Technological

Skainos is a community regeneration project developed by the Methodist Church in Ireland’s East Belfast Mission. The Skainos Project has created the Vertical Gardens where around 6,500 plants make up the vertical panels, with a height of 12.5 m. The panels are designed to change colour with the seasons and will attract wildlife. The plants condition the air, remove pollutants, and provide seasonal colour and vegetation. A variety of roof gardens harbour natural flora and fauna. Green Roof technology is used to help with water retention. (Ref 2, Ref 6, Ref 7)

The project has been implemented in a derelict and dumping site. It includes the creation of a community food garden (Ref 2). The locals are enjoying good quality foods with a green space inside the city centre. Today this area is a vibrant community vegetable growing garden comprising five 17ft raised growing beds; a 20ft polytunnel; a 16.5ft greenhouse (made from recycled 2lt plastic bottles) and a tool shed (Ref 2). The place is overlooked by 120 homes and is contributing to the urban green space as well as local food and market creation (Ref 2)

The Willowbank Community Garden is a council-maintained recreational area consisting of both turfed and concreted areas and waist raised beds, edged by some shrubs and trees. It is a small space (460 sqm.) but offers a variety of growing environments. The site is located within the residential community of Willowbank Crescent, easily accessible from Woodlands Road and a five-minute walk away from the Glasgow University main buildings. Local schools are also in close proximity. The place offers locally grown foods with aesthetics and contributes to urban green space. In 2012, it won "Keep Scotland Beautiful" Award (Ref 2).

Trees and a park have been created and designed for the double building project called CEMAGREF/ENGREF in Clermont-Ferrand which was planned in 1994 (Ref. 2 and 4). CEMAGREF (Center for the Study of Agricultural Mechanization of Agricultural Engineering of Water and Forests) and ENGREF (National School of Agricultural Engineering of Water and Forests) are located within the IRSTEA (National Science and Technology Research Institute for Environment and Agriculture) (Ref. 3).

The Humberhead Peatlands are the UK's largest lowland raised bog complex and are part of the Natura 2000 network. They are located East of Doncaster and include the Thorne Moors and the Hatfield Moors (both towns are part of the Doncaster Borough). Commercial peat extraction has changed the hydraulic balance of the area, which impacts the condition of the peatland. This project aims to restore the water balance and thereby the peatland that can help prevent flooding, which is a breeding ground for the European nightjar, while also creating local jobs. The Humberhead Peatlands LIFE+ project completed its delivery phase in June 2019. (Ref 2, 3)

The BEIGUA LIFE Project focused on the development and implementation of six management plans, one for each of the priority habitat types present at the site, to safeguard and restore these endangered habitats located right outside of Genova. Several activities of soil rehabilitation were carried out through planting native species and keeping under control invasive plant species. An awareness raising campaign was held to involve local communities as well (1).

In light of the LIFE P.A.R.C. project, the NBS here presented consisted in the restoration of the fluvial and ecological continuity of the Magra and Vara rivers in the Montemarcello-Magra Regional Natural Park. The intervention implemented the removal of artificial barriers blocking the water continuity currently affecting biodiversity conservation. In the meantime, several activities implemented focused on restoring the area along the stream with the creation of walking paths and the use of signs to spread environmental awareness about the key habitat provision services of the area (1).

Neptune Grass or Mediterranean tapeweed (Posidonia oceanica) is endemic to the Mediterranean Sea. This priority seagrass species forms large underwater meadows that are an important part of the marine ecosystem. However, there have been declines in its population due to mechanical damage, coastal development and eutrophication.
The main objective of the intervention was to safeguard and to restore 2 Natura 2000 network sites for the conservation of P.oceanica habitat in the Lazio region(1), being the NBS intervention the restoration/protection of the underwater meadows and the improvement of the awareness/importance of this marine habitat type, a priority for conservation(EU Habitats Directive).

The oasis is one of the favourite destinations especially by naturalist photographers of the region, thanks to the presence of numerous animal and plant species. The oasis covers an area of about 20 hectares, is part of a SIC and ZPS area of 40 hectares and its management has been entrusted to the Noale WWF Cave Oasis Committee. It used to be a clay extraction area that got abandoned for several years. It was restored to create a new wild habitat that the local government declared a protected area (1, 2 and 4).

The primary goal and function of the 29,000 square metres large park in Győr-Adyváros is to provide an accessible, modern sports park for all ages (Reference 6). Before the intervention, the area was a green public park, but the renovation added many sports facilities such as running tracks and water fountains along with the existing urban nature (Reference 1). New plants were added to the existing old trees and a Photinia hedge was planted around the park, which is rare in public spaces (Reference 6). A fence has also been added. As part of the intervention, three football pitches, a basketball court, a running track, a playground, a park for retired people and a building serving the fitness park were also implemented. In 2016, an outdoor gym was added to the park, co-financed between the municipality of Győr and Audi Hungaria (Reference 3).