Preserve and strengthen existing habitats and ecosystems

The park will have a surface of 100.000 sqm. It is designed to be the beating heart between municipality offices, fashion and culture related buildings, vital train connections and residential areas. The paths generate a mosaic of irregular plots. Each with specific groups of plant species, grasses or lawn. Circular tree groupings are superimposed on these plots, and together they will form a botanic library. The vegetal patches alternate with water and hard materials, thus creating a series of public spaces that house cultural and recreational program (1).

On a yearly basis, the city of Zagreb, Zagrebački holding plants new trees and bushes to maintain Zagreb as a green city with 114 hectares of green spaces (Ref 2). Also includes maintenance of green surfaces, such as grass in public parks along with tram tracks and planting new trees and maintaining existing ones next to kindergartens and schools (Ref 2). Maintenance of city parks, lawns and tree lines includes cleaning, mowing and collecting grass and garbage from green areas, restoration of trampled lawns, maintenance and pruning of trees, shrubs and hedges, maintenance and care of seasonal and permanent flower beds, maintenance of paved and dune areas in parks and installation and maintenance of urban equipment in parks and children's playgrounds (Ref 1).

The conservation of agricultural activities allows for the preservation of the landscape for all, with the possibility to offer to Milaners a place of leisure, tranquility, nature and tradition within the city, where to taste - also while tasting the products of the earth - what is the the Milanese agricultural world. It is located in the South West of Milan, within the Parco Agricolo Sud, in an area between the two Navigli, the Grande and the Pavese (1).

The Allotment Gardens in Oslo are a part of the Norwegian Allotment Garden Association (NKHF). The allotments were created throughout the 1900s, and are still maintained to this day. The allotments within the NKHF aim to contribute to better life quality and a better childhood for children growing up in urban environments. They also act as “green lungs”, and provide an important resource for the city and the local environment. There are nine different allotment areas in Oslo, consisting of both private allotments and community gardens.
(Ref. 1)

The ReLambro project is based on a metropolitan view where nature becomes an occasion for regeneration of the city: the river is no longer an empty and abandoned space but draws a great ecological and environmental system. The interventions, during the design phase, provide for the restoration of the naturalness of large sprawling areas, the reinforcement of the hedges and rows and channels system, the reorganisation of public and fruiting functions in areas at risk of flooding. The project strengthens ecological function by integrating it with urban functions (2).

The Sotos de la Albolafia Natural Reserve is situated on a section along the Guadalquivir River, that runs from the Roman Bridge to the San Rafael Bridge (Ref. 3,14). It was declared Natural Monument in 2001 and is part of the Network of Protected Natural Areas of Andalusia (RENPA) due to its wide variety of birds (Ref. 5,15). "The declaration recognized the environmental value of the Sotos de la Albolafia, a singular natural enclave located in the urban center of a large city, in a monumental and historical environment also unique and with an unparalleled concentration in protected species, especially water birds and wetlands." (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)

Creation of a green roof with ecological biodiversity, a place for informal meetings and recreational purposes. Is part of the Sveavägen 44 project in central Stockholm, where office space is converted into a modern and flexible meeting place with the environment and sustainability in focus. (Ref 1, 2, 3)

The park was designed to simulate a Mediterranean forest with 18 native species of Mediterranean flora. The water is being reused in order to avoid the depletion of aquifers (Ref. 1). Ecological vegetable gardens were created destined to community horticulture workshops organized by the city council (Ref. 2 and 3). The park was awarded a special prize in environmental Justice in 2010 by the Biodiversity Foundation through the "Life + European Capitals of Biodiversity"(Ref. 7 and 8), as a project that promotes environmental protection and social integration in the city. The inauguration of the park took place in 2007"(Ref. 1)