader advocacy. By challenging barriers to food access, it addresses food deserts with a focus on empowerment and education. The farm supports the local economy by supplying fresh produce to restaurants, farmers markets, and residents, while its health-focused initiatives, such as the youth-centered Food Warriors Development Program, aim to reduce health disparities within the community.
The DBCFSN’s work at D-Town Farm exemplifies a model of community cooperation and self-determination, promoting equity and justice in the food system. By engaging with both local and broader urban communities, D-Town Farm not only strengthens Detroit’s leadership in urban agriculture but also contributes to food justice movements nationwide.
(Ref.1,2,3,4)

Situated in the southern suburbs of Kunming City, Dianchi is one of the largest freshwater lakes in Yunnan and the sixth largest in China (Refs 1, 2). However, due to rapid industrial development, agricultural activities around the lake, land reclamation, and population growth, Dianchi Lake became severely polluted, ranking among the most contaminated lakes in China. This pollution threatened biodiversity and degraded natural habitats (Refs 1, 2, 3). The introduction of exotic species further disrupted the lake’s ecological balance (Ref 1).
In response, the Kunming Institute of Zoology (KIZ), with funding from the Chinese Government, World Bank and the Global Environment Facility (GEF) launched the Lake Dianchi Freshwater Biodiversity Restoration Project. This initiative aimed to restore natural habitats, improve water quality through biological means, and foster community engagement and institutional capacity, creating a sustainable framework for the long-term conservation of Dianchi's unique freshwater biodiversity (Refs 1, 4).
The project was implemented across four key components: Wetland Management and Restoration, Surveys and Monitoring of Species Conservation, Capacity Building and Training, and Public Awareness (ibid.). The project was rated 'Satisfactory' in terms of outcomes, sustainability, and execution under a comprehensive evaluation framework that employed multiple indicators (Refs 4, 5).

The "Parco degli Anelli" is a new green space project in Cagliari, located along the waterfront in the Sant'Elia district. Designed by Portuguese landscape architect João Ferreira Nunes and inaugurated in 2019, the park spans approximately 15 hectares, with over 4 hectares currently accessible to the public. The remaining area will undergo renovation in the next two phases of the project. The park is notable for its open design, free of walls and fences, and its direct access to the sea, making it a unique addition to the city's green spaces (Refs. 1, 2 & 7).
This park exemplifies urban renewal by transforming a previously neglected and degraded area into a green, accessible to all public space. It is part of a broader context of redevelopment of peripheral neighborhoods, in this case the Sant'Elia district.(Refs. 6 & 9).
Parco degli Anelli features flat terrain with numerous pedestrian and cycling paths for individual sports activities, along with expansive grassy areas covering about 27,000 square meters. The park is surrounded by approximately 500 newly planted trees and shrubs typical of Mediterranean maquis, including Aleppo pine, dwarf palm, European olive, and jacaranda.
Future plans for the park include expanding into additional areas and connecting it to the rest of the city via a pedestrian and cycling bridge over the Palma Canal, as well as connecting it to the new waterfront promenade that is being built from Via Roma to Marina Piccola (Refs. 1, 2 & 7).