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The municipal real estate company Higab partnered with The Foodprint Lab Architects, an architecture firm specialising in food system design, in a three-year pilot project to create urban farms in three of their properties in Gothenburg. The Foodprint Lab designed the urban farms based on the conditions of each property and connected Higab with potential farmers. The urban farms are located at Slakthuset (an old industrial area), Kviberg (by an empty building undergoing renovation) and Musikens hus (an old building used for music events and a restaurant). The farms are established in unused, mostly grey areas such as parking lots. In all sites, the farming is run by local farming associations; some sell vegetables on site and in Kviberg, there has also been a commercial production of vegetables. Sustainable food production, entrepreneurship opportunities, a nicer and safer environment, and the promotion of biodiversity are highlighted as benefits of the project. In total, about 50 different plant species are found across the locations. The establishment of the urban farms was part of the Grow Gothenburg project within the Sharing Cities Sweden program, which provided some of the funding [Ref. 1-5, 7].

Dudley, a historic market town in England and part of Birmingham's metro area, is reported to have some of the lowest rates of public access to nature in the country, ranking in the bottom 10% of governmental statistics for available greenspace relative to population density (Ref 1). To address this issue, the Dudley's Path to Nature Recovery project was launched in 2024 by the Birmingham and Black Country Wildlife Trust (BBCWT). The initiative aims to reduce inequalities in access to nature and create a greener future for local residents (ibid.).
Funded by the West Midlands Combined Authority, the project seeks to reconnect local communities with nature through five key activities: conservation work, community engagement, citizen science, partnership development, and the creation of new walking routes (Ref 1, 2, 3).
Among the project's activities, conservation efforts will include community engagement and focus on woodland improvement, heathland creation, and more. Additionally, the project will bring together key partners and community groups to explore collaboration models and identify potential sites for joint projects. Lastly, new walking routes will be created across the project’s landscape (Ref 1).

The Cinturón Verde de Independencia initiative is a pilot intervention that seeks to plant an urban forest in the lower middle-class district of Independencia (1) in the northern part of the urban territory (3). Here, 19% of the population lives in high-risk conditions, settled on steep slopes, and threatened by landslides (3).
It is part of a broader planning strategy that involves proposals engaging different levels of government (4). This project seeks to afforest the district's hillsides to improve the environment, reduce air pollution, improve the quality of life of its inhabitants, manage waste, regulate shade, control erosion, increase wild biodiversity, and provide spaces for environmental education (2). The Independence Green Belt is linked to a wide range of plans, projects, and decrees that have been developed by actors at different levels of government since 2016 (4). It works hand in hand with the EBA Lomas programme and seeks to create a green belt along the Lomas-city interface, which acts as a buffer zone for this sensitive ecosystem and creates a protective boundary against the expansion of irregular human settlements while providing a space for environmental awareness (2).
This program was developed by a consortium of multiple private, public, national, and international parties with strong community support (3). In two phases, an urban forest park of 4,800 of native trees irrigated with treated wastewater has been planted. During the first phase, PREDES planted 3,300 trees with USAID support in 2015, and another 1,500 were recently planted by PERIFERIA (consultants) (3).
The Independencia Green Belt occupies the hill areas of the district of the same name and relates to a possible metropolitan-scale buffer belt.
Its boundaries take advantage of the seven Sustainable Ecotourism Forest Parks (PFES) in the District Municipality of Independencia (MDI), as well as 115 hectares of the Amancaes Lomas (4). It aims to conserve 400 hectares (4).

The Heat Action Planning project in the Lindo Park-Roesley Park Neighborhood in Phoenix, Arizona, specifically addresses the heat-related challenges residents face in this area. Phoenix is particularly vulnerable to extreme heat events, and this project aims to provide both mitigation and adaptation strategies to reduce the direct impacts of heat and help residents cope more effectively with these conditions. As part of the city’s broader Heat Action Plan, the Lindo Park-Roesley Park initiative is one of three target areas, including Edison-Eastlake, just east of downtown Phoenix, and the Water Tower Improvement District in the City of Mesa. The project focuses on heat hazards such as extreme temperature events and the urban heat island effect, which disproportionately affect vulnerable populations.
This project is a collaborative effort, uniting a range of stakeholders including The Nature Conservancy, Maricopa County Department of Public Health, the Central Arizona Conservation Alliance, the Urban Resilience to Extremes Sustainability Research Network, Arizona State University’s Urban Climate Research Center, and the local residents. Together, these partners are working to develop comprehensive heat mitigation and adaptation strategies that address social equity and strengthen community engagement. Furthermore, the Heat Action Planning process was designed to serve as a model for future heat resilience efforts and create a local, contextual, and culturally appropriate vision of a safer, healthier future. The iterative planning and engagement method used by the project team strengthened relationships within and between
neighborhoods, community-based organizations, decision-makers, and the core team, and it combined storytelling wisdom and scientific evidence to better understand current and future challenges residents face during extreme heat events.The ultimate aim is to foster a more resilient and equitable neighborhood (1-7).

Baštalište is an organic community garden initiative located in the town of Slanci, some 20 minutes from the city centre of Belgrade (Ref. 3). It is one of the first initiatives of its kind in Serbia, emerging after organizations such as WWOOF Serbia and the Belgrade Flower Festival, along with activists and citizens, united with the goal of growing vegetables for their own needs. Additionally, they aimed to highlight the numerous neglected and abandoned urban spaces in the city that could be repurposed in this manner (Ref.1). Even though more and more people would like to join Baštalište, the community has been struggling to grow beyond their original plot of 1800 m2, shared between some 30 people of mixed demographics (Ref. 3). They have turned to the municipality to provide more such spaces for urban community gardening but their appeals bear little success (Ref. 2,3). Despite their spatial constraints, the initiative remains open to anyone who would like to visit and help while being financed by membership fees (Ref. 1,2,3). The initiative hopes to eventually scale this type of activity, drawing inspiration from the example of Zagreb, where over 2,000 garden communities were established within 2.5 years after the city decided to repurpose its neglected areas (Ref. 2).

The Dublin Urban Rivers LIFE (DURL) project incorporates two interconnected wetlands in Griffeen Park as part of its broader initiative to improve water quality, natural water management and aquatic biodiversity in urban areas. These wetlands were specifically designed as a natural sewage system to treat wastewater from the surrounding areas, addressing a significant environmental issue known as "domestic misconnection." Domestic misconnection occurs when household appliances, such as washing machines, dishwashers, and kitchen sinks, are incorrectly linked to surface water drains rather than the sewage system. This leads to untreated wastewater being directly discharged into local waterways, contributing to contamination.
In the River Griffeen catchment, which includes approximately 12,000 dwellings and associated infrastructure, domestic misconnections are a considerable threat to water quality. The DURL project focuses on identifying and rectifying these misconnected appliances to ensure that wastewater is properly treated before entering the river. This process will not only improve water quality but will also provide flood alleviation and support healthier aquatic ecosystems in the area.
The project is aligned with broader environmental policies, including the River Basin Management Plan 2022-2027, the Water Framework Directive, the Climate Change Action Plan, the Floods Directive, and the draft Biodiversity Plan. One of the key strategies is to use a Geographic Information System (GIS) to streamline inspections for domestic misconnections, making the process faster and more cost-effective.
The constructed wetlands in Griffeen Park, with a standing water depth of approximately 30 cm, are planted with a variety of native Irish species. These wetlands offer a natural, sustainable solution to wastewater treatment, with the potential for similar applications across Europe. (Ref. 2, 4)

Giulia's Farm is the first project launched by the Italian NGO Terre Colte in Sardinia, focused on transforming unused agricultural plots into a productive community garden. Initiated in 2014, the project covers approximately 3,000 square meters (out of 18,000 sqm owned by the NGO). The garden leases 50-square-meter plots to local residents, known as "ortisti," who cultivate the land using organic and natural farming methods. This approach not only revitalizes neglected land but also strengthens community bonds and promotes sustainable agriculture (Refs. 1 & 2).
The project operates on a cooperative model, ensuring that the land remains accessible and productive while fostering a connection between people and the environment. Participants share resources and knowledge, creating a network of mutual support that enhances both social and environmental resilience.
Beyond its agricultural impact, Giulia's Farm aims to preserve Sardinia's agricultural heritage and combat land speculation. By involving the community in farming, the initiative helps protect these plots from being sold for non-agricultural purposes, ensuring they remain dedicated to food production. The project also demonstrates the potential for reclaiming abandoned land, fostering local food production, and building a more sustainable and resilient food system.
Giulia's Farm has gained attention as a replicable model for other regions facing similar challenges of land abandonment and environmental degradation (Refs. 2, 3 & 4).

The Three Mile Creek Greenway Trail project aims to transform the existing creek into a valuable community asset by developing a multi-use greenway trail (Ref 1). This greenway will connect various parts of the city through walking and biking paths, linking neighbourhoods, parks, and commercial districts while providing access to unique natural areas (Ref 2). The creek having been adandonned for decades (Ref 5), the initiative seeks to turn 3 Mile Creek (3MC) into a vibrant natural corridor that fosters recreation, education, and economic activities (Ref 1, Ref 2). The project aims also at reducing pollutants in the waterway, restoring natural stream channels, and maintaining flood protection (Ref 1).
The 3MC Greenway Trail is expected to become a key feature of Mobile's urban landscape, offering numerous benefits. These include enhancing community health, both mental and physical (Ref 2), and stimulating the local economy by increasing property values, tax revenues, and opportunities for recreation-related businesses and job development (Ref 2). Additionally, the trail will improve community connectivity by linking neighbourhoods, parks, and schools, thereby fostering a stronger sense of community and better access to public spaces (Ref 2). Lastly, the project will contribute to environmental restoration through stormwater management, pollution reduction, and natural habitat preservation (Ref 2).
The greenway is part of a plan to restore the health of the Three Mile Creek watershed and is the first major piece of a long-term Mobile Greenway Initiative (MGI) (Ref 4).

The “Sustainable Neighbourhood” project is a pilot initiative led by the Public Environmental Establishment (EPA Cartagena), aiming to achieve environmental management and adaptation to climate change for environmental sustainability in the Boston neighbourhood. The primary objective of the project is to transform these areas into an eco-neighbourhood through activities that promote an ecological culture and raise awareness in the community, thereby enhancing the quality of life in the area, particularly since the neighbourhood is situated adjacent to Ciénaga de la Virgen. This coastal wetland serves as the primary recipient of the city’s wastewater and solid waste. The activities included the restoration of environmentally degraded areas such as mangroves, solid waste collection, environmental education activities, recreational activities, and plastic collection. The project employed a participatory approach, with planning conducted in collaboration with community leaders, public entities, private companies, and other stakeholders (ref 1). Additionally, the EPA conducted awareness sessions on the responsible handling of solid waste, proper water use, and energy service (ref 2). the project seeks environmental management and adaptation to climate change for environmental sustainability, Community leaders participate in these activities with the cooperation and coordination of partners, including Afinia, Guardia Ambiental, Aguas de Cartagena, Comfenalco, IDER, Pacaribe, and others (ref 3).

Spaces of Opportunity is an initiative created by several organizations in Phoenix, that aims to bring food security and sustainability to the south Phoenix community. The initiative aims to reach its goals through its community garden that incorporates 19 acres of barren land (dessert) that can be used by locals for growing food and earning an income while providing the community organically grown produce. The mission is to enable all South Phoenix families to have affordable access to healthy food, active living and healthy roots of their cultures (1, 2, 4, 6, 8).
The initiative started in 2011 when several local actors formed a coalition with a shared vision of improving well-being by addressing the natural, built, and social environments. Spaces of Opportunity is the only local food system of its kind in the Phoenix metropolitan area, and unique in the country for the diverse strengths of the committed partner organizations and their shared vision to bring food security, build sustainability, and cultivate community. (8)