Regional government

The schoolyard at Reginhard Primary School in Reinickendorf faced persistent challenges, often becoming unusable due to poor drainage. After rainfall, water would pool, leaving the yard submerged and inaccessible to the 400 primary school pupils. Even in dry weather, the schoolyard was far from ideal: a lack of play equipment made it uninviting, and in summer, the area became excessively hot, offering little comfort or shade. Both children and the school community, including teaching staff and parents, voiced a strong desire for improvement.
Adding to the urgency for redesign, Berliner Wasserbetriebe imposed a discharge restriction, requiring rainwater to be managed on-site. This led to a comprehensive transformation of the school grounds. Large areas were unsealed, allowing water to seep naturally into the ground. Underground seepage systems were installed to enhance drainage, and the redesign introduced green spaces, a school garden, and near-natural play and exercise areas. These changes not only resolved the flooding issue but also created a more inviting and sustainable environment for students.
The focus on ecological and sustainable design improved the microclimate, providing cooler surroundings and enabling outdoor breaks filled with activity and fresh air. The redesign transformed the schoolyard into a vibrant space that meets the needs of both children and the environment.
This project was funded by the Berlin Programme for Sustainable Development (BENE Umwelt) and financed by the European Regional Development Fund (ERDF). (Ref. 3; Ref. 4)

The initiative focuses on the creation and implementation of a management plan for the Natura 2000 areas of Ciurbesti Lake and Fânațele Bârca to protect their biodiversity and promote sustainable tourism and land use. These areas were designated as part of the Natura 2000 network in 2016, but until recently, lacked a formal management plan. In 2019, the environmental group "Asociaţia Scutierii Naturii Bacău," in partnership with the Environmental Protection Agency of Iași (APM Iași), secured EU funding to develop the plan. While the plan was being developed, minimal regulations were established in 2022 to ensure interim protection.
The finalized management plan was released in 2024. It assessed species and habitats of European, national, and community importance, identifying 18 bird species, 3 plant species, 1 mammal species, and 4 key habitats. The plan also identified environmental pressures and set objectives and actions to ensure the conservation of this biodiversity. Before the plan's completion, two rounds of public consultations were held, involving a broad range of stakeholders, including surrounding municipalities, private landowners, public administrators, and local community representatives, to define optimal management practices.
The plan mandates continuous monitoring and reporting on the state of species and habitats. It also includes specific conservation measures, such as the partial reconstruction of endangered habitats, meetings with local land users to restrict harmful activities, public awareness campaigns, and regular monitoring. Additionally, it emphasizes the sustainable use of the area, including tourism. The creation of the plan was financed with EU funds totaling €1,036,014.27, and the projected cost for its implementation is €259,627.99. (1-5)

According to data from the National Institute for Space Research (Inpe), Rondônia ranks fourth nationally among the states with the highest number of detected fire outbreaks (2). In response to this issue and to restore devastated areas in the Amazon, Terra Cura was established in 2016 by resident Luana Lopes, promoting the planting of more than a thousand trees in the Porto Velho region (1). The areas benefiting from this initiative were those degraded by deforestation, causing erosion along the riverbanks (1).
This reforestation effort took place in the scenographic city of Jerusalem of the Amazon, from 2016 to 2022, a cultural and touristic complex in Porto Velho, where erosion caused by deforestation was observed along the riverbanks next to it (2). It was developed as a collaboration with the club and the founders of the Associação Clube Teatral Êxodo, who gave the space so that we could recover the land (3).
The project focused on developing an agricultural strategy known as syntropic farming, by implementing an agroforestry system. This approach seeks to reorganize and restore the natural environment, creating better conditions for planting and allowing trees to thrive. In the reforestation process, volunteers and experienced technicians worked together Additionally, the project included a nursery used for donating seedlings and for offering forestry and agro-construction courses to the community, held in the reforestation area (2).
The Terra Cura project, in addition to working on reforestation and recovery of degraded areas, promoted environmental and cultural integration at the site, promoting sustainable fairs and bazaars, training courses in ancestral practices such as soil cultivation and bioconstruction, and thematic events, bringing together artists and local communities (3). Although they were evicted from the area surrounding the scenic city of Jerusalem (5, 6), they are still active in the area.

Fairhope's Municipal Pier is a popular bayfront destination featuring a 1/4-mile pier, swimming areas, picnic spots, a landscaped rose garden, benches, restrooms, a marina, a restaurant, walking trails, and a duck pond. However, the area has been fragilized over the years. The beaches are absent and less prominent now, due in large measure to the presence of shoreline hardening (Ref 5), making the shoreline more vulnerable to climate hazards (Ref 5).
The main goal of the Working Waterfront and Greenspace Restoration Project is to introduce safe and user-friendly improvements to the 10-acre South Beach Park area, which encompasses the Municipal Pier (Ref 2). These upgrades aim to enhance the public's use and access of the waterfront, while ensuring the park's long-term resilience and sustainability (Ref 2). The new design tackles both the structural issues of the bulkhead/seawall and the overall aesthetics of the Fairhope Pier area (Ref 2).
Over the years, storms, particularly Hurricanes Sally and Zeta, have compromised the structural integrity of the anchoring hardware of the bulkhead/seawall, causing parts of the wall to shift. Additionally, water intrusion behind the wall has eroded the soil supporting the walkway in certain areas (Ref 2). Other important features include new handrails, decking, restroom facilities, and lights on the pier. The project will also add new stairs leading to the bluff, restore the fountain, and renovate the parking lot. A funicular lift will be installed at the bluff to enhance accessibility (Ref 5).
Pedestrian safety will be improved to meet the requirements of the Americans with Disabilities Act. Other enhancements include landscaping with new irrigation, and the construction of new sidewalks (Ref 2, Ref 4).

The Santa Gilla lagoon, a crucial wetland in the Cagliari metropolitan area of Sardinia, has been the focus of several interventions aimed at restoring and preserving its natural and socio-economic functions. The overarching goal of these projects is to rehabilitate the lagoon's ecosystems, improve public accessibility, and promote sustainable economic activities such as eco-tourism and fishing. One significant intervention is the restoration of pedestrian and cycling paths around the lagoon, managed by CACIP (Consorzio Industriale Provinciale di Cagliari) in collaboration with the Metropolitan City of Cagliari. With over two million euros in funding, this project aimed to recover the original profiles of the lagoon's embankments, while removing waste from the area and enhancing the paths for non-motorized mobility (2). Another crucial development was the legal action taken by the Corpo Forestale (Forestry Corps) in 2020 to address illegal constructions and pollution along the lagoon's eastern shores. This action included the sequestration of areas used for illegal fishing activities, where hazardous materials and waste were improperly disposed of, leading to environmental degradation​ (1). Furthermore, environmental groups have made continuous efforts to address illegal dumping near the lagoon, particularly along the SS 195 highway. These groups have actively sought the intervention of local authorities to initiate cleanup operations and enforce regulations against illegal waste disposal​ (4). The projects were implemented primarily to address the significant environmental hazards facing the Santa Gilla lagoon, including pollution from illegal dumping, habitat degradation due to unauthorized constructions, and the overall loss of biodiversity. These activities also aimed to mitigate the socio-economic risks posed by the deteriorating environmental conditions, such as the decline in tourism and sustainable fishing practices (1,2,4).

The environmental and public space recovery project around the Bazurto Market in Cartagena is a comprehensive initiative aimed at addressing the severe environmental degradation and chaotic urban conditions in this vital area of the city. The Bazurto Market, one of Cartagena's most important economic hubs, had experienced increasing levels of disorganization, pollution, and public health risks due to the encroachment of informal vendors and improper waste management (ref 1,2,5). The primary goals of this project are to restore the ecological health of the Caño de Bazurto and the Ciénaga de las Quintas, enhance the quality of public spaces around the market, and improve the overall urban environment (ref 1). Project activities included removal of waste from the surrounding water bodies, installation of protective barriers along the Ciénaga de las Quintas, and the planting of trees to revitalize green spaces (ref 3,4). Emphasis was placed on planting of a variety of tree species, such as Guayacán Amarillo, Ceiba, and fruit trees like níspero and mango. These efforts were concentrated in areas around the Bazurto Market, where green spaces had been neglected or overtaken by informal commercial activities. The project also included the restructuring of vendor locations and public spaces to reduce congestion and improve the flow of both pedestrian and vehicular traffic (ref 5). Educational campaigns were conducted to encourage better waste disposal practices and enhance community involvement (ref 1).

This initiative focused on creating a management plan for the Uricani forest, a protected area located near Iasi. Designated as both a nature reserve and a Natura 2000 site, the forest is crucial for its "Dacia oak & hornbeam forests" habitat and the presence of the stag beetle, the largest beetle in Romania and Europe.
Despite existing nature protection designations, the environmental NGO "Asociația Ecoturistică Prietenii Pădurii Bălțătești" recognized the need for an updated management plan. With European funding, the NGO developed a model plan for protected areas in Neamt and Iasi counties, including Uricani forest.
The NGO conducted monitoring activities in cooperation with forestry directorates to assess habitat conditions and stag beetle populations. The goal was to identify risks and requirements for species conservation and design appropriate management actions. Additionally, the organization aimed to promote the area's tourism potential and conduct awareness-raising activities with local communities and schools.
The completed management plan, developed through public consultation and approved by the Romanian environmental ministry, included measures for natural habitat regeneration, ensuring suitable conditions for the stag beetle, addressing illegal logging, pasturing, and waste disposal, and establishing information points and educational activities for the community. (1-7)

In the bay of Fort-de-France, mangroves cover nearly 1,300 hectares, representing about 70% of the total mangrove area in Martinique. This plant formation, characteristic of tropical marine environments, is essential for the ecological balance of the bay. Mangroves act as filters, purifying marine and river waters, protecting the coastline against erosion, and providing habitat for various marine flora and fauna.
However, this fragile ecosystem is threatened by wave-induced erosion, urbanization, the spread of invasive species, and pollution. In response to these challenges, the French Coastal Protection Agency (Conservatoire de l'espace littoral et des rivages lacustres, CELRL) and its partners have launched an initiative to restore several mangrove areas as part of the “Contrat de la Grande Baie de Martinique" which is a collaborative initiative aimed at the sustainable management and restoration of the coastal and marine environment of the Greater Bay of Martinique. This contract typically involves partnerships between various stakeholders, including government agencies, local municipalities, environmental organizations, and community groups. The project identified several sites totaling 3.81 hectares in the Greater Bay area that require reclamation.
The project aims to restore mangrove populations by creating favorable conditions through actions such as clearing invasive species and trash, followed by replanting with white, black, or red mangrove seedlings, depending on the environmental characteristics of each site. Additionally, the initiative seeks to engage the public and youth through volunteering days and awareness campaigns (Refs 1-9).

The Prinzessinnengarten Kollektiv Berlin is a community garden in the New St Jacobi Cemetery in Berlin-Neukölln that invites people to join in gardening and experience nature. As part of open gardening days, people can participate in the design of the garden areas and gain experience in the local, ecological cultivation of useful plants. The main aim of their work is to provide opportunities for education and participation. Activities are open to everyone and range from sowing, planting and harvesting to seed production, processing and preserving vegetables, keeping bees to questions of community-based urban habitat design.The community also has its own farm shop where seeds, food and processed products are sold. (Ref. 1; Ref. 4) Numerous projects for recycling and upcycling, innovative cultivation methods, organic beekeeping, composting methods and post-fossil mobility use the Prinzessinnengarten as a platform for sustainable urban living. Artists also work in the garden with participatory methods on the question of how cities and their coexistence can be designed in a sustainable and resource-saving way. Outside the Prinzessinnengarten, offshoot gardens are set up and collaborations are developed to build nationwide and European networks. Through lectures, workshops, study visits and participatory research in the garden, we endeavour to include and further develop the topics associated with the Prinzessinnengarten in discussions and education. (Ref. 7)

The project is located on a cemetery, which has been partially closed since 2016. This means that burials are no longer carried out on the site and the existing rights of use of the 500 or so remaining graves will no longer be extended after expiry. The church association lends the land to the project in exchange for maintenance work on the surrounding grounds. (Ref. 6)

The "Mangle Verde" project is a community-led intervention aimed at reforesting mangrove areas in Cartagena, particularly around the Ciénaga de la Virgen and Ciénaga de Juan Polo. Initiated by Gloria Sánchez and other members of the Villa Gloria community, this project is a response to the environmental degradation caused by urban development, including the construction of a viaduct, and the damages inflicted by invasive settlements and pollution​(ref 1,4). The primary goal of the project is to restore the mangrove ecosystems, which are essential for maintaining water quality, preventing coastal erosion and supporting marine biodiversity conservation (ref 4). In addition, this initiative provides socio-economic benefits by fostering ecotourism and increasing fish populations, which directly benefit the local fishing economy​(ref 1). The "Mangle Verde" project emerged as a grassroots response to compensations granted by the Concesión Costera for the damage caused by infrastructure projects in the region. Local residents of Villa Gloria, recognizing the importance of the mangrove ecosystem, established nurseries in their homes where they cultivate three types of mangroves (ref 2,4). So far, the initiative has planted over 26,860 mangrove saplings and is committed to continuing the reforestation efforts, which also include cleaning and maintaining the canals around the mangroves​ (ref 1). Beyond ecological restoration, the project also addresses key environmental risks in Cartagena, including coastal flooding and habitat degradation, driven by both natural phenomena (e.g., tides) and human activities such as urban sprawl and illegal dumping (ref 6, 7).