Regional government

Neknampur Lake, also known as Ibrahim Bagh Cheruvu, located in Hyderabad, Telangana State of India, has historical importance and was part of a water reservoir network for irrigation and drinking as well as an inalienable part of the rural ecology of the village (1,2). Due to urbanization, the lake underwent drastic changes in ecology, land use and management in the past decade. Scientific investigations conducted by the Telangana State Biodiversity Board on Neknampur Lake highlighted that the water body was full of sludge and extremely eutrophicated, showing elevated algal growth (2). This was mainly because of the unabated entry of sewage and other waste over an extended period into the lake (1,2). In June 2016, The NGO named 'Dhruvansh' decided to adopt Neknampur Lake and thus began a series of interventions that incorporated bioremediation and phytoremediation techniques, regular cleanup drives of plastic removal and recycling campaigns into a restoration plan for the lake (1,2). With the support of the government institutions, 'Dhruvansh' began the revival of the lake across two phases: (1) the revival of the lake periphery and the lake body, followed by (2) the revival of the lake ecosystem (1,2). The ecological restoration of Neknampur Lake has improved the ecological services it provides and restores the glory of this historically significant lake, now known as a biodiversity hotspot (1,2,3,4).

The Adopt-a-Park project is an urban re-greening and renewal program. The Metro Manila Development Authority (MMDA), working together with the 17 Metro Manila local government units (LGUs), has launched the initiative to address rapid urbanization and urban decay by creating new green areas and renovating existing but underutilized or derelict neighbourhood spaces [4]. The project is part of the "I ♡ Metro Manila" advocacy program of the MMDA, which was launched to "uplift the spirits of the residents recovering from the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic as well as to strengthen initiatives on urban renewal that aims to transform the metropolis to be a more livable, greener, and resilient region"[1].

The Central Forest Corridor surrounds the capital of Honduras, Tegucigalpa, and provides various ecosystem services to the population, with a particular emphasis on providing water for communities within both the corridor and Tegucigalpa (Ref. 3). However, limited access to water is common across Honduras, attributed to the degradation of watersheds as a result of deforestation and pollution of both ground and surface water (Ref. 1). Climate scenarios further "indicate that existing water scarcity will be exacerbated by climate change and increasing variability"... with "the main urban areas (Tegucigalpa and San Pedro Sula) and several agricultural areas (Patuca basin)...fac[ing] increased water scarcity in the near future" (Ref. 1).

Mérida city developed a Municipal Green Infrastructure Plan (Plan Municipal de Infraestructura Verde), in order to "strengthen the green infrastructure system through planning, design and implementation of urban strategies at different scales of actions and projects that contribute to enriching ecosystem services in the public and private space of the Municipality of Mérida" (Ref. 1). The plan has four axes, providing a comprehensive and transdisciplinary approach to integrating nature-based solutions into city planning and the design of public spaces in order to provide climate change adaptation and mitigation benefits (Ref. 1).
The Mérida Green Infrastructure Plan shares strong ties with a state-wide strategy, 'Arborizando Yucatán', which promotes reforestation efforts across the 106 municipalities of the state in order to "help reduce the effects of climate change, have more areas green and a better climate for the benefit of current and future generations of Yucatecans" (Refs. 3 & 4). At both the municipal and state level, the relevant administrations (Mérida City Council and the State Government, respectively) have signed an agreement (Declaration for Mérida 2050), whereby both pledged to plant at least 200,000 native trees in the City of Merida, running alongside both the Mérida Municipal Green Infrastructure Plan and the Aborising Yucatán Strategy (Ref. 2).

Delhi Development Authority (DDA) has established a network of Biodiversity Parks in Delhi with unique landscapes that harbour a diversity of plants, animals and microbes living in ecologically sustainable biotic communities and rendering multiple ecological services. Presently there are seven Biodiversity Parks developed by DDA located across the landforms of Delhi. These parks have a mosaic of habitats with rich floristic and faunistic diversity that function as a dynamic ecosystem. They have ecosystem processes such as organic matter decomposition, regeneration of plants, pollination, resting and nesting of birds and colonisation by other animals. The biodiversity parks in Delhi have proved to provide extreme essential services by creating ecological corridors and maintaining the genetic diversity in an urban setup. Furthermore, these parks have shown substantial potential in storing carbon and other pollutants and help in mitigating climate change. [2, 3]

The Beddagana Wetland Park is located in Sri Jayawardenapura Kotte, Sri Lanka's administrative capital. The wetland park plays an important role in flood regulation and keeping the city cool during periods of extreme heat. The city is located in the Colombo district and the project contributes to the flood management goals of the Metro Colombo Urban Development Project (MCUDP). It demonstrates how a wetland can be preserved while promoting eco-tourism and improved livability in the city. The target area is located within the Sri Jayewardenapura-Kotte municipality and is a part of Parliament Lake. While focusing on the protection of the wetland habitat as a flood-retention area, the project also supports selecting investments aimed at the protection and landscaping of key areas within the target area to improve livability for local people living in and around the area, while providing access to much-needed recreational space. [2, 7]

The Bluebelt programme in Staten Island was implemented as it "preserves natural drainage corridors including streams, ponds, and wetlands, and enhances them to perform their functions of conveying, storing, and filtering runoff precipitation or stormwater". (Ref. 2). By delivering "stormwater to engineered systems that are designed to mimic natural streams and ponds which...meander or wind back and forth, the water slows down naturally" (Ref. 1). These actions are intended to "help control flooding, pollution and erosion" (Ref. 2), whilst also providing open green areas for both local communities and a "diverse habitat for wildlife" (Ref. 2). Beginning in 1990, the Bluebelt programme has undergone continual expansion, recognising that "as New York City prepares for rising sea levels and heavier rains due to climate change, Bluebelts offer a natural and effective solution for stable and sound stormwater management" (Refs. 2 & 4). The Bluebelt now includes approximately 400 acres of freshwater wetland and riparian stream habitat and 11 miles of stream corridor (Ref. 4).

The municipal government of the Yiwu city in China has launched the Green Lungs of the City Project (GLCP) in 2019. The overarching goal was to build a green lung, which will create more green spaces for residents in Yiwu, mitigate environmental pressures and improve the city's resilience to climate change. Under the project, a green corridor was created to reconnect the roads, rivers, ponds and lakes where different tree species were planted. Additionally, wetlands were constructed and restored to improve resilience against climate change disasters. The project is still in the ongoing phase, and a forest-wetland ecological park is under development in the city's central area. The GLCP aims to use different types of NBS elements to promote sustainable urban development and to provide multiple ecosystem services to the citizens in a highly urbanised area. [1]

The marshes in southern Iraq, formed by the Tigris and Euphrates Rivers, are home to one of humanity’s oldest cultures, once the third-largest wetlands in the world. The Eden In Iraq wastewater garden project started as a humanitarian project that has developed as a necessity for the people of Al Chibaish and the localities surrounding the town. This water remediation project holistically looks at wastewater, trying to include this type of water and its nutrients in a sustainable form by using it to create green spaces. The Eden project in Iraq regards human waste as a valuable source of nutrients and freshwater, which can add to local greenery and landscape beauty if properly treated close to its source. From a climate change point of view, the project focuses on the creation of a wetland with wastewater that can support a garden within the marshes of Iraq. Marsh restoration is a powerful tool against warming temperatures and loss of vegetation, especially in arid areas such as Iraq. From a biodiversity point of view, the project bares a great deal of significance as marshes support a myriad of rare wildlife and rich biodiversity. (1,2,3)

To mitigate environmental pressures, including air pollution and urban heat island effects and to improve urban resilience, the municipal government in Beijing has launched the largest afforestation Programme in 2012, Beijing Plain Area Afforestation Programme (BPAP). The aim was to create huge forest patches, develop urban forest park clusters and optimise the large-scale forest patterns. By 2015, BPAP has created green strategies with nine green wedges, multiple green belts, and green corridors around Beijing's old city centre. More than 70,000 hectares of forest (more than 54 million trees) have been planted, and the survival rate has exceeded 95%. BPAP has been considered one of the most ambitious projects for a high-density urbanised area like Beijing. [1, 5]