Organic Community Gardening in Belgrade
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).
Anita Berber park
The new 6.5-hectare Anita Berber Park has been created on the site of the former St Thomas cemetery, between Tempelhofer Feld and Hermannstraße. It is named after the dancer Anita Berber, who herself was buried there in 1928. The cemetery was unused and out of use for several years and became accessible to the public through the intervention. (Ref. 3; Ref. 6) The construction period was preceded by a public participation process in which the facilities and design were developed together with the users. The redesign of the space was conducted by a landscape architecture office (Henningsen Landschaftsarchitekten PartG mbB) and financed by the German Federal Government (Ref. 1). The new park, which was planned and financed as a compensatory measure for the construction of the A100 urban highway, increases the quality of local recreation in the densely populated district of Neukölln. (Ref. 2; Ref. 6) An important goal was to achieve high species diversity in the park while preserving its valuable trees and shrubs. The park also offers multiple spots for rest and play as well as a zone for free running dogs. (Ref. 2; Ref. 6)
The park features wooden climbing structures and an old collection of trees with hollows, along with bushes and shrubs. These areas often accumulate rubbish, highlighting the ongoing waste management issues the park has faced since its renovation (Ref. 4).
The park features wooden climbing structures and an old collection of trees with hollows, along with bushes and shrubs. These areas often accumulate rubbish, highlighting the ongoing waste management issues the park has faced since its renovation (Ref. 4).
In-Line Gardens
Lima is grappling with significant challenges driven by climate change, and one of the pressing issues is the shortage of green spaces. According to the PLAM 2035 report, Lima offers only 3.1 square meters of green area per inhabitant, well below the World Health Organization's recommendations (2). Moreover, food insecurity is on the rise, with Peru leading the region in this crisis (4). Compounding these issues is the lack of coordination among state actors tasked with addressing the country's food crisis (2).
In response to these challenges, the Energy Network of Peru (ISA REP) has been running the "Huertos en Línea" project since 2004 in the districts of Villa María del Triunfo and San Juan de Miraflores as part of its corporate social responsibility initiatives (2, 3, 6). This project aims to establish community gardens that promote environmental awareness, reduce pollution in these affected areas (1, 2), provide food for vulnerable populations, and create income-generating opportunities through the sale of surplus produce (1, 6). The gardens are strategically located in power grid easement strips, which are often plagued by encroachment, burning, and waste accumulation—issues exacerbated by poverty, extreme poverty, and weak social organization in these areas (5, 6).
Originally planned with an annual development and growth strategy up to 2011, the project has been extended year by year and has now been active for nearly two decades. Beneficiaries continue to receive technical and material support, and the number of community gardens has grown. In 2019, the initiative expanded to include two bio-gardens in the Trujillo districts of La Esperanza and El Porvenir (7, 9). The project has contributed to improving soil quality, recycling and transforming waste, enhancing landscape aesthetics, reducing burning and waste accumulation, and implementing drip irrigation systems.
In response to these challenges, the Energy Network of Peru (ISA REP) has been running the "Huertos en Línea" project since 2004 in the districts of Villa María del Triunfo and San Juan de Miraflores as part of its corporate social responsibility initiatives (2, 3, 6). This project aims to establish community gardens that promote environmental awareness, reduce pollution in these affected areas (1, 2), provide food for vulnerable populations, and create income-generating opportunities through the sale of surplus produce (1, 6). The gardens are strategically located in power grid easement strips, which are often plagued by encroachment, burning, and waste accumulation—issues exacerbated by poverty, extreme poverty, and weak social organization in these areas (5, 6).
Originally planned with an annual development and growth strategy up to 2011, the project has been extended year by year and has now been active for nearly two decades. Beneficiaries continue to receive technical and material support, and the number of community gardens has grown. In 2019, the initiative expanded to include two bio-gardens in the Trujillo districts of La Esperanza and El Porvenir (7, 9). The project has contributed to improving soil quality, recycling and transforming waste, enhancing landscape aesthetics, reducing burning and waste accumulation, and implementing drip irrigation systems.
Lisbon Cold Greenhouse
The Estufa Fria de Lisboa (Cold Greenhouse of Lison), located on the south-facing slope of Park Eduardo VII in Lisbon and part of the city's green corridor (Corredor Verde de Monsanto) aims to integrate leisure, culture, and education opportunities to promote plant biodiversity conservation within a sustainability framework (Ref. 1). Cold Greenhouse refers to the fact that there is no heating system on the premises, and it also refers to one of the three gardens (Ref. 5). The greenhouses were created in an old quarry dedicated to rock extraction, and these lush gardens are now comprised of three distinct greenhouse environments: cold, warm, and sweet (Ref. 1). These greenhouses collectively house over 300 plant species from diverse continents, including rare species (Ref. 2).
The garden's design integrates natural water features, with watercourses and waterfalls and statuary elements. Since the opening of its Interpretation Center in 2016, the Estufa Fria has expanded its role as an educational resource, hosting exhibitions and activities related to botany and urban green structures. Since 2016 the project has been focused on its educative agenda with the development of a set of pedagogical resources for preschoolers, students from ages 6 to 12 years old and their teachers, and with guided visits. (Ref 1, 2)
The garden's design integrates natural water features, with watercourses and waterfalls and statuary elements. Since the opening of its Interpretation Center in 2016, the Estufa Fria has expanded its role as an educational resource, hosting exhibitions and activities related to botany and urban green structures. Since 2016 the project has been focused on its educative agenda with the development of a set of pedagogical resources for preschoolers, students from ages 6 to 12 years old and their teachers, and with guided visits. (Ref 1, 2)
Model cultivation at Angereds Gård
The model farm is a small-scale organic vegetable farm according to the principle of a "market garden", meaning little machine use is required [1]. More than 40 different vegetables were grown in an effective growing area of 720 m2, using principles of regenerative agriculture promoting soil health [Ref. 4, 6]. An important outcome is sustainably producing vegetables for schools and care homes in the municipality [Ref. 1-3]. The initial vision was to "showcase both the farming and business model behind a sustainable and successful small-scale farming enterprise" and drive the "integration of regenerative farming practices in the continuous evolution of urban and rural multifunctional landscapes" [Ref. 4, 6]. The model farm offers education and cooperates with a local college [Ref. 1, 6]. The model farm is part of the Climate-KIC SATURN project which aims to reconnect urban and rural areas and address the climate crisis through sustainable food production [Ref. 1, 5, 7].
Bangkok City Farm
Due to the growing population density and extreme climate events in Bangkok, Thailand, food security has become a more and more pressing issue for urban people. As a response, the Bangkok City Farm project was launched in 2010 by the Food and Nutrition Programme of the National Health Promotion Foundation. Implemented in collaboration with the Sustainable Agriculture Foundation Thailand (SAFT), the project aims to encourage and enable people in urban areas to grow their own food. The project offers financial support to anyone who wishes to start their own urban agricultural project, as well as training courses, access to food markets and knowledge sharing platforms. The implementation sites of the farms varies from private house gardens, community gardens, areas in informal settlements, school gardens and institutional green areas (such as hospitals and factories).(Ref. 1,2) The Bangkok City Farm's role in promoting food self-reliance and food security grew further during the COVID-19. As a result of the pandemic, many people in Bangkok - especially from underprivileged communities lost their jobs and their livelihood and access to sufficient and health food was threatened. Thus, as part of the project, green areas on vacant sites of the city were also created to support the out-of-work people with enabling them for self cultivation of their food. (Ref.6) As of 2022, there are 165 farms in Bangkok created through the project. Given the success and importance of the project, the project was scaled up into a nation-wide initiative called ‘Thai City Farm’. 'Thai City Farm' expanded the network to five other cities in Thailand. (Ref. 1,2)
The Living Land Farm
In 2005, local farmers in the sub-urban area of Luang Prabang combined their lands and founded The Living Land Farm, a rice farming community that runs an organic farm and an educational centre. The farm comprises of rice fields, vegetable gardens, homestay, and a restaurant. The aim of the farm is to preserve traditional rice-growing techniques, practice organic farming while also adopting new ways of grain selection and planting, and share rice farming knowledge with others. The products from the farm have been used in the local restaurant and are distributed to hotels and other restaurants in Luang Prabang city. The farm also serves as a training site for students of the Northern College of Agriculture and it offers ‘Rice Experience’ package for anyone who would like to learn about rice growing and the local Laos culture. The homestay and restaurant are run by local people of the village nearby and they are open to the public. The farm supports various community projects, such as village improvement and teaching English for local children. (Ref. 1,2,3)
National Garden Park
The National Garden Park is the largest park in Ulaanbaatar and the only park of its kind in the capital city of Mongolia, offering multiple environmental services, recreational and commercial functions. Currently, the park extends to 183 hectares, covering 23% of the total green construction in the city, and stretches from the northeastern part of the Marshall Bridge to the Uliastai Bridge in the Bayanzurkh district. In the long term, the park is planned to be extended to have a total area of 973 and to have 1.200.000 trees planted within the “One Million to One Billion” afforestation program. The park offers a range of recreational facilities and services for citizens, including bicycle and pedestrian areas, specialized sports areas and children's playgrounds. It also houses trade and service organizations. As a result, the park has become a popular recreational area for the citizens of the capital and is the most visited urban park in Ulaanbaatar. During the summer, it attracts an estimated 12-15 thousand visitors a day, and during the winter, it sees 6-9 thousand visitors a day. The National Garden park was officially established in 2009 with the aim of protecting the Tuul River Basin's drinking water source, reducing air pollution, and increasing green space to create a healthy eco-environment and providing recreational opportunities for the public. In 2016, the National Garden Park was designated as a local property budgetary enterprise with defined primary functions, management structure, control, and rights under the administration of the Assembly of Citizens' Representatives. The park currently employs 113 staff members (as of 2021). (Ref. 1. and 4)
"Uuliin Nuur" Park
Uuliin Nuur (Mountain Lake or Green Lake) is a community park located in the ger district area known as Denjin Myanga of Ulaanbaatar city. The Ger district is a term commonly used in Mongolia to refer to a type of settlement located on the outskirts of the country's capital city and characterized by traditional Mongolian gers, or yurts. The area was once a quarry for the city’s construction during the socialist regime (from 1946 to the late 1960s) and was turned into a dumping ground after its closure. In 2009, a private citizen, Ulziitogtokh Sodnomsenge, gained approval to develop Uuliin Nuur. He cleaned up the area and used his savings to turn the former dumpsite into a green garden in the middle of ger areas to create a healthy, green, public space, especially for children living in the area. He opened an ice rink in the winter of 2012 and officially opened the Uuliin Nuur park in May 2014. From 2013 to 2019, approximately 1000 trees and shrubs were planted in this park during the spring and autumn. The trees were planted by the founder of the project by locals and foreign visitors as memorial trees. Over the years, the park was equipped with various community facilities to support social interaction and educational purposes. Uuliin Nuur is one of the few public places launched and developed by an individual. It showcases how abandoned places can be transformed into valuable places and how the local community's attitudes and awareness can change. (Ref. 1, 3, 4)
Building Coastal City Resilience in Pekalongan
As an archipelagic state, Indonesia consists of 18,000 islands and 18,000 km of coastline, which is inhabited by more than 60% of the Indonesian population. Its geographical position exposes the island country to several climate change challenges, ranging from an increase in high temperature to a sea level rise and severe floods. One of the cities affected by flash floods, flooding, and landslides is Pekalongan City, crossed by 7 rivers and home to approx. 300,000 people. Inundations can reach 50-100 cm in many communities, causing distress, evacuations, and severe damage to infrastructure and food security as well as loss of income for the inhabitants that work in the fisheries sector, in the Batik industry (the process of traditionally dyeing fabric, performed on cotton and silk using a resist technique) or in paddy rice farming. (1)
Responding to the climate risks became of utter importance to the municipality of Pekalongan City. To help the Municipal Government of Pekalongan City to overcome the problem caused by climate change, Kemitraan (Partnership for Governance Reform in Indonesia), an implementing and advocacy NGO developed the project on Safekeeping-Surviving-Sustaining towards Resilience, a 3S Approach. The aim was to Build Coastal City Resilience to Climate Change Impacts and Natural Disasters in Pekalongan City, Central Java Province. This was approved on 29 October 2020 and is currently entering its implementation phase. The project will focus on building resilience to climate change impacts with interventions of hard and soft nature. More precisely, the project aims to build capacity and resilience through training, mangrove ecosystem restoration and enhancement of coastal protection, and development of a Local Climate Adaptation Action Plan and implementation of climate-smart actions (1,2). The project aims to reach these goals by employing a collaborative and participatory approach that is locally driven and involves those most at risk. The program is expected to end in April 2023 (1).
Responding to the climate risks became of utter importance to the municipality of Pekalongan City. To help the Municipal Government of Pekalongan City to overcome the problem caused by climate change, Kemitraan (Partnership for Governance Reform in Indonesia), an implementing and advocacy NGO developed the project on Safekeeping-Surviving-Sustaining towards Resilience, a 3S Approach. The aim was to Build Coastal City Resilience to Climate Change Impacts and Natural Disasters in Pekalongan City, Central Java Province. This was approved on 29 October 2020 and is currently entering its implementation phase. The project will focus on building resilience to climate change impacts with interventions of hard and soft nature. More precisely, the project aims to build capacity and resilience through training, mangrove ecosystem restoration and enhancement of coastal protection, and development of a Local Climate Adaptation Action Plan and implementation of climate-smart actions (1,2). The project aims to reach these goals by employing a collaborative and participatory approach that is locally driven and involves those most at risk. The program is expected to end in April 2023 (1).
