Public regional budget

To address the mismanagement and illegal deforestation in the Changa Manga forest, the Punjab Government in Pakistan initiated strict actions with the help of the Forest Department between 2014 and 2017. Activities included planting new trees and taking action against illegal deforestation. Over the years, mismanagement and illegal deforestation decreased this woodland by 75% (measured in 2012) (2). The Government of Punjab approved the “Afforestation in Blank Areas in Changa Manga Plantation” project for the duration of three years from 2014 to 2017 aimed at the afforestation of a total area of 200 acres on flow irrigation during 2014-15 and maintenance of afforestation during the two subsequent years (2015-17) (4). Changa Manga Forest is one of the world’s oldest hand-planted forests, dating back to 1866 in Chunian City. It spreads over about 5065 hectares and hosts a wide variety of flora and fauna. The forest is home to 14 species of mammals, 50 species of birds, six species of reptiles, two species of amphibians, and 27 species of insects (1). Some exquisite tree families, such as Sheesham (rosewood). white mulberry and Kikar trees are found in this woodland (2). It also includes a wildlife preserve, which was launched in 2005 by the World Wildlife Fund (WWF) Pakistan to protect white-backed vultures and ensure their captive breeding in the forest (3). Currently, Pakistan is losing forests at thrice the rate of the other South Asian countries. One of the major benefits of the Changa Manga Forest afforestation project was that it increased honey production by 70% in the different areas of the forest park (5).

Since 2012, the Municipality of Ipoh continued the revitalization and rehabilitation of the D.R. Seenivasagam Recreational Park (TDRS) under the Malaysian National Urbanisation Policy, which suggests that for every 1,000 inhabitants, there should be public green open spaces of 2 ha. Through this intervention, the Ipoh municipality tried to address several sustainability challenges, which are usually a result of the lack of green open spaces. Some of the challenges addressed were the urban heat island effect, soil erosion resulting from improper drainage, and noise pollution. Ultimately, the municipality aimed to provide a convenient setting for a variety of leisure and recreational activities in addition to enhancing the civic values of the community. The intervention consisted of several tree-planting actions organized by the Ipoh Council in collaboration with the Perak Government (a Malaysian state that has its capital in Ipoh).
D.R. Seenivasagam Recreational Park was built in the 1950s and is one of the largest urban parks in Ipoh. It has become a favourite among locals as well as an example of good practice for integrating green open spaces in addressing sustainability challenges over the years. Located in the vicinity of the Kinta River, during the early days of its opening, it was a mini botanical garden which eventually transitioned to a full-scale park, one of not too many in Ipoh. The park also includes a lake with wooden bridges that contributes to the diversity and habitat of the place. The DR Park, as it is known to the locals, has entertained many families for more than 25 years, starting as a mini-theme park during its formative years, much to the delight of many children. To date, the park has remained a popular spot with abundant greenery and attractions, an oasis within Ipoh’s city life. (1,2,3,4)

Raipur city is known as the seventh-most polluted city in the world (2, 3, 4). In response to the escalating problem of air pollution and its public health effects, the state of Chhattisgarh in India has envisioned the creation of a verdant and healthy natural space for urban inhabitants in the heart of Raipur - the Oxi-zone (3).This project acts as the 'Breathing lungs for Raipur' (1, 2). Approximately 19 acres of land were allocated to create an ‘oxy-zone’, including the demolition of buildings to plant trees in their place (1, 2, 4). Inspired by the iconic Central Park of New York City, and suggested by a local citizen group, the Oxi-zone aims to transform this area into a thriving habitat for diverse species of trees and plants, which will also provide water bodies to replenish the groundwater in the vicinity (2, 3, 4). In summary, this project is an integrated green space, enabling residents to relax, meditate and exercise within the “shadow of nature” (3, 4).

As part of the Green Pakistan Programme (GPP), the Ministry of Environment of Pakistan initiated a plantation drive on the Margalla Hills, threatened by climate change, droughts, floods and deforestation. Margalla Hills National Park (MHNP) is a national park of Pakistan located in the capital city, Islamabad. It was established in the 1980s with a total area of about 173 square kilometres constituting Margalla Hills, Shakarparian Park, Rawal Lake and the Cultural Complex (2,5). The primary purpose of GPP was to protect the environment and revive forests, as Pakistan is a forest-deficient country having 5.01 per cent of its total area under forest cover. The park is under the supervision of the Islamabad Wildlife Management Board (IWMB) which ensures the management, maintenance and preservation of wildlife and other species in the park vicinity. The campaign was set to take place over 5 years between 2017-2022. Furthermore, as part of the same program, an awareness campaign was started to generate knowledge about plants and make Islamabad green and beautiful. Thousands of people visit the national park daily to enjoy the natural environment and healthy recreational facilities and relax by looking at the serene landscape and natural viewpoints of the city visible from the different trails of the park. (1,2,3,4,5)

The Greater Iqbal Park is one of Lahore's largest and most beautiful parks and is located in the suburbs of the Walled City of Lahore. The park was built in 1971 and is named after the national poet of Pakistan, Allama Iqbal (7). The redevelopment of Greater Iqbal Park was approved in 2015 by the Government of Punjab. The project was developed under the supervision of the Parks and Horticulture Authority (PHA). The landscape plan was designed by the joint collaboration of national (NESPAK) and international (Sites International) consultants. The on-ground earthwork and construction were carried out by Habib Construction Services, a Pakistan-based engineering construction company (1, 5, 4, 11). The design idea of the project focused on revamping the area to create a welcoming environment in the environs of the city’s densely populated areas (6).

The project aimed to renovate and preserve Minar-i-Pakistan Monument and expand the area of the park to 125 acres. It features elaborate walkways and manicured gardens with state-of-the-art landscaping to boost tourism opportunities The project envisioned enhancing the cultural heritage by creating green spaces with various species of plants and trees along the park to ensure efficient facilities for the users. The 125-acre green oasis is surrounded almost entirely by the old city of Lahore (1, 3, 4, 11, 12).

The park was inaugurated in December 2016 with state-of-the-art facilities for users, whereas the overall project including the development of the National Museum was completed in 2018. The park has been designed in a manner that its aerial view resembles the national symbol of the star and the crescent. (3,11)

Neknampur Lake, also known as Ibrahim Bagh Cheruvu, located in Hyderabad, Telangana State of India, has historical importance and was part of a water reservoir network for irrigation and drinking as well as an inalienable part of the rural ecology of the village (1,2). Due to urbanization, the lake underwent drastic changes in ecology, land use and management in the past decade. Scientific investigations conducted by the Telangana State Biodiversity Board on Neknampur Lake highlighted that the water body was full of sludge and extremely eutrophicated, showing elevated algal growth (2). This was mainly because of the unabated entry of sewage and other waste over an extended period into the lake (1,2). In June 2016, The NGO named 'Dhruvansh' decided to adopt Neknampur Lake and thus began a series of interventions that incorporated bioremediation and phytoremediation techniques, regular cleanup drives of plastic removal and recycling campaigns into a restoration plan for the lake (1,2). With the support of the government institutions, 'Dhruvansh' began the revival of the lake across two phases: (1) the revival of the lake periphery and the lake body, followed by (2) the revival of the lake ecosystem (1,2). The ecological restoration of Neknampur Lake has improved the ecological services it provides and restores the glory of this historically significant lake, now known as a biodiversity hotspot (1,2,3,4).

The Adopt-a-Park project is an urban re-greening and renewal program. The Metro Manila Development Authority (MMDA), working together with the 17 Metro Manila local government units (LGUs), has launched the initiative to address rapid urbanization and urban decay by creating new green areas and renovating existing but underutilized or derelict neighbourhood spaces [4]. The project is part of the "I ♡ Metro Manila" advocacy program of the MMDA, which was launched to "uplift the spirits of the residents recovering from the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic as well as to strengthen initiatives on urban renewal that aims to transform the metropolis to be a more livable, greener, and resilient region"[1].

APEC Park is located on the banks of the Han River, in Binh Hien Ward, Hai Chau District, Da Nang City. At first in 2017, the APEC Park was constructed as a cultural work preserving the unique cultural features of 21 economies of the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation. In 2020, The Danang local government decided to expand the park as an effort of the city to increase trees and green space in public parks and residential areas to achieve the “green and smart city” goal by 2030 (1,4).
The new APEC Park comprises a public park, a stroll garden associated with an existing sculpture garden, a main stage, a water fountain, a stage for organising cultural events, a playground for children, green areas, a parking space, a lake and underground public toilets ( 1,4). The park is built in an area of more than 8,600 m2, next to the Da Nang Museum of Cham Sculpture. The brickyard and footpath have 25% of the area (752 sqm), and the rest of the land is planted with green trees, grass and statues representing 21 economies of APEC 2017 members in Vietnam (2,4).
Since its inauguration in January 2022 until now, the APEC site has become an ideal place to organize many cultural, artistic and other activities in the Hai Chau district (2).

The Bluebelt programme in Staten Island was implemented as it "preserves natural drainage corridors including streams, ponds, and wetlands, and enhances them to perform their functions of conveying, storing, and filtering runoff precipitation or stormwater". (Ref. 2). By delivering "stormwater to engineered systems that are designed to mimic natural streams and ponds which...meander or wind back and forth, the water slows down naturally" (Ref. 1). These actions are intended to "help control flooding, pollution and erosion" (Ref. 2), whilst also providing open green areas for both local communities and a "diverse habitat for wildlife" (Ref. 2). Beginning in 1990, the Bluebelt programme has undergone continual expansion, recognising that "as New York City prepares for rising sea levels and heavier rains due to climate change, Bluebelts offer a natural and effective solution for stable and sound stormwater management" (Refs. 2 & 4). The Bluebelt now includes approximately 400 acres of freshwater wetland and riparian stream habitat and 11 miles of stream corridor (Ref. 4).

The municipal government of the Yiwu city in China has launched the Green Lungs of the City Project (GLCP) in 2019. The overarching goal was to build a green lung, which will create more green spaces for residents in Yiwu, mitigate environmental pressures and improve the city's resilience to climate change. Under the project, a green corridor was created to reconnect the roads, rivers, ponds and lakes where different tree species were planted. Additionally, wetlands were constructed and restored to improve resilience against climate change disasters. The project is still in the ongoing phase, and a forest-wetland ecological park is under development in the city's central area. The GLCP aims to use different types of NBS elements to promote sustainable urban development and to provide multiple ecosystem services to the citizens in a highly urbanised area. [1]