Local government/municipality

The Parco della Musica in Cagliari, inaugurated in 2011 by the municipality of Cagliari, blends modern urban design with a focus on green spaces, music, and culture. Spanning approximately five hectares, the park features a small, winding artificial river that flows from north to south, creating a micro-habitat for various bird species. This waterway, lined with benches on the western side and open green spaces on the eastern side, offers a peaceful setting for both wildlife and visitors. The use of native plants, trees, and shrubs further enhances the biodiversity.

In terms of construction, the use of sustainable materials like marble paving and wooden platforms reflects a commitment to modern design. This makes the Parco della Musica an ideal venue for hosting events and fostering social interaction where culture can thrive, and people can relax and enjoy fresh, calm spaces. Overall, the Parco della Musica serves as an example of how modern urban spaces can be designed to promote ecological balance while offering cultural and recreational benefits to the community (Refs. 1, 2, 3, 4 & 5).

Corkagh Park, spanning 120 hectares, holds significant historical and cultural value for the local community of Clondalkin. The park offers an extensive range of facilities, including football pitches, a newly redeveloped playground, baseball pitches, cricket amenities, and a purpose-built road cycling track. Over the past two years, Corkagh Park has experienced a notable increase in footfall and usage as visitors are drawn to its expansive open spaces. With its rich vegetation, open wetlands, and rolling hills, Corkagh Park provides a unique environment that caters to both wildlife and human visitors. Since its establishment as a public park in 1986, the park’s vast open spaces have served the local community and attracted visitors from the broader region. Currently, Corkagh Park is surrounded by the Village of Clondalkin and nearby residential developments.
Currently the park goes through a redevelopment process that involves redesign of several areas including introduction of native vegetation. The enhancement of the park is led by the South Dublin County Council and will feature a central hub area at the heart of the park. This hub will feature a coffee shop, an event space, additional seating, and new play areas. Enhancements to the Fairy Woodland Trail will include additional play elements and seating, as well as a new pedestrian pathway linking the lakes, while maintaining and safeguarding the existing mature trees. The project also includes the felling of ash trees affected by Ash Dieback, with these trees being replaced by native specimens to sustain the park’s ecological integrity. Native edge planting buffers will be established to reduce noise from the N7 and promote local biodiversity. Additionally, the project will address the existing car parks by implementing necessary improvements to better accommodate the park’s visitors. (4, 6)

The Dog River Watershed Restoration project aims to protect and enhance the chemical, biological, and cultural integrity of the Dog River Watershed in Mobile County, Alabama (Ref 1). Guided by the Dog River Watershed Management Plan (WMP), the project addresses key issues such as pollution, litter, stormwater management, and habitat degradation (Ref 2). Funded by the National Fish and Wildlife Foundation's Gulf Environmental Benefit Fund and completed in partnership with stakeholders, the project focuses on implementing targeted restoration activities to improve water quality, protect critical habitats, and increase public awareness and access to the watershed (Ref 2). The Dog River Watershed faces significant hazards, including pollution, sedimentation, erosion, and the impacts of urban development (Ref 3). These challenges are intensified by the watershed’s role as an urban estuary, where land use heavily influences water quality and habitat conditions (Ref 3). To mitigate these threats, the project incorporates pollution prevention measures, shoreline restoration efforts, and community engagement initiatives (Ref 4). By prioritizing scientifically supported actions and aligning with broader environmental goals, the project seeks to restore ecological balance and ensure the long-term health and resilience of the watershed and its connected ecosystems in Mobile Bay (Ref 4).
The Watershed Management Plan for the Dog River Watershed is a key component of the Mobile Bay Shore Habitat Conservation and Acquisition Initiative, which focuses on acquiring, restoring, and preserving habitats and wildlife species affected by the environmental disasters of the Deepwater Horizon oil spill that occurred in 2010 (Ref 6). The project spans three critical areas: 300 acres in the Dog River Watershed (as detailed in this project profile), 450 acres within the Three Mile Creek Watershed, and 40 acres in the Garrows Bend Watershed (not in focus here) (Ref 7).

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).

The Görömböly European Bee-eater Habitat Protection Project, launched in 2002 in Miskolc-Görömböly, Hungary, is a key conservation initiative dedicated to protecting 26.5 hectares of critical habitat for the highly protected European Bee-eater (Merops apiaster) and the Sand Martin, along with the diverse ecosystems thriving in this area.
The site comprises three unique zones: an abandoned sand quarry, a young acacia woodland, and a quarry lake surrounded by marshlands. The sand quarry’s vertical walls provide nesting sites for 15-40 European Bee-eaters and Sand Martins each year, supporting Red-listed species vital to Hungary’s biodiversity. The acacia woodland serves as a feeding ground, while the quarry lake nurtures a rich aquatic ecosystem, hosting protected species like the European Bitterling fish, amphibians such as Green Toads, and a variety of waterfowl, including Mallards, Little Grebes, and occasionally Kingfishers.
This project not only safeguards these vulnerable species but also fosters community engagement, offering residents the chance to learn about local wildlife and ecosystems. Additionally, the initiative promotes scientific study of the area’s ecological development, contributing valuable insights into species behavior and habitat evolution. With an emphasis on nature education and recreation, the project raises public awareness of environmental conservation.
The Municipality of Miskolc plays a crucial role, having designated the area as a protected site and managing its regulatory enforcement and maintenance.
(Ref.1,2,3)

The reforestation project at Bela Vista Park in Lisbon is a collaborative effort by the MEO Kalorama music festival, the Lisbon City Council, and Quercus (local NGO). The intervention began with a community planting event in February 2024 with the planting of 80 native trees, and the goal to plant a total of a total of 1,000 trees. The project aimed to improve the park's biodiversity, enhance carbon absorption, and support local wildlife. The tree species were chosen for their suitability to the local climate and their ability to integrate with existing vegetation. Local schoolchildren and residents participated in the planting, serving as a community engagement activity. This initiative is part of broader efforts to make Lisbon greener and to positively contribute to the local environment, given the disturbance caused by the MEO Kalorama festival (Ref 1, 2, 3).

The Horpaz-Ezareni Park is an initiative driven by civil society, requesting the municipality of Miroslava to construct a natural park adjacent to Lake Ezareni. The aim is to protect its green spaces and aquatic bird species while addressing waste management in the area. The petition also called for more green spaces in line with European standards and sought to tackle the challenges of rapid urbanization in peri-urban areas. It collected hundreds of signatures and targeted an area of 20 hectares.
In response, the municipality agreed to the petition and initially proposed creating a park covering 4 hectares in 2022. This first plan was released to the public for consultation. However, the project has since evolved to encompass the original 20 hectares, plus an additional 2 hectares, with an estimated project cost of 11,000,000 euros and a timeline of 3 years for implementation.
The park's design includes various facilities and amenities aimed at enhancing opportunities for recreation, exercise, and relaxation. Accessible paths for pedestrians and cyclists, as well as a parking lot, are also part of the plan. Additionally, two buildings are proposed for sanitary and administrative purposes, which would manage the projected installations of a lighting system, Wi-Fi, and surveillance cameras.
Environmentally, the project includes plans for managing the lake's banks to remove hydrophilic vegetation that could create an unhealthy environment, along with the construction of two bridges. The wilderness areas will be managed, and dendrological plants will be introduced to improve the ecosystem's quality. Overall, the project aims to increase and regenerate green spaces in the commune, enhancing the quality of life for residents and improving the area's aesthetic appeal. (1-8)

Since the 1980s, the Graefekiez neighborhood in Berlin's Friedrichshain-Kreuzberg district has been a traffic-calmed area where all road users are treated equally, driving is limited to walking speed, and cars are permitted to stop anywhere. However, this once-progressive concept no longer functions effectively due to the significant increase in cars and delivery vehicles over the years. The streets no longer resemble a traffic-calmed zone, with traditional layouts featuring roadways, sidewalks, and parking spaces. As a result, many users fail to recognize the traffic-calmed nature of the area, leading to safety issues: vehicles drive too fast, delivery traffic causes conflicts, and streets are difficult to navigate safely.
Berlin’s transport sector faces the challenge of meeting legally mandated CO₂ reduction targets. Achieving these goals requires bold measures, including limiting private motorized transport (MIV), especially in densely populated areas where residents and visitors have access to alternative modes of transportation.
The "Graefekiez" project addresses these challenges through urban redevelopment aimed at improving livability and promoting sustainable urban mobility. Car parking has been banned from the streets, freeing up space for communal use such as lounge areas. As part of the "Graefekiez" project, the district office is converting parking spaces into green spaces and expanding tree disks to adapt to the climate and promote a sponge city.
The project was developed collaboratively with residents and NGOs through a participatory process led by the Friedrichshain-Kreuzberg district office, in partnership with the Berlin Social Science Center and Paper Planes e.V. Implementation began in 2023 on Graefestraße and Bockhstraße.After a six-month trial period, the district office decided in 2024 to make the measures permanent.
This initiative advances a safer, greener, inclusive urban environment while meeting climate and community goals. (Ref. 1, 2, 3)

The park called Järnvågsparken will be constructed in the developing neighbourhood of Masthuggskajen as the main green space of the area, measuring about 8000 m2. The park will offer recreational activities for people living and working in the area, with spaces designated for rest, meetings, picnics, walking and play. For example, there will be a large playground, many different places to sit, grass lawns and a space to host cultural events in [Ref. 1-4]. The park will also be designed to manage stormwater and reduce flood risk [Ref. 5, 6]. The park will be built over an existing highway, turning it into a tunnel while reconnecting the new neighbourhood. The remaining future park area next to the road are currently parking spaces [Ref. 1, 4, 5]. The adjacent streets will also see more greening, increasing the connectivity of green spaces and mobility [Ref. 4-6]. The location on top of a tunnel limits the soil depth of the park, but the ambition is still to house a rich plant and animal life, including trees, providing ecosystem services [Ref. 1-6]. The project is managed by the City of Gothenburg [Ref. 1, 7].

The "Un Millón de Corales por Colombia" project is a national initiative aimed at the restoration and conservation of coral reefs across Colombia. Initiated in 2021, this ambitious project seeks to rehabilitate 200 hectares of coral reef by planting one million coral fragments across seven departments in Colombia, spanning both the Caribbean and Pacific regions​ (ref 1,2). It was developed as a response to the significant degradation of coral reefs caused by climate change, coastal development, overfishing, and pollution. These factors have led to the loss of about 80% of coral reefs in the Caribbean region.
The initiative, led by the Colombian government in partnership with organizations such as Conservación Internacional, Parques Nacionales Naturales, Corales de Paz, and several regional environmental authorities, focuses on restoring this vital ecosystem (ref 2). The project encompasses constructing and maintaining coral nurseries and training local community members, including fishermen, as "coral gardeners." These gardeners are taught scientifically proven coral restoration techniques, including microfragmentation and larval rearing methods. A key aspect of the project involves continuous education and involvement of the community and stakeholders to ensure long-term sustainability (ref 4, 5). In Cartagena, the project plays a vital role in the restoration and conservation of coral reefs in this region, which is a key site for the initiative (ref 4).