1. General information
Location and description of the intervention
City or FUA
Athens
Region
Europe
Native title of the NBS intervention
Βοτανικός Κήπος Διομήδους
Short description of the intervention
The botanical garden of Athens was reconstructed in 2004 to protect and maintain the biodiversity of the area. Covering a land of 1,860 sq.m., this Botanical Garden hosts over 2,500 different kinds of plants from all over the world and a rich variety of flora. All the plants and trees are protected in the park. The community also sends seeds all over the country to spread and maintain biodiversity throughout the region and hold agroecological events to increase the concern and educate the locals (Ref 1,3). The park also has a lake and a library inside it. (Ref 2)
Address

Iera Odos 401
Chaidari, Athens
124 61 Athens
Greece

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 (23.649456 37.99577)
POINT (23.656976 38.003392)
POINT (23.6485 38.008884)
POINT (23.633018 38.012996)
POINT (23.637649 38.004235)
POINT (23.64623 38.003251)
NBS area image
Source of NBS area image
Julia and Alexander Diomidous Botanical Garden. URL: http://www.diomedes-bg.uoa.gr/anthonas-en.html.
Total area
1860000.00m²
NBS area
1860000.00m²
Type of area before implementation of the NBS
Other
Please specify “other type of area” before implementation of the NBS
Forest area. This is the main reason why the garden area with its cultivated plants is perfectly matched with the natural ecosystem making this garden a globally unique case (Ref 1).

Website of the intervention
http://diomedes-bg.uoa.gr
Timeline of intervention
Start date of the intervention (planning process)
2004
Start date of intervention (implementation process)
2004
End date of the intervention
2012
Present stage of the intervention
Completed
Goals of the intervention
The goals of the project include:
o The goal of the intervention is to maintain biodiversity by conserving and preserving some plant species. The Botanical Garden hosts over 2,500 different kinds of plants from all over the world and a rich variety of flora.
o To act as a local carbon storage and air pollution controlling.
o Educational activities among children and local citizens.
o To preserve plant seeds and distribute them locally and to other places to contributing and maintaining the biodiversity of the country.
o To maintain the habitat of different species and to provide a strong food chain among them. The plants are from areas protected by NATURA 2000 projects are preserved as a specimen.
o The main goal is to establish a section to hold all the endemic, rare, endangered plant species of the Hellenic flora (Ref 1,3).
Quantitative targets
o To preserve more than 12,000 endemic plant species.
o To conserve the ecosystem (Ref 1).
Monitoring indicators defined
The number of flora and fauna preserved, the number of large trees in carbon storage, reduction in local air temperature, increasing access to green areas, the number of tourists per year (Ref 1).
Sustainability challenge(s) addressed
Climate action for adaptation, resilience and mitigation (SDG 13)
Climate change mitigation
Green space, habitats and biodiversity (SDG 15)
Habitat and biodiversity restoration
Habitat and biodiversity conservation
Green space creation and/or management
Environmental quality
Air quality improvement
Regeneration, land-use and urban development
Promote natural styles of landscape design for urban development
Health and well-being (SDG 3)
Improving mental health
Creation of opportunities for recreation
Economic development and employment (SDG 8)
Tourism support
Cultural heritage and cultural diversity
Preservation of natural heritage
Protection of historic and cultural landscape/infrastructure
Climate change mitigation: What were the goals of the NBS?
Sequester and store carbon
Climate change mitigation: What activities are implemented to realize the conservation goals and targets?
Improve carbon sequestration through selection of more adaptable species
Implement sustainable forest management measures to increase carbon sinks/ improve carbon storage
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
Reduce negative impacts and avoid the alteration/damage of ecosystem
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
Biodiversity offsets
Create and use scientific knowledge for conservation
What types of restoration goals are / were defined for the NBS intervention?
Species-focused
Ecosystem-focused
What activities are implemented to realize the restoration goals and targets?
Rehabilitate and restore damaged or destroyed ecosystems
Restore species (native, endangered, or unspecified)
Restore native species
Restore valued species
Implementation activities
Endemic flora and fauna are being preserved, opened for public for educational activities, distributing seeds to other places to maintain biodiversity (Ref 1).
Type of NBS project
Creation of new green areas
Maintenance and management of urban nature
Ecological restoration of ecosystems
Protection of natural ecosystems
Monitoring and maintenance of habitats and/or biodiversity
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
Blue infrastructure
Lakes/ponds
Vegetation Type
Grass
Trees
Flower beds
Garden beds
Please specify how many trees were planted
More than 2000 trees were planted, 15 large flower beds were installed, more than 12,000 dried plant specimen were preserved
Amenities offered by the NBS
Benches and drinking water stations
Playgrounds
Educational or biodiversity trails
Cultural (museum, concert areas)
Educational and research amenities (nature protection centre, monitoring stations)
Viewing and outlook points
Services
Expected ecosystem services delivered
Provisioning services
Raw materials
Medicinal resources
Regulating services
Local climate regulation (temperature reduction)
Air quality regulation
Carbon storage/sequestration
Pollination
Habitat and supporting services
Habitats for species
Maintenance of genetic diversity
Cultural services
Tourism
Aesthetic appreciation
Recreation
Intellectual interactions (scientific and / or educational)
Scale
Spatial scale
Micro-scale: District/neighbourhood level
Beneficiaries
Primary Beneficiaries
Local government/Municipality
Public sector institution (e.g. school or hospital)
Researchers/University
Citizens or community groups
Governance
Governance arrangements
Co-governance with government and non-government actors
Non-government actors
Private sector/Corporate/Business
Researchers, university
Coalition with multiple of the above
Please specify the roles of the specific government and non-government actor groups involved in the initiative
"The Botanic Garden is an Institute of public benefit administered by a five-member board in which - according to Diomedes’ testament - the Rector of the University of Athens presides. The secretary of the board is the current professor of Botany at the University of Athens while the members are the President of the board of the National Bank of Greece, the President of the Supreme Court and the Director of the Management of National Legacies at the Hellenic Treasury. The current restructuring has been jointly implemented and managed by this board (Ref 1).
Key actors - initiating organization
National government
Local government/municipality
Private foundation/trust
Researchers/university
Land owners
Public space owned by the city
Key actors - Other stakeholders involved (besides initiating actors)
National government
Local government/municipality
Non-government organisation/civil society
Private foundation/trust
Researchers/university
Participatory methods/forms of community involvement used
Co-planning (e.g. stakeholder workshops, focus groups, participatory mapping)
Dissemination of information and education
Joint implementation (e.g. tree planting)
Co-management/Joint management
Citizen oversight (e.g. boards, advisory)
Policy drivers
NBS intervention implemented in response to an Regional Directive/Strategy
Unknown
NBS intervention implemented in response to a national regulations/strategy/plan
Yes
Please specify the national regulations/strategy/plan
National Policy on biodiversity conservation: in conserving and preserving the genetic diversity. (Ref 1)
NBS intervention implemented in response to a local regulation/strategy/plan
Unknown
Mandatory or voluntary intervention
Mandatory (based on policy)
Intervention is mandatory
Environmental regulation
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
Unknown
Presence of city network or regional partnerships focused on NBS - mentioned in connection to the project
Yes
Please specify
The Alexandros and Julia Diomidous Foundation: the inspirators and founders of this remarkable site, Agronomic Department of the University of Athens: they use for research in biodiversity, Hellenic Treasury, and the garden management board consisting member from the National Bank of Greece and supreme court. (Ref 1)
Presence of GI / NBS research project - mentioned in connection to the project
Yes
Please specify
The Agronomic Department of the University of Athens does some research on the flora and fauna present in the garden. (Ref 1)
Subsidies/investment for GI / NBS in the city - mentioned in connection to the project
Yes
Please specify
The Hellenic Treasury, The National Bank of Greece, J.F. Costopoulos Foundation, Bodossaki foundation, L’Oreal Hellas, ANDREAS STIHL Co., and the Pantelis Papadopoulos Co. (Ref 1) These are some funders who provide subsidies for infrastructural facilities, jobs provided by the garden, and for the maintenance activities of the garden. (Ref 1)
Co-finance for NBS
No
Co-financing governance arrangements
No
Was this co-governance arrangement already in place, or was it set up specifically for this NBS?
Unknown
Financing
Total cost
€50,000 - €100,000
What is/was the Cost/Budget (EUR) of the NBS or green infrastructure elements?
Unknown
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 institute is financially self ruling having its income mainly from the investments of Diomedes’ property. Also followings are the sponsors:
o The National Bank of Greece
o J.F. Costopoulos foundation
o Bodossaki foundation
o L’Oreal Hellas
o ANDREAS STIHL Co.
o Mr. Apostolos Lachanas
o Mr. Evagelos Lokiotis
o Pantelis Papadopoulos Co.
Source(s) of funding
Corporate investment
Funds provided by non-governmental organization (NGO)
Private Foundation/Trust
Type of fund(s) used
Direct funding (grants, subsidies, or self-financed projects by private entities)
Equity funding (investment in shares)
Donations
Membership or entrance fees
Non-financial contribution
Yes
Type of non-financial contribution
Provision of goods
Provision of labour
Who provided the non-financial contribution?
Public authorities (e.g. land, utility services)
Private sector (businesses, financial institution)
Business models
Green education model
Green heritage model
Which of the involved actors was motivated by this model?
Private non-for-profit actor (e.g. NGO, foundation)
Type of innovation
Social
Cultural innovation
Please specify social innovation
The garden is in the continuous restructuring process. The main project for this restructuring is to create and maintain facilities to preserve the genetic diversity. The authority is also focusing on providing educational activities in addition to the genetic diversity preservation. (Ref 1)
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
Climate change
Lowered local temperature
Enhanced carbon sequestration
Environmental quality
Improved air quality
Green space and habitat
Increased number of protection areas
Increased green space area
Increased conservation or restoration of ecosystems
Reduced biodiversity loss
Increased number of species present
Enhanced support of pollination
Description of environmental benefits
The garden hosts more than 2000 species of plants which helps in reducing the local temperature and contribute to increasing the biodiversity of the city. Some of the plants are well protected because of their value in genetic diversity. The garden also supports pollination of different plants in order to maintain the genetic diversity. The nursery in the garden is a refuge for a variety of endemic, rare and threatened species of the Greek flora, as well as for individual plants cultivated as replacements for any plant losses. Numerous species are kept here for protection as well (Ref 1).
Economic impacts
More sustainable tourism
Description of economic benefits
The garden is a huge attraction for its high number and variety of tree species present, also the garden provide educational research which brings more tourists and researchers from universities and institutes increasing tourism (Ref 1).
Social and cultural impacts
Social justice and cohesion
Improved liveability
Improved access to urban green space
Health and wellbeing
Improved mental health
Improvement in people’s connection to nature
Protection of historic and cultural landscape / infrastructure
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 awareness of NBS and their benefits
Description of social and cultural benefits
The garden is a very attractive place for the locals to visit often. Hundreds of neighbors making use of its grounds for a simple stroll on weekdays and weekends. It provides a green space large enough for the residents to enjoy and connect more with nature (Ref 2). An important contribution of the Garden Institute is the awareness of the public to subjects as the conservation of the environment, the protection of rare and endangered species etc. This is mainly accomplished through admitting and guiding in the garden area numerous educational institutes (primary schools, high schools, technological schools etc.). More than 200 educational institutes visit the garden annually (Ref 1). Numerous research projects are carried out on the grounds of the Diomedes Botanical Gardens by the university’s graduate students, although the garden’s greatest contribution is its ability to sensitize the younger generation to the beauty of nature and the urgent need to preserve it (Ref 2).
Type of reported impacts
Achieved impacts
Indicators
The total number of species preservers, the amount and variety of seeds distributed among other organizations. (Ref 1)
Environmental, social and economic impacts
Climate action for adaptation, resilience and mitigation (SDG 13)
Climate change mitigation
Water management (SDG 6)
Green space, habitats and biodiversity (SDG 15)
Habitat and biodiversity restoration
Green space creation and/or management
Environmental quality
Air quality improvement
Regeneration, land-use and urban development
Promote natural styles of landscape design for urban development
Health and well-being (SDG 3)
Improving mental health
Creation of opportunities for recreation
Economic development and employment (SDG 8)
Tourism support
Cultural heritage and cultural diversity
Preservation of natural heritage
Protection of historic and cultural landscape/infrastructure
Analysis of specific impact categories
Environmental justice: The implementation of the NBS project resulted in ...
Positive distribution of NBS benefits
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
Unknown as of July, 2020.
Methods of impact monitoring
Process of recording NBS impacts
No evidence in public records
Methods used to evaluate the impacts of NBS
Focus groups
Evidence for use of assessment
Presence of an assessment, evaluation and/or monitoring process
Yes
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
Unknown
Use of GIS in mapping impacts
No evidence in public records
Citizen involvement
Citizens involvement in assessment/evaluation
Yes
Mode(s) of citizen involvement in evaluation/assessment
Submission of monitoring data (citizen observation)
Please specify other modes of citizen involvement in evaluation/assessment
Tourists' behavior and satisfaction.
Citizens involvement in the analysis of the assessment/evaluation
Unknown
Follow-up to the evaluation / assessment
Yes
Please specify
One important part of the monitoring system is the citizen observation. The expectations and satisfactions of the citizens are being counted. Based on the tourists' satisfaction and behavior the authority makes changes in the garden. (Ref 1)
References
Web links relevant to the intervention
The Diomidous Botanical Garden
The Botanical garden
List of references
1. The Botanical garden. Joulia and Alexander Diomidous. Available at: http://www.diomedes-bg.uoa.gr/. Accessed on 9th July, 2020.
2. The National Network of Greek Botanic Gardens. Botanic Gardens Consortium. Available at: http://www.botanicgardens.eu. Accessed on 9th July, 2020.
3. The Diomidous Botanical Garden in Athens. Botanical Garen. The Greeka.Com. Available at: http://www.greeka.com/attica/athens/athens-hills-and-parks/athens-diomidis-botanical-garden.htm. Accessed on 9th July, 2020.
4. Picture courtesy: http://www.greece-is.com/botanical-garden-athens-overlooked-treasure/. Accessed on 9th July, 2020.
Additional comments
o The Botanical Garden hosts over 2,500 different kinds of plants from all over the world and a rich variety of flora. (Ref 1,3).
o The garden also contains small lakes and a library. (Ref 1,3)
Interview comments
I contacted Lenio Myrivili, Athens city resilient officer and waiting for her reply.
Comments and notes
Comments
6/A short evaluation of the species available on the website of the organization: http://www.diomedes-bg.uoa.gr/endemic-en.html.
Pictures of the NBS
/sites/default/files/nbs/images/ath_botanical_garden_01.jpg
Public Images
Diomidous Botanical Garden (2015)
Diomidous Botanical Garden (2015)
Sotiris Porevis, retrieved 08/15/2018