1. General information
Location and description of the intervention
City or FUA
Athens
Region
Europe
Native title of the NBS intervention
Εθνικός Κήπος
Short description of the intervention
A restructuring of the National Park of Athens is being done from the last few years to revitalize one of the tourists' attractions in the city. The restructuring is mainly focused on the conservation of animal species found in the park. The project also aims to transform the park into a meeting point for culture and sports as well as activities including workshops, yoga, pilates, music, theater, tours and educational games for kids (Ref 7). The park contains a duck pond and a small zoo. In addition to this, it opened a botanical museum and a library for children for educational purposes (Ref 1,2,3). The project was planned to carry out in two stages. In the first stage, Athens will tender a 2.9 million euros upgrade of the infrastructures, and a study that is budgeted at 370,000 euros for the restoration of the Garden’s zoological park, botanical museum, the famed Roman mosaic area, and restoration of the Herod Atticus wall. The second stage concerns restoration of the Garden’s flora and removal of damaged shrubbery (Ref 6).
Address

Amelia 1
Athens, Greece
10557 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 (23.737894 37.975608)
POINT (23.740231 37.975442)
POINT (23.739649 37.97115)
POINT (23.738769 37.971314)
POINT (23.737348 37.972088)
POINT (23.734409 37.972235)
POINT (23.735748 37.974607)
POINT (23.737613 37.974405)
NBS area image
Source of NBS area image
Google Maps
Total area
155000.00m²
NBS area
155000.00m²
Type of area before implementation of the NBS
Natural Heritage Area/Untouched nature
Cultural Heritage Area
Public Greenspace Area
Website of the intervention
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/National_Garden,_Athens
Timeline of intervention
Start date of the intervention (planning process)
unknown
Start date of intervention (implementation process)
2005
End date of the intervention
ongoing
Present stage of the intervention
Ongoing
Goals of the intervention
The main goal of the intervention is to maintain the biodiversity of the area. The park Management Constitution (or management mandate) incorporated saving and restoring the natural history attributes to make this park a living monument in Athens. The project aims to transform the park into a meeting point for culture and sports as well as happenings and activities including workshops, yoga, pilates, music, theatre and tours (Ref 7). This will help the park to be the centre of the cities cultural hub. The park also aims to provide education to students on biodiversity. It also aims to serve as a research base for the students studying biodiversity. The other goal is to contribute to the city's carbon sequestration and maintain air quality (Ref 1,2).
Quantitative targets
The quantitative target of the park is to maintain its species conservation with increasing biodiversity. Currently, the park targeted to have 520 species, with over 140 species of trees, 35 of which are native to Greece, over 15 species of butterflies, and 61 bird species. The intervention currently does not have any fixed target of carbon sequestration but they are increasing the number of trees and tree species by the plantation (Ref 1,2).
Monitoring indicators defined
The number of people visiting the garden, educational activities provided by the garden, increasing access to visitors, increasing biodiversity, reducing air pollution, and carbon sequestration (Ref 1,2,3,4).
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
Environmental quality
Air quality improvement
Noise reduction
Health and well-being (SDG 3)
Enabling opportunities for physical activity
Improving physical health
Creation of opportunities for recreation
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
Habitats and biodiversity conservation: What types of conservation goals are / were defined for the NBS intervention?
Ecosystem-focused
Habitats and biodiversity conservation: What activities are implemented to realize the conservation goals and targets?
Protect species
Undertake specific measures to protect valued species
Means for conservation governance
Public engagement
Create and use scientific knowledge for conservation
What types of restoration goals are / were defined for the NBS intervention?
Ecosystem-focused
What activities are implemented to realize the restoration goals and targets?
Restore valued species
Public engagement
Implementation activities
The authority of the National Garden incorporated new plants and taking measures to protect the diversity. The duck pond in the garden has been constructed from the beginning to provide a good habitat for the species present there. They also started the educational activities for students and opened a new library for children. The new botanical museum is making contracts with the universities for conducting research on the species present in the park (Ref 1,2). The Mayor of the city also presented his plan for increasing public engagement and cultural activities like workshops, yoga, music and theatre (Ref 7).
Type of NBS project
Creation of semi-natural blue areas
Maintenance and management of urban nature
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
Blue infrastructure
Lakes/ponds
Vegetation Type
Trees
Flower beds
Please specify how many trees were planted
Unknown
Amenities offered by the NBS
Playgrounds
Sports areas and equipment
Educational or biodiversity trails
Cultural (museum, concert areas)
Educational and research amenities (nature protection centre, monitoring stations)
Services
Expected ecosystem services delivered
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
Inspiration for culture, art and design
Recreation
Intellectual interactions (scientific and / or educational)
Physical and experiential interactions with plants and animals
Social and community interactions
Scale
Spatial scale
Micro-scale: District/neighbourhood level
Beneficiaries
Primary Beneficiaries
Local government/Municipality
Researchers/University
Citizens or community groups
Young people and children
Governance
Governance arrangements
Government-led
Please specify the roles of the specific government and non-government actor groups involved in the initiative
The restructuring was initiated by Athens Municipality and the local administrative and management bodies of the park (Ref 1, 6, 7).
Key actors - initiating organization
Local government/municipality
Land owners
Public space owned by the city
Key actors - Other stakeholders involved (besides initiating actors)
National government
Local government/municipality
Researchers/university
Land owners
Public space owned by the city
Participatory methods/forms of community involvement used
Dissemination of information and education
Consultation (e.g. workshop, surveys, community meetings, town halls)
Citizen monitoring and review
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
o In 2014 Greece adopted its National Biodiversity Strategy, which officially refers to ecosystem services.
o National Operational Program “Environment – Sustainable Development 2007 – 2013”, which included a specific section on the “Protection of natural environment and biodiversity”.

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
Other
Please specify other type of mandatory intervention
Species conservation, restoring the natural history attributes (Ref 2,3)
Enablers
Presence of specific city-level GI/NBS vision/strategy/plan - mentioned in connection to the project
Yes
Please specify
Biodiversity strategy or plan
Presence of specific city-level GI/NBS section/part in a more general plan - mentioned in connection to the project
Unknown
If there is a relevant strategy or plan, please specify the theme / type of the plan.
Biodiversity strategy or plan
Presence of city network or regional partnerships focused on NBS - mentioned in connection to the project
Unknown
Presence of GI / NBS research project - mentioned in connection to the project
Yes
Please specify
Some researchers from the Athens University are studying on the genetic diversity and species variation in the park (Ref 2).
Subsidies/investment for GI / NBS in the city - mentioned in connection to the project
Yes
Please specify
The local municipality fund for the reformation of the park (Ref 2)
Co-finance for NBS
Unknown
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?
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
Source(s) of funding
Public local authority budget
Type of fund(s) used
Earmarked public budget
Non-financial contribution
Yes
Type of non-financial contribution
Provision of land
Provision of goods
Who provided the non-financial contribution?
Public authorities (e.g. land, utility services)
Business models
Green heritage model
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
The innovation is focused on developing and improving facilities in support of the biodiversity conservation. (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
Enhanced carbon sequestration
Environmental quality
Improved air quality
Reduced noise exposure
Green space and habitat
Increased number of protection areas
Reduced biodiversity loss
Increased number of species present
Description of environmental benefits
The restoration aims to plant more trees and protect some of the plant and animal species to conserve biodiversity. The projects also target to increase the species variety by introducing more plants which might increase the variety of animal species as well. This helps to protect the habitat and increase carbon capture (Ref 2, 3).
Economic impacts
More sustainable tourism
Description of economic benefits
The municipality expects that by the full restoration of the park, it will attract more tourists and enhance public engagement (Ref 1, 7).
Social and cultural impacts
Social justice and cohesion
Improved social cohesion
Improved access to urban green space
Increased opportunities for social interaction
Increased involvement of locals in the management of green spaces
Health and wellbeing
Gain in activities for recreation and exercise
Cultural heritage and sense of place
Improvement in people’s connection to nature
Protection of historic and cultural landscape / infrastructure
Increased sense of place identity, memory and belonging
Increased awareness of flora and fauna as culturally and historically meaningful
Education
Increased support for education and scientific research
Description of social and cultural benefits
The park was inaugurated by Queen Amelia and greatly reminds her loving memory. The project aims to conserve part of the natural heritage of the are by the means of conserving and planting traditional species. The restoration also aims to increase public activities, education and public engagement (Ref 1, 3, 7).
Type of reported impacts
Expected impacts
Achieved impacts
Indicators
The project includes about 520 species, with over 140 species of trees, 35 of which are native to Greece, and general wildlife. The Park is unusual for Athens because roughly 25% of the trees are deciduous, many of these are very attractive to wildlife because most of them host a richer insect fauna. A total of 61 bird species, including 16 breeding species are under the preservation activities. (Ref 1)
Environmental, social and economic impacts
Climate action for adaptation, resilience and mitigation (SDG 13)
Climate change mitigation
Green space, habitats and biodiversity (SDG 15)
Habitat and biodiversity conservation
Environmental quality
Air quality improvement
Social justice, cohesion and equity (SDG 10)
Social interaction
Health and well-being (SDG 3)
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
Job creation: The NBS created ...
No information available
Please specify other method used to evaluate the impacts of NBS
By checking public activities and interaction with the park.
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
Other
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
Unknown
Use of GIS in mapping impacts
No
Citizen involvement
Citizens involvement in assessment/evaluation
Yes
Mode(s) of citizen involvement in evaluation/assessment
Focus Group
Other
Please specify other modes of citizen involvement in evaluation/assessment
Local citizens and visitors are asked questions and based on their satisfaction level the evaluation or assessment is carried out to improve the maintenance. Some researchers from different universities are also conducting researches on the genetic diversity (Ref 2).
Citizens involvement in the analysis of the assessment/evaluation
Unknown
Follow-up to the evaluation / assessment
Yes
Please specify
Based on the visitors' preference, the authority now opened a children library and a guided tour to students for educational purposes. (Ref 2).
References
Web links relevant to the intervention
The National Park of Athens
List of references
1. The National Gardens of Athens (no date) National Garden. Greeka.com: the Greek island reporter. Available at: http://www.greeka.com/attica/athens/athens-hills-and-parks/athens-national-gardens.htm. Accessed on 12th July, 2020.
2. The National Gardens of Athens (2012) Athens Nature Journal. Available at: http://zogaris.blogspot.gr/2012/03/sites-national-gardens-of-athens.html. Accessed on 12th July, 2020.
3. The National Gardens, Athens (2020) The Wikipedia, free Encyclopedia. Available at: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/National_Garden,_Athens. Accessed on 12th July, 2020.
4. The National Garden (no date) Top 10 of Athens. The City Guide. Available at: http://www.greece-athens.com/place.php?place_id=109. Accessed on 12th July, 2020.
5. The Garden of Athens (no date) The city of Athens. Available at: https://www.cityofathens.gr/episkeptes/aksiotheata/diadromes-stin-istoria-tis-athinas/o-kipos-tis-athinas. Accessed on 12th July 2020.
6. Makris. A. (2010) National Garden of Athens deemed historical landmark. Greekreporter. Available at: https://greece.greekreporter.com/2010/10/21/national-garden-of-athens-deemed-historical-landmark/. Accessed on 4th July, 2020.
7. GTP editing teams (2018). Athens National Garden to be restored back to beauty. Greek Travel Pages. Available at: https://news.gtp.gr/2018/10/12/athens-national-garden-be-restored-back-beauty/. Accessed on 4th July, 2020.
Comments and notes
Comments
I have an appointment with the Chief of Resilience City, Athens on 30th of June. Unfortunately, I couldn't arrange an earlier meeting. I am expecting to collect some more information from her then. It would be helpful if I could add that information later on this datafile or sending them through email.
Pictures of the NBS
/sites/default/files/nbs/images/300px-national_gardens.jpg
Public Images
The National Park of Athens
The National Park of Athens
Source: https://greekreporter.com/2010/10/21/national-garden-of-athens-deemed-historical-landmark/
The National Park of Athens
The National Park of Athens
Source: https://greekreporter.com/2010/10/21/national-garden-of-athens-deemed-historical-landmark/
The National Park of Athens
The National Park of Athens
Source: http://www.greece-athens.com/place.php?place_id=109.