1. General information
Location and description of the intervention
City or FUA
Alicante/Alacant
Region
Europe
Native title of the NBS intervention
Flora de Jardín en el Parque Lo Morant
Short description of the intervention
Opened in 1987, Lo Morant Park is located in the northern part of the city of Alicante. Its flat surface of 12 hectares is ideal for walking among its vegetated spaces and for the development of multiple activities focused on the neighborhood (Ref. 1). An educational environmental tour of the park is in place for learning and discovering the fauna and flora. The park offers different social activities and facilities (sports facilities, leisure). (Ref. 1). It is the largest park in Alicante with a dimension of twelve hectares, and has a great diversity of plant species and sports and cultural spaces. (Ref. 3)
Address

21 Calle Ignacio Pérez de Sarri
03011 Alicante
Spain

Location
The NBS is situated in an area, with clear delineation of boundaries and a specific shape (polygon). The NBS project can also have more than one area location (more than one polygon, situated close by).
Area boundary
POINT (-0.492885 38.37146)
POINT (-0.489206 38.37169)
POINT (-0.491971 38.367978)
POINT (-0.488596 38.368375)
NBS area image
Source of NBS area image
https://www.google.com/maps/place/Parque+Lo+Morant/
Total area
120000.00m²
NBS area
3000.00m²
Type of area before implementation of the NBS
Public Greenspace Area
Website of the intervention
http://www.alicante.es/es/documentos/flora-jardin-parque-lo-morant
Timeline of intervention
Start date of the intervention (planning process)
pre-1990
Start date of intervention (implementation process)
2015
End date of the intervention
ongoing
Present stage of the intervention
Ongoing
Goals of the intervention
-Developing multiple activities focused mainly on the neighbourhood (brochure uploaded)
-Increase awareness about the fauna and flora of the park (brochure uploaded)
-Proposing a walk "of freshness and calmness" (brochure uploaded)
- "to give value to natural spaces and protect the Mediterranean landscape" (Ref. 3)
-added Irrigation system (Ref. 5)
Quantitative targets
Unknown.
Monitoring indicators defined
Number of activities developed focused on the neighborhood (brochure uploaded)
Number of trees planted from the number of different species (Ref 5)
Sustainability challenge(s) addressed
Green space, habitats and biodiversity (SDG 15)
Habitat and biodiversity conservation
Green space creation and/or management
Regeneration, land-use and urban development
Promote natural styles of landscape design for urban development
Health and well-being (SDG 3)
Enabling opportunities for physical activity
Creation of opportunities for recreation
Cultural heritage and cultural diversity
Preservation of natural heritage
Protection of historic and cultural landscape/infrastructure
Habitats and biodiversity conservation: What types of conservation goals are / were defined for the NBS intervention?
Species-focused
Ecosystem-focused
Habitats and biodiversity conservation: What activities are implemented to realize the conservation goals and targets?
Protect and enhance urban habitats
Preserve and strengthen existing habitats and ecosystems
Preserve and strengthen habitat connectivity
Protect species
Undertake specific measures to protect species
Undertake specific measures to protect native species
Undertake specific measures to protect valued species
Means for conservation governance
Manage biological resources for conservation and sustainable use
Raise public awareness
Create and use scientific knowledge for conservation
Implementation activities
An educational tour was developed with signage called the "Guía Didáctica de los Parques de Alicante" that was proposed to observe the different species and visitors could identify them more easily thanks to this guidance. Information panels have been installed along the educational path with drawings and figures of the most representative floral species, with QR codes to scan and download the pathway information. (Ref. 3) and the planting of a total of 320 trees of eight different species (Ref 5). -added Irrigation system (Ref. 5)
- renovation in 2019 of the public toilets and the basement of the amphitheater (Ref 5)
Type of NBS project
Maintenance and management of urban nature
Protection of natural ecosystems
Knowledge creation and awareness raising
NBS domain and interventions
Ecological domain(s) where the NBS intervention(s) is/are implemented
Parks and urban forests
Large urban parks or forests
Botanical gardens
What is the level of innovation / development of the NBS related to water management?
Low: Simple rain water collection intervention (rain garden, local seepage pit) or simple permeable areas
Vegetation Type
Grass
Shrubs
Trees
Flower beds
Please specify how many trees were planted
320 (Ref 5)
Please specify other amenities offered by the NBS
Information and interpretation panels (Ref 3)
Park furniture (Ref. 5)
Irrigation system (Ref. 5)
- a public library on-site provides the opportunity for education support (Ref 6)
- renovation in 2019 of the basement of the amphitheater (Ref 5)
Amenities offered by the NBS
Benches and drinking water stations
Sports areas and equipment
Educational or biodiversity trails
Educational and research amenities (nature protection centre, monitoring stations)
Complementing infrastructure (bathrooms, café)
Viewing and outlook points
Other
Services
Expected ecosystem services delivered
Regulating services
Water purification / filtration
Mediation of smell / noise / visual impacts
Habitat and supporting services
Habitats for species
Maintenance of genetic diversity
Cultural services
Tourism
Aesthetic appreciation
Recreation
Mental and physical health and wellbeing
Intellectual interactions (scientific and / or educational)
Physical and experiential interactions with plants and animals
Please specify "other cultural service"
Educational services
Scale
Spatial scale
Micro-scale: District/neighbourhood level
Beneficiaries
Primary Beneficiaries
Citizens or community groups
Please specify other local relevant strategy
local Agenda 21: Education towards sustainability and raising awareness among citizens to the natural heritage of the city is part of the plan of the city of Alicante which is also responding to the local Agenda 21. (Reference unnoted from 2017 review, not located in 2020 review)
Governance
Governance arrangements
Government-led
Please specify the roles of the specific government and non-government actor groups involved in the initiative
Organized by "Medio Ambiente" which is the Department of the Environment of the Alicante city council. (Ref. 1)
Key actors - initiating organization
Local government/municipality
Land owners
Public space owned by the city
Key actors - Other stakeholders involved (besides initiating actors)
Local government/municipality
Citizens or community group
Land owners
Public space owned by the city
Participatory methods/forms of community involvement used
Unknown
Policy drivers
NBS intervention implemented in response to an Regional Directive/Strategy
Unknown
NBS intervention implemented in response to a national regulations/strategy/plan
Unknown
NBS intervention implemented in response to a local regulation/strategy/plan
Unknown
Mandatory or voluntary intervention
Voluntary (spontaneous)
Enablers
Presence of specific city-level GI/NBS vision/strategy/plan - mentioned in connection to the project
Unknown
Presence of specific city-level GI/NBS section/part in a more general plan - mentioned in connection to the project
Yes
Please specify the general plan with GI/NBS section
local compliance with Agenda 21: Education towards sustainability and raising awareness among citizens to the natural heritage of the city is part of the plan of the city of Alicante which is also responding to the local Agenda 21. (Reference unnoted from 2017 review, not located in 2020 review)
If there is a relevant strategy or plan, please specify the theme / type of the plan.
Other
Presence of city network or regional partnerships focused on NBS - mentioned in connection to the project
Yes
Please specify
City network of all the parques of the city of Alicante (with the creation of the guide to learn about the fauna and flora species around the city's parks). (Ref. 1)
Presence of GI / NBS research project - mentioned in connection to the project
Unknown
Subsidies/investment for GI / NBS in the city - mentioned in connection to the project
No
Please specify
The city council is managing the park, its own project
Co-finance for NBS
No
Co-financing governance arrangements
Unknown
Was this co-governance arrangement already in place, or was it set up specifically for this NBS?
Unknown
Financing
Total cost
€2,000,000 - €4,000,000
What is/was the Cost/Budget (EUR) of the NBS or green infrastructure elements?
2,000,000 (Ref 2)
What are the total amount of expected annual maintenance costs?
Unknown
What is the expected annual maintenance costs of the NBS or GI elements?
Unknown
Please specify cost savings
Unknown
Please specify total cost (EUR)
The park itself opened in 1987 at the cost of 2 million euros (Ref. 2) and the cost of the added guided tour element here is unknown.

A renovation of the park was carried out in 2019 with a total budget of around 1 million euros to renovate its infrastructure and amenities. Specifically (Ref 5):
- Around 550.000 euros for pavement renovation and improvements in the rainwater evacuation system
- Around 340.000 euros for renovation of the park's furniture and irrigation system and the planting of a total of 320 trees of eight different species
- Around 130.000 euros for renovation of the public toilets and the basement of the amphitheater
Source(s) of funding
Public local authority budget
Type of fund(s) used
Earmarked public budget
Non-financial contribution
Unknown
Business models
Green education model
Please specify other environmental impact
provides fresh shade throughout the year (Ref. 4); renovation of the park's irrigation system (Ref 5)
Which of the involved actors was motivated by this model?
Public actor (e.g. municipality)
Type of innovation
Technological
Product innovation
Please specify technological innovation
Information panels have been installed along the educational path with drawings and figures of the most representative floral species, with QR codes to scan and download the pathway information. (Ref. 3)
Novelty level of the innovation
Unknown
Please specify novelty level of the innovation
Unknown
Replicability/Transferability
Unknown
Please specify Replicability/Transferability
Unknown
Impacts, benefits
Environmental impacts
Environmental quality
Improved air quality
Reduced noise exposure
Improved soil quality
Green space and habitat
Increased conservation or restoration of ecosystems
Increase in protected green space areas
Reduced biodiversity loss
Increased number of species present
Increased spread of native/heirloom/open-pollinated seed
Increased ecological connectivity across regeneration sites and scales
Other
Description of environmental benefits
- Give value to natural urban spaces and protect and preserve the mediterranean landscape (Ref. 3)
- Research focused on native flora (Ref. 3)
- The park results in a green lung around the urban settlement and neighborhood cooperation (Ref. 4).
- Reduction of urban noises and provides fresh shade throughout the year (Ref. 4)
- Increased connectivity between city network of all the parques of the city of Alicante (with the creation of the guide to learn about the fauna and flora species around the city's parks). (Ref. 1)
- spread of native seed: - "to give value to natural spaces and protect mediterranean landscape" (Ref. 3), Provides in situ knowledge of vegetation usually used in mediterranen gardening (Ref. 4)
planting of a total of 320 trees of eight different species (Ref 5)
Economic impacts
More sustainable tourism
Please specify other socio-cultural impact
a local police kiosk is provided as a service, presumably to provide increased perception of safety; an amphitheater is also provided on-site for the expanded opportunities for community interaction and engagement/recreation (Ref 6)
Description of economic benefits
- Encouragement of tourism through ecological outdoor activities (brochure attached)
Social and cultural impacts
Social justice and cohesion
Fair distribution of social, environmental and economic benefits of the NBS project
Improved access to urban green space
Health and wellbeing
Improved physical health
Improved mental health
Gain in activities for recreation and exercise
Cultural heritage and sense of place
Improvement in people’s connection to nature
Increased awareness of flora and fauna as culturally and historically meaningful
Increased appreciation for natural spaces
Education
Increased support for education and scientific research
Increased knowledge of locals about local nature
Other
Description of social and cultural benefits
- Provides specific information of around 30 floral species (Ref. 3)
- Research focused on native flora and the natural spaces of the ecological pathway (Ref. 3)
- Provides in situ knowledge of vegetation usually used in Mediterranean gardening (Ref. 4)
- Development of different activities (physical and mental recreation and education) related to nature (Ref. 1)
- The park offers different social activities and facilities (sports facilities, leisure) and it is one of the biggest green area in Alicante (Ref. 1)
- Multiple amenities and opportunities for engagement in sports and gaming activities and recreation are provided by the park (Ref 6)
- a public library on-site provides opportunity for education support (Ref 6)
- renovation in 2019 of the public toilets and the basement of the amphitheater (Ref 5)
Type of reported impacts
Expected impacts
Achieved impacts
Indicators
The park results in a green lung around the urban settlement and neighborhood cooperation (Ref. 4).
- Reduction of urban noises and provides fresh shade throughout the year (Ref. 4)
-"give value to natural spaces and protect mediterranean landscape" (Ref. 3)
-12 hectares, ideal for walking among park vegetation and for the development of multiple neighborhood-level sports or physical engagement activities (Ref. 1)
-educational environmental tour is designed for learning and discovering the fauna and flora in an urban setting (Ref 1)
- improvements in the rainwater evacuation system and irrigation system (Ref 5)
- planting of a total of 320 trees of eight different species (ref 5)
Environmental, social and economic impacts
Water management (SDG 6)
Stormwater and rainfall management and storage
Green space, habitats and biodiversity (SDG 15)
Habitat and biodiversity conservation
Green space creation and/or management
Environmental quality
Air quality improvement
Noise reduction
Regeneration, land-use and urban development
Promote natural styles of landscape design for urban development
Health and well-being (SDG 3)
Enabling opportunities for physical activity
Improving mental health
Improving physical health
Creation of opportunities for recreation
Cultural heritage and cultural diversity
Preservation of natural heritage
Protection of historic and cultural landscape/infrastructure
Analysis of specific impact categories
Job creation: The NBS created ...
No information available
Environmental justice: The implementation of the NBS project resulted in ...
Improved access to green and/or blue spaces
Negative impacts: Did the project cause any problems or concerns?
No information was found regarding negative impacts of the project
COVID-19 pandemic
Safety measures are in place for visits to the park (Ref. 6)
Methods of impact monitoring
Process of recording NBS impacts
No evidence in public records
Methods used to evaluate the impacts of NBS
Unknown
Evidence for use of assessment
Presence of an assessment, evaluation and/or monitoring process
Unknown
Presence of indicators used in reporting
No evidence in public records
Presence of monitoring/evaluation reports
No evidence in public records
Availability of a web-based monitoring tool
No evidence in public records
Impact assessment mechanism
Name of any specific impact assessment tools
No impact assessment tool identified.
Use of GIS in mapping impacts
No evidence in public records
Citizen involvement
Citizens involvement in assessment/evaluation
Unknown
Citizens involvement in the analysis of the assessment/evaluation
Unknown
Follow-up to the evaluation / assessment
Unknown
References
Web links relevant to the intervention
Ref. 1
Ref. 2
Ref. 3
Ref. 4
Ref. 5
Ref. 6
Documents relevant to the intervention
Attachment Size
Brochure of the environmental itinerary in the park (1.63 MB) 1.63 MB
Itinerary of the urban ecological pathway (1.16 MB) 1.16 MB
List of references
1. Ayuntamiento de Alicante (2015). "Flora de jardín en el Parque Lo Morant". Alicante.es. Available at:
http://www.alicante.es/es/documentos/flora-jardin-parque-lo-morant (Accessed: 14 July, 2020)
2. Pérez, Ramón (2017). "30 años del parque Lo Morant". Diarioinformacion.com. Available at: http://www.diarioinformacion.com/alicante/2017/05/29/30-anos-parque-morant/1899797.html (Accessed: 14 July, 2020)
3. AlicantePress (2018). "El Ayuntamiento de Alicante abre un nuevo sendero en el Parque Lo Morant". Available at: https://alicantepress.com/art/36141/el-ayuntamiento-de-alicante-abre-un-nuevo-sendero-en-el-parque-lo-morant (Accessed: 14 July, 2020)
4. Ayuntamiento de Alicante (2018). "Itinerario Ambiental Parque Lo Morant". Available at: https://www.alicante.es/es/documentos/itinerario-ambiental-parque-lo-morant (Accessed: 14 July, 2020)
5. Alicante Press. (2020). Alicante destina 1 millón para renovar el parque Lo Morant. 07 August 2020. Available at: https://alicantepress.com/art/43662/alicante-destina-1-millon-para-renovar-el-parque-lo-morant (Accessed: 14 July, 2020)
6. Ayuntamiento de Alicante Website. (2020). "Lo Morant Park". Available at: https://www.alicante.es/es/equipamientos/parque-lo-morant. (Accessed: 15 July 2020).
Additional comments
A renovation of the park was carried out in 2019 with a total budget of around 1 million euros to renovate its infrastructure and amenities. Specifically (Ref 5):
- Around 550.000 euros for pavement renovation and improvements in the rainwater evacuation system
- Around 340.000 euros for renovation of the park's furniture and irrigation system and the planting of a total of 320 trees of eight different species
- Around 130.000 euros for renovation of the public toilets and the basement of the amphitheater
Comments and notes
Comments
The park itself opened in 1987 costed 2 millions euros (Ref. 2) and the cost of the added guided tour element here is unknown.
Additional insights
The text in Section 4, 'Presence of specific city-level GI/NBS section/part in a more general plan - mentioned in connection to the project' ("Education towards sustainability and raising awareness among citizens to the natural heritage of the city is part of the plan of the city of Alicante which is also responding to the local Agenda 21.") was included by the previous data collector and I couldn't find the source in any of the detailed references.
Public Images
Lo Morant Park
Lo Morant Park
https://www.alicante.es/es/equipamientos/parque-lo-morant
Lo Morant Park
Lo Morant Park
https://www.alicante.es/es/agenda/itinerario-ambiental-guiado-y-gratuito-parque-lo-morant-0