Other

The Fazenda Futuro project was created in 2010 by the State Secretariat of Justice of Rondônia, with the aim of reintegrating people deprived of their liberty through agricultural work and providing training to enable them to develop skills for entry into the labor market once they have served their sentence (2). Located on 309 hectares donated by the Union, near the Ênio Pinheiro Agricultural Penal Colony in Porto Velho, the project offers participants training in agriculture and practical experience in the cultivation of various food species (4).
Since its inception, the project has worked with 81 people, offering them opportunities for income generation and sentence reduction (4). The farm's products have been distributed among public institutions, social entities and the participants themselves (3, 4). Although initially focused on donations, the project is exploring partnerships with the Community Council to market its products and generate income for future investments (3), as well as starting to generate products such as sweets and jams that can be marketed (3).
Through work in the garden, participants and their families receive compensation through the Sejus prison fund and benefit from sentence reduction through labor relief, as stipulated by the Penal Enforcement Law. This provides them with practical agricultural experience, which enhances their employability (3, 5).

Mapinguari National Park, located in the Amazon region of Brazil, is a protected area distinguished by its rich biodiversity and vast expanse of untouched tropical rainforest (2). It was officially created on June 5, 2008, by decree, covering an area of 1,776,914.18 hectares (2). The Chico Mendes Institute for Biodiversity Conservation (ICMBio) manages the park. It is linked to a management plan encompassing several nearby conservation units and their areas of influence (2, 3). Its main goal is to preserve the valuable natural ecosystems and scenic landscapes of the Purus-Madeira interfluvial region, which includes savanna enclaves (2, 3). The ecoregion where it is located has a high priority for botanical conservation due to parameters such as species richness and endemism (3). Additionally, the area presents great environmental heterogeneity, with several isolated and unique ecosystems, aspects that have been considered for fostering scientific research and public visitation, with programs for environmental education, recreation in contact with nature, and ecotourism (3). On March 8, 2013, an advisory council for the park was established to involve various stakeholders in decision-making and the effective conservation of the park (2), and in 2018 a Management Master Plan was established, seeking to develop an integrated approach for the protection and proper management of the region, especially considering the socio-environmental impacts of the construction of the BR-319 highway and the deforestation caused by fires, the expansion of soybean cultivation, land appropriation (7) and cattle ranching from the neighbouring state (3, 10). It was established as a Natural Park in 2008, but over the years it has undergone changes in land regulations, adding or decreasing its size as certain mining activities have been allowed in the buffer zone (2)

The rate of deforestation in the Brazilian Legal Amazon in 2023 was consolidated at 9,064 km2. Initiatives that promote forest restoration in this biome are emerging to overcome this scenario. One such initiative is Floresta Productiva which aims to reforest more than 200 hectares of degraded land in the southwest of the Brazilian Amazon, known as the ‘arc of deforestation’ (1). Led by the Instituto Socioambiental in partnership with the NGO Rioterra, it focuses on creating and disseminating native forest restoration models that combine ecosystem recovery with income generation for rural producers in Porto Velho (2). By fully integrating local communities, the project promotes traditional agroforestry practices (muvuca) and trains communities to maintain the planted land. This not only restores the forest but also provides economic benefits through the cultivation of timber, fruit trees and other species (2), strengthening sustainable agriculture, breaking the cycle of deforestation and restoring deforested areas through various native species grown in nurseries (1). The project is being developed in the cultivation area of the Amazon Bioeconomy Centre (CBCA), from 2023 to 2025, where it will directly benefit the rural community of Vila Nova de Teotônio (3).
The project started in 2019 and has impacted other communities in the area, such as the communities in Nova Mutum Paraná and Ji-Paraná (1). During these years, more than 123,000 trees have been planted in agroforestry on about 110 hectares of land, and edible forests have been created. Since 2022, a new planting phase has been underway, to plant more than 100,000 trees of 87 native species on 40 hectares of degraded forest (4). In conclusion, this project focuses on the development of agroforestry in the face of widespread monospecific soybean fields and intensive cattle ranching (3); the creation of edible forests (3); and the restoration of forest cover to ensure the long-term resilience of the forest (3).

Tirana's urban development has set a new record in 2022, when more than 1.8 million square meters of new buildings were constructed (Ref. 5). This rapid development increased the need for accessible urban green areas. At the Tulla Urban Farm, a wide audience is trained to create those green areas in their yards, balconies and roofs with the added benefit of growing produce for their own needs (Ref. 1,2,5). This practice of food autonomy is deeply rooted in Albanian culture but has been lost in urban settings where concrete has taken over the city (Ref. 1). Tulla Urban Farm addresses this issue by providing an inclusive space for people of diverse backgrounds to come together and experience urban gardening first hand under the guidance of professionals from the Agricultural University of Tirana (Ref. 2,3). In these "urban agricultural schools", workshops, seminars and discussions are held to re-cultivate traditional agro-cultural practices and knowledge that will benefit the participants, many of which are from marginalised backgrounds (Ref. 1, 4). All these activities are facilitated through the rooftop greenhouse of the Tulla Cultural Center, which harbours over 300 plants (Ref.1). As such, Tulla Urban Farm not only provides a space for experiencing and learning about plants but also for social interaction and building a community that also addresses more serious issues such as mental health in a society that faces high rates of unemployment (Ref. 1).
The project had received inital funding from the German GIZ in 2022 and won the Cultures of Resistance Award through which it financed the first two years of its programme and enabled free participation at the urban agricultural school for all participants (Ref. 2,4).

This mega-project is part of the Agenda for the Commemoration of the Bicentenary of the Independence of Peru (3). It is the new ecological lung of Ventanilla where families have free access to a meeting point where they can carry out sports, recreational, leisure and cultural activities (1, 2, 3). This park is the largest emblematic work carried out in Callao and one of the largest in extension at the national level, built in commemoration of the 200 years of independence (1, 2, 3). It was built on vacant land, where there was no possibility of meeting or recreation for the neighbours (1).
In addition to offering recreational spaces, it is a cultural work that seeks to teach the population about the history of independence, making the public space a commitment to a citizen-centred public policy with an intercultural approach (3). In addition, its financing was part of the second phase of the economic reactivation plan for public investment, encouraging local economic development and generating more than 1,300 direct and indirect jobs (3). This work is an investment of the Executive together with the Regional Government of Callao and the labour force of the municipality of Ventanilla (1, 2). Its facilities are freely accessible and will contribute to the social development and well-being of the citizens (3).
Inaugurated in 2022, it has cultural components, such as squares and amphitheatres, playgrounds, campsites and more than 30,000 m2 of green and blue areas (1).

In 2024, Ozanam (a housing private company) and the French Development Agency (AFD) formalized a partnership to modernize an ecological wastewater treatment plant in Saint-Joseph, a neighborhood in Fort de France. The project focuses on replacing an outdated 30-year-old installation that no longer meets current standards with a plant-based water filtration system based on the ‘Rhizosph’air’ patent. This innovative treatment process utilizes "filter gardens," which combine mechanical systems, a gravity network, and a phytoremediation approach. The system employs filters made of gravel and the roots of local plants, specifically Strelitzia reginae and Cyperus alternifolius, to naturally and effectively filter wastewater without odor (Refs 2, 3, 4).
The nature-based system purifies wastewater over an area of 2,000 square meters, with a capacity equivalent to serving 900 residents. This approach offers several advantages, including reduced maintenance costs due to its simplicity, decreased energy consumption compared to traditional treatment methods, and improved water quality released back into the environment (Ref 2). Beyond its technical efficiency, the filter gardens enhance biodiversity (Ref 2) by improving the quality of water discharged into the environment and providing habitats for various species. The solution also integrates seamlessly into the landscape, showcasing vibrant flowers native to the area (Ref 1).
Additionally, the project implementers plan to construct a walking path, provide recreational equipment, and install benches to encourage residents to utilize the area as a public green space (Refs 2, 5).

Over the past 10 years, Lima's population has grown from 8.2 to 9.6 million people. As the city's urban sprawl and population density have increased, green spaces have been replaced by grey infrastructure. Consequently, it has become challenging to ensure that residents enjoy a good quality of life (1, 2, 3). In December 2019, Lima City Hall launched "Limeños al Bicentenario," an initiative to revitalise the city's public spaces (1, 3). This program seeks to transform public areas through low-cost interventions, based on criteria such as vulnerability, citizen participation, and catalytic potential, among others (3). It also aims to foster social cohesion by involving residents in the maintenance of these newly renovated areas, while improving the city's resilience to climate change (1, 2, 3). Since its inception, the project has reclaimed 17 public spaces, covering an area of 41,000 m² (3). 430 trees have been planted, and the project has benefited from the collaboration of civil society and private sector partners (3). The programme also focuses on addressing climate change. Heat waves, droughts, floods and mass migration are the main climate-related risks affecting the city. In particular, the expansion of grey infrastructure at the expense of green spaces has exacerbated the risk of heat waves, causing temperatures to rise by up to 3.5 °C in certain areas of Lima (3).
One of the projects involved the recovery of public spaces in Teniente Pavia. For many years, the space was used as a public parking lot, and at night it accumulated garbage, there was alcohol consumption, drug use, and other problematic issues. There was no vegetation, benches or infrastructure for recreation. The neighbours, especially children, did not have access to green areas or recreational spaces (5). For this reason, in 2020 the project was initiated to repair sidewalks, plant vegetation, create gardens, and install infrastructure for play, rest, and exercise (3, 4).

Situated in the southern suburbs of Kunming City, Dianchi is one of the largest freshwater lakes in Yunnan and the sixth largest in China (Refs 1, 2). However, due to rapid industrial development, agricultural activities around the lake, land reclamation, and population growth, Dianchi Lake became severely polluted, ranking among the most contaminated lakes in China. This pollution threatened biodiversity and degraded natural habitats (Refs 1, 2, 3). The introduction of exotic species further disrupted the lake’s ecological balance (Ref 1).
In response, the Kunming Institute of Zoology (KIZ), with funding from the Chinese Government, World Bank and the Global Environment Facility (GEF) launched the Lake Dianchi Freshwater Biodiversity Restoration Project. This initiative aimed to restore natural habitats, improve water quality through biological means, and foster community engagement and institutional capacity, creating a sustainable framework for the long-term conservation of Dianchi's unique freshwater biodiversity (Refs 1, 4).
The project was implemented across four key components: Wetland Management and Restoration, Surveys and Monitoring of Species Conservation, Capacity Building and Training, and Public Awareness (ibid.). The project was rated 'Satisfactory' in terms of outcomes, sustainability, and execution under a comprehensive evaluation framework that employed multiple indicators (Refs 4, 5).

This project aimed to create an urban forest that will grow within Dublin’s Darndale Park, which is popular among students and sports clubs. The objective is to offer the community a green area where they can gather, appreciate nature, and enhance their knowledge about it. The new forest will act as a windbreak for the nearby fishing pond and aims to address challenges related to heatwaves that endanger the lives of young and elderly people. To foster a sense of inclusion and unity, the forest is designed in a doughnut shape, consisting of 3,000 native species like oaks, birch, willow, and hazel, with the trees forming the outer ring (1, 2). This urban forestation initiative is a component of the Uforest project, which is funded by the European Commission and supported by Etifor (environmental consulting company established within the Department of Land, Environment, Agriculture and Forestry of the University of Padua) and Ersaf (an instrumental body of the Lombardy Region) . The Uforest project seeks to enhance Europe's innovation capacity by fostering collaboration among universities, cities, and businesses to develop a novel approach to urban forestry (1).

The project consists in creating an urban orchard at a juvenile detention center. Strickland Youth Center welcomes troubled youth with the final aim of the intervention is to ensure a successful reintegration of youth into the community (Ref 4). The orchard is aimed to be maintained by the youth of the center, providing them with skills and preparing them for the job market (Ref 2). The orchard harvests will provide healthy food options for low-income and minority residents (Ref 1) in the surrounding neighbourhood that has been identified as a food desert (lack of nutritional options available) (Ref 2). The project also has an educational purpose on healthy food for the youth and residents (Ref 3). Besides, the orchard's green space aims to contribute to beautification (Ref 1) and to sequester carbon dioxide (Ref 1).