Regional government

Located southeast of Bayou La Batre, Coffee Island is a barrier island that provides a buffering capacity for shorelines in Mobile County [5]. Since 1950, the shoreline on the island has been eroding. In response, the Nature Conservancy has put in a ‘’living shoreline’’ construction in 2010 to reduce wave energy and decrease erosion the island has been facing [1]. A ‘’living shoreline’’, ‘’refers to the use of nature-based techniques and materials such as oyster shells, reef blocks, bagged shells, live shellfish, and plants to help protect eroding shorelines’’ [2]. While the living shorelines constructed in 2010 still provide habitat benefits, these efforts no longer protect the shoreline from erosion. This in turn threatens not only the island's buffering capacity, but also the integrity of the marsh on the island [5]. Therefore, the Nature Conservancy has secured funding for a second project on the island, the Coffee Island Restoration project (in 2023) that aims to implement a (longer) 5,000-foot living shoreline breakwater, including the use of ‘’super sacks’’ – a specific kind of sediment barriers functioning as dikes – to protect the coastline while enhancing habitat [4, 6]

The stretch of the Great Lakes basin ecosystem from southern Lake Huron through western Lake Erie forms a unique urban refuge where life thrives with beauty and resilience. Known as Metropolitan Detroit, this region is where the Community Foundation for Southeast Michigan and many partners are working to create The Great Lakes Way by connecting 160 miles of greenways and 156 miles of water trails (1).
The vision for the Great Lakes Way project is to ensure that all residents and visitors of southeast Michigan—people of all ages, backgrounds, ethnicities, abilities, and interests—feel connected to the water resources, welcomed on its trails, and able to enjoy the benefits and opportunities these access points provide (1). To bring this vision to life, the project plans to link 160 miles of greenways and 156 miles of blueways, connecting people to a range of world-class freshwater, wildlife, and recreational opportunities. These include fishing areas, bird migration pathways, parks, working waterways, preserved woodlands, and restored wetlands (2).
The Great Lakes Way project connects existing assets, supports accessibility and equity, and promotes the Great Lakes Way to both residents and visitors through marketing and communication efforts (2). There are 26 points of interest that will serve as connection hubs along the Great Lakes Way (2). In Detroit specifically, the focus is on connecting 13 culturally or historically significant destinations, as well as locations known for their environmental and ecological importance or as regional landmarks (2).
Rich in world-class fisheries, migratory flyways, parks, urban centers, small towns, preserved old-growth woodlands, and restored wetlands, the Great Lakes Way offers unique experiences that can only be found here. By uniting the natural and cultural assets the Great Lakes Way designation aims to emphasize and expand the essential linkages needed to further connect this remarkable region. (2,3)

The Waliwa project, launched in 2017 by the municipality of Sainte-Luce, is a collaborative effort dedicated to restoring marine biodiversity, enhancing the ecological balance of the bay area, revitalizing the local ecosystem and supporting sustainable economic activities. By focusing on marine biodiversity conservation, Waliwa addresses several critical environmental challenges. The project helps mitigate coastline erosion, support the blue economy through artisanal fishing and tourism, and foster an environmentally friendly culture among the local community.
So far, the Waliwa project has implemented three initiatives: it restored the Gros Raisin backshore to address erosion and provide nesting sea turtles with protected space (Ref 4). The project also intervened to restore the Pont Café pond, which was covered in Salvinia Molesta, preventing the intake of oxygen and hampering its role as a water filter, habitat for species and flood regulator .
Furthermore, the project has conducted studies and raised awareness about the challenges posed by wastewater management on the health of municipal water bodies. Through these efforts, Waliwa is working to create a more sustainable and resilient marine environment for future generations. (Ref 4, 5, 6; 12)

In May 2020, CityLAB Berlin launched "Gieß den Kiez", an interactive platform designed to support Berlin's urban trees by fostering collaboration between citizens and the city. The platform enables voluntary civil society efforts to help water the city's endangered tree population. It features a map that visualizes nearly all of Berlin's street and park trees, complete with data such as water requirements, age, and species. Citizens can create profiles, adopt trees, and mark them as ‘watered’ within the app, making it easy to track contributions to the health of Berlin’s trees. (Ref. 2)
Berlin's trees face growing challenges due to increasing temperatures, reduced rainfall, and exposure to road salt in winter. The hot summers of 2018 and 2019 highlighted the urgency of supporting the city’s trees, which provide cooling shade, clean air, and habitats for numerous animal and plant species. To address this, "Gieß den Kiez" was developed as a platform where authorities, volunteers, and civic society could collaborate to prevent tree dehydration.
The platform maps over 625,000 trees across Berlin and offers additional tools, such as rainfall data from the last 30 days and the locations of public water fountains, which can be used for watering trees. By connecting data from city authorities, the German Weather Service, and OpenStreetMap, the fully open-source platform allows for transparency and accessibility in its operation. (Ref. 6)
The project has proven highly successful in Berlin, with over 10,000 participants actively watering trees, and its model has been adopted in other German cities like Leipzig. "Gieß den Kiez" not only exemplifies a practical response to urban climate challenges but also fosters a sense of shared responsibility and community engagement in caring for urban green spaces. (Ref. 6)

Assemini, a municipality in Cagliari, has long grappled with hydrogeological instability, marked by major floods in 1999 and 2002. To mitigate future risks, the municipality launched a series of interventions focused on improving the hydraulic management of its waterways. These projects are part of a broader strategy to address recurring flood hazards exacerbated by the effects of rapid urbanization in the 1970s, which disrupted the natural water drainage systems (1,3). The central goal of the project is to reduce the risk of flooding by enhancing the functionality of existing waterways. This includes both preventative measures and structural improvements to the canal system to manage stormwater more effectively. These efforts aim to safeguard urban and rural areas from severe meteorological events. The project development involved a multi-phased approach starting in 2013, focusing on cleaning and maintaining minor waterways such as the Gutturu Lorenzu, Sa Nuxedda, and Giaccu Meloni streams. These efforts expanded over time, culminating in an agreement with the Land Reclamation Consortium of Southern Sardinia in 2015, securing both local and regional financial support. The interventions have covered over 24 kilometers of canals and streams, targeting key flood-prone areas (1,2).
Key interventions include the cleaning and maintenance of over 35 km of canals and streams, in partnership with the Land Reclamation Consortium of Southern Sardinia, supported by regional funding. A separate, large-scale intervention in Truncu Is Follas involves constructing an open-air diversion canal, a retention basin (44,500 m³), and new pipelines to redirect floodwaters, thus reducing risk for residents downstream in both Assemini and Elmas.

The urban garden in Miraflores park (Huertas las Moreras) was established already in 1991 on an old waste dump and contains 10500 m2 of plots for locals to grow fruits and vegetables [Ref. 1]. The creation of the gardens was initiated by citizens who formed an association and implemented it in cooperation with the City of Seville. The citizens were discontent with the lack of green space in the area, and the urban gardens came to be alongside Miraflores Park, which was also pushed by the locals. The initial goals of the gardens were to allow locals to produce their own food and to host educational activities [Ref. 2]. More recent developments exemplify the focus on education and knowledge. In 2022, the citizen science project "Planta Bienstar" was carried out in the gardens, where high school students measured the lead levels in the soil and crops. The project aimed to investigate if lead levels posed a health risk and if the gardens could reduce levels over time. The project was organised by the non-profit Descubre Foundation and funded by the foundation and the regional Government of Andalusia. The project relied on the knowledge and efforts of the citizens, the students and gardeners in an intergenerational collaboration where the young could learn methods from their elders [Ref. 3, 4].

In 2022 an afforestation initiative was implemented near a landfill located in the Tutora commune (1 - 6). Organized by the City Hall of Tutora, the event brought together representatives from the regional government of Iasi County, the "Asociația de Dezvoltare Intercomunitară pentru Salubritate" (ADIS), and volunteers from SC Girexim SA, SC Salubris Iasi, and Edil Industri Iasi. Together, they planted 2,000 acacia saplings, donated by the Forestry Directorate of Iasi (6). The afforestation action took place under the umbrella of the regional environmental campaign "Iasi Mai Verde" (Iasi More Green), led by the County Council of Iasi. This campaign promotes a range of eco-friendly activities, including educational programs in schools, waste cleanup events, and afforestation initiatives in partnership with ADIS, while actively encouraging the support and participation of local municipalities from across the region (1, 3, & 7).
"Iasi Mai Verde" aligns with national environmental strategies such as the Ministry of the Environment's "Curățăm România" (Let's Clean Romania) and the annual Planting Forest Month (3 & 6).
On the same day, as part of the Iasi Mai Verde initiative, students from a local school in Tutora were given a practical education workshop on how waste management operates at the regional level. The students were also invited to witness the afforestation action and participate, fostering a deeper understanding of environmental stewardship (1- 5).
The newly planted trees are acting as a natural barrier, and help improve air quality by filtering dust, pollution, and waste particles originating from the nearby Tutora landfill. In turn, this contributes to better living conditions for the residents in close proximity to the landfill, enhancing both their health and overall quality of life (5).

The Acropora Project is a coral restoration initiative launched in 2015 by the Martinican Regional Directorate of Environment, Planning, and Housing, primarily implemented by the nonprofit organization Assomer. It focuses on two critically endangered Caribbean coral species: Acropora cervicornis and Acropora palmata, as classified by the International Union for Conservation of Nature. While Acropora palmata thrives on the Atlantic seabed of Martinique, Acropora cervicornis had seemingly vanished from local waters by 2007, despite previously providing crucial habitats for marine life. However, this species was rediscovered in 2013 at Loup Caravelle on the Atlantic side of Martinique.
The initiative began by extracting cuttings from both species at Loup Caravelle and nurturing them at a separate site in Le Diamant. In 2019, these corals were transplanted to three locations on the seabed of Sainte-Luce, demonstrating surprising growth patterns despite the site's low to medium environmental quality.
The project's primary aim was to prevent the permanent disappearance of both coral species through spatial replication techniques, including cutting and transplantation. Particular attention was given to enhancing the genetic variability and range of Acropora cervicornis. The initiative also aimed to raise awareness about current coral conservation challenges.
Additionally, the project included a research component that contributed to a better understanding of environmental conservation and the restoration of Acropora cervicornis populations. Unfortunately, a temperature increase at the end of 2023 resulted in the decimation of all corals at the transplant sites. (Ref. 1 -5)

Located between the Rotes Rathaus, Karl-Liebknecht-Straße, Nikolai Quarter, Spreeufer and the television tower, the old founding centre of Berlin is one of the capital's most important urban open spaces. This open space between the TV tower and the Spree is being redesigned on the basis of an international open space planning competition and many years of public participation. With further development, this touristically significant location in the historic centre of Berlin will undergo a climate-resilient redesign and upgrade with great design and functional quality. (Ref. 1)
The listed areas of the Rathausforum and the Marx-Engels-Forum will in future be connected to form a continuous ribbon of open space that runs from Alexanderplatz to the Spree. Central areas will be unsealed and green spaces will be created that can be used in a variety of ways, which will also be attractive places to spend time and improve the microclimate. Trees and shrubs will be planted on already existing and new green areas. The aim is to respectfully consider the numerous visible and hidden historical references and at the same time transform the site into a sustainable urban open space that combines a high quality of recreation, sustainability and culture. Next to plants, a new rainwater management system is being implemented that stores rainwater and uses the created green spaces to evaporate water. Playgrounds and a water fountain are further additions to a new recreational area. (Ref. 3; Ref. 4; Ref. 5)
The project is characterized by a years-long participation process. Around 10.000 citizens participated in feedback rounds, workshops, dialogues, and information sessions in which they could voice they wishes and ideas for the area. The project is implemented and organized by the state-owned company Grün Berlin, which engage with various stakeholders since 2015. Preparations for the construction start in late 2024 and the project is expected to be finished in 2030. (Ref. 5; Ref. 9)

For thousands of years the Rio Salado, also known as the Salt River, and its larger mainstem, the Gila River, served as an important perennial source of life and growth for indigenous people residing in central Arizona, including the Akimel and Piipaash (3). Today, the Salt River is an ephemeral river corridor connecting diverse urban communities across an expansive and growing Maricopa County (3). While the river is now typically defined by intermittent flow as a function of water conservation and distribution in an arid urban climate, it also has powerful flows during the Arizona monsoon season providing a diverse and unique ecosystem for the region (3). To foster the health of the River, a regional multi-decade project was initiated in 2018 called Rio Reimagined, which includes six cities and two tribal communities (1). Rio Reimagined is a planning initiative in a very early concept stage, centered around the mission to support and enhance this treasured river corridor (3). The goals of Rio Reimagined consist of connecting communities, Equitable & Sustainable Development, and Restoring and Revitalizing Healthy Rivers (3). As part of the Rio Reimagined, the City of Phoenix founded a collaborative project called Rio PHX that will help promote a 20-mile Rio Salado (Salt River) corridor as a local and regional destination that attracts positive investment for the benefit of existing/future businesses, residents, and tourists (1). The final aim with this project is to improve health outcomes for existing and future residents by address outstanding needs in the area and create opportunities for housing, employment, recreation, art, and ecological restoration (1). From May 2024 to May 2025 Rio PHX will engage in creating a community profile, an existing conditions assessment, community engagement & visioning, developing implementation strategies and drafting the master plan (1). Public hearings and final plan adoption are set to take place in fall 2025 (1).