Technological

The River Alt Restoration Project at Stonebridge started in 2013 with an initial goal to remove culverts in order to create re-naturalised watercourses and maintain watercourses easier. It also involved the removal of rubbish and other obstructions to reduce the risk of flooding in the wider catchment (Reference 2). The project then evolved with a bigger goal to divert River Alt into a new 900-meter long linear park named Alt Meadows. Relevant engineering works were employed in the area. In addition, accessible paths and meadow, wetland and woodland habitats were created. The park was also linked into surrounding areas (like housing, shops, schools, etc.). The project benefits include the expected increase in wildlife biodiversity and improved water quality and flood protection (Reference 1, 3).
The project was led The Cass Foundation, in partnership with the Community Forest Trust, with funding from DEFRA’s Catchment Restoration Fund (via Environmental Agency) and Liverpool City Council. The Foundation remains responsible for maintaining Alt Meadows on behalf of the city council (Reference 3).

The Urban Ecology Agency of Oslo (Bymiljøetaten) installed two CityTrees in the city of Oslo to act as green lungs in the city and reduce air pollution. The two CityTrees were placed at the Solli plass by Sommerrogata and on Nordraaks plass, close to Slottsparken. The CityTree is an environmentally-friendly plant wall with benches. (Ref. 2) It is an invention of a German company, Green City Solutions, and acts both as an aesthetically attractive furniture for resting, while simultaneously combating air pollution in city centres. (Ref. 1)

The Park Jose Antonio Labordeta is the most extensive park in all of Zaragoza, consisting of municipal nurseries, botanical gardens, and areas for leisure and recreation. (Ref. 4) From 2006 to 2007 a process of citizen participation was started to collect ideas for the improvement of the park on its 75th anniversary. (Ref. 1) In 2010, the City Council of Zaragoza developed a Master Plan to document these ideas and to guide future management of the park. (Ref. 1) The interventions in the Master Plan include landscape improvement, park management, agronomic improvements, among others. (Ref. 1)

Two of Sheffield's rivers, the Limb Brook and the Porter Brook, have been identified as having strong populations of native white-clawed crayfish. The native crayfish is under pressure from the alien, invasive American signal crayfish and the crayfish plague. If no action is taken, the white-clawed crayfish populations in Sheffield could become extinct in a few years. Crayfish Action Sheffield aims to maintain and increase Sheffield’s native crayfish populations through habitat enhancement, public education and creation of bio-secure 'Ark' sites. It is a collaborative research project and Sheffield Crayfish Working Group’s members are from a range of conservation organizations. (ref3) The First time Crayfish Action plan was implemented in 2008-14 and after it ended in 2014, again the issue was looked in 2017. (ref 5)

The action proposed by the Municipal Technical Service of Parks and Gardens at the Department of the Environment, aims at the regeneration of the forest with the repopulation of pines of different ages, to imitate a mountain in a natural state with the plantation of the Cartagena Cypress and Tetraclinex articulata, which has a good adaptation to the environment. Several plots (Plots 3, 5, 6, 8 and 12 of the project) have been repopulated with shrubs and trees such as cypress, esparto, rosemary, tomillos, lentiscos, tetraclinex and palmito, in the solana area, deciduous and riparian species, and to other silvicultural treatments, which increases the variety of existing vegetation. (Ref. 1) In addition, the project contemplates the construction of two viewpoints (Ref 1, 3). A new irrigation system is put in place for the re-use of water for sustainable use and water savings. (Ref. 7)

"After decades of abandonment and deterioration, Zaragoza took advantage of the opportunity of the Expo 2008, to form a new relationship with the Ebro River, transforming empty, inaccessible, degraded and unsafe banks into places of encounter and representation. Public works on the Ebro were designed as structures with various functions." (Ref.3)

FutureBuilt is a program running between 2010-2020, with expectations to continue from 2021-2030 (Ref. 9). One of its projects consists of the construction of a large greenhouse in between a housing complex in an old industrial building. The greenhouse will be the centre of the building and provide a Mediterranean climate with a lot of green facades, green roofs and indoor vertical greeneries (Ref. 1). The nave of the complex will become a greenhouse and the natural gathering point for the residents. (Ref. 1, 3)

The aim of Ljubljanica Connects funded by Life+ is to improve connectivity between Natura 2000 sites. Started in 2012, the project aims to remove barriers to fish migration, enhance and restore habitats, improve water management infrastructures, and put in place a water monitoring system. This will restore the river Ljubljanica's function as a corridor, improve water management and so provide better links between Natura 2000 sites. The fish species in question are Danube Roach, Danube Salmon and Striped Chub (2).

With the "Green River" for Milan, the design team coordinated by Stefano Boeri has proposed an urban reforestation project that aims to realise on 90% of the seven abandoned railways a continuous system of parks, woods, oases, orchards and gardens for public use, linked between them by green corridors and bicycles made on the railroad tracks. (1, 3 and 4).

The first " ecological zone" in Ljubljana was established in 2007 in the old city centre. This led to the closure of a 100,000 m² area to motor vehicles, and the renovation of the main traffic axis to make it attractive for pedestrians and cyclists. The new transport regime in this area reduced black carbon levels by 58%. Additionally, the city administration has planted 63 ash trees. Biking and sustainable mobility have been promoted, in line with providing new green areas for social and sporting activities in formerly degraded areas. The "renaissance“ is not focused only on the city center and the implementation of the car-free zone, but it is expanded throughout Ljubljana and covers different fields, such as the revival of degraded areas, the establishment of green public spaces, playgrounds for children, eco-renovation of schools and kindergartens, cultural and sports facilities, etc. Finally, the river Ljubljanica has been the focus of an ecological restoration project. This was done with the aim of reducing pollution and returning the city centre to the citizens, by incentivizing pedestrian and bicycle commute. The "ecological zone" project has been completed. After the completion of the project, further initiatives were taken which is directly related to the project itself. Some of them focusing on converting the city to a sustainable one is still going on. (1, 3, 4 and 8).