Community gardens of city park Montjuic

1. General information

Location and description of the intervention

City or FUA

Barcelona

Region

Europe

Native title of the NBS intervention

Hort de la Masia de l'Antic Jardí Botànic

Short description of the intervention

The Hort de la Masia de l'Antic Jardí Botànic is located within the city’s largest inner-city park Montjuic. It has been founded in 2008 by an association of volunteers and is supported by public and private entities. The garden is co-management by members of the association and a professional gardener. Its major objective is the maintenance and reproduction of traditional landraces (Ref. 2). The task of the Citizen's Commission of Support of the Botanical Garden, presided by Pere Duran, was supported by the promotion work from the Botanical Institute. It was therefore a necessity generated by a local group of people (citizens) that developed into an implementation plan (Ref 1).

Address

Av. dels Montanyans, 26
Sants-Montjuïc district
08038 Barcelona
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 (2.153238 41.367207)

POINT (2.153926 41.36721)

POINT (2.153982 41.366933)

POINT (2.153213 41.366936)

NBS area image

Source of NBS area image

https://www.google.com/maps/

Type of area before implementation of the NBS

Natural Heritage Area/Untouched nature

Public Greenspace Area

Website of the intervention

https://www.amicsjbb.org/catal%C3%A0/les-nostres-activitats/l-hort/

Timeline of intervention

Start date of the intervention (planning process)

2008

Start date of intervention (implementation process)

2008

End date of the intervention

ongoing

Present stage of the intervention

Ongoing

2. Objectives of the intervention

Goals of the intervention

- Develop a vegetable garden of traditional varieties in the space of the Masía del Jardí Històric (1).
- To maintain biodiversity and educate citizens on the importance of habitat protection (2).
- Cultivation of traditional horticultural breeds, distribution for those who are interested and in the promotion of activities, courses and conferences related to this topic (Ref. 1)
- Preserve and promote the cultivation of some of the most typical vegetables in Catalunya (Ref. 6)
- Conservation of the native seeds of the area. (Ref. 7)

Quantitative targets

Unknown.

Monitoring indicators defined

Unknown.

Sustainability challenge(s) addressed

Green space, habitats and biodiversity (SDG 15)

Habitat and biodiversity restoration

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

Social justice, cohesion and equity (SDG 10)

Social cohesion

Social interaction

Health and well-being (SDG 3)

Enabling opportunities for physical activity

Creation of opportunities for recreation

Economic development and employment (SDG 8)

Economic development: agriculture

Cultural heritage and cultural diversity

Preservation of natural heritage

Preservation of historic traditions

Sustainable consumption and production (SDG 12)

Sustainable production

Habitats and biodiversity conservation: What types of conservation goals are / were defined for the NBS intervention?

Genetic-focused

Species-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

Create new habitats

Protect species

Undertake specific measures to protect native species

Undertake specific measures to protect endangered species

Undertake specific measures to protect valued species

Take measures for ex situ conservation

Means for conservation governance

Public engagement

Create and use scientific knowledge for conservation

Protect and apply traditional knowledge and conservation practices

Please specify "other Habitats and biodiversity restoration activity"

- Preserve and promote the cultivation of some of the most typical vegetables in Catalunya (Ref. 6)
- Conservation of the native seeds of the area. (Ref. 7)

What types of restoration goals are / were defined for the NBS intervention?

Genetic-focused

Species-focused

What activities are implemented to realize the restoration goals and targets?

Restore species (native, endangered, or unspecified)

Restore native species

Restore valued species

Other

Implementation activities

The Association of Friends of the Botanical Garden will deal permanently with a demonstration orchard, focusing on the cultivation of traditional horticultural breeds, in distribution of seeds for those who are interested and in the promotion of 'Activities, courses and conferences related to this topic (Ref 1).
- Cultivation of traditional horticultural breeds, distribution for those who are interested and in the promotion of activities, courses and conferences related to this topic (Ref. 1)
- Conservation of the native seeds of the area. (Ref. 7)
Selection of a portion of an already existing park and botanical garden to design a community garden with the goal to maintain biodiversity (Ref 1 and 2).

Type of NBS project

Maintenance and management of urban nature

Protection of natural ecosystems

Knowledge creation and awareness raising

3. NBS domains, ES and scale

NBS domain and interventions

Ecological domain(s) where the NBS intervention(s) is/are implemented

Community gardens and allotments

Community gardens

Horticulture

Please specify the number of plots or allotment gardens

One orchard next to the Historical Botanical Garden (Ref 1)

Vegetation Type

Garden beds

Other

Amenities offered by the NBS

Benches and drinking water stations

Educational and research amenities (nature protection centre, monitoring stations)

Complementing infrastructure (bathrooms, café)

Please specify "other marginalized group"

- Distribution of the cultivated plants to those in need (Ref. 1)

Services

Expected ecosystem services delivered

Provisioning services

Food for human consumption (crops, vegetables)

Genetic materials from all biota

Habitat and supporting services

Habitats for species

Maintenance of genetic diversity

Other

Cultural services

Mental and physical health and wellbeing

Intellectual interactions (scientific and / or educational)

Physical and experiential interactions with plants and animals

Social and community interactions

Please specify "other habitat and supporting service"

promotion of traditional local horticultural breeds and traditional knowledge of how to cultivate them (Ref 1)

Scale

Spatial scale

Micro-scale: District/neighbourhood level

Beneficiaries

Primary Beneficiaries

Non-government organisation/Civil Society

Citizens or community groups

Marginalized groups

Food producers and cultivators (i.e. farmers, gardeners)

Marginalized groups

Other

4. Governance and financing

Governance

Governance arrangements

Led by non-government actors

Non-government actors

Non-governmental organisation (NGO) / Civil society / Churches

Please specify the roles of the specific government and non-government actor groups involved in the initiative

The Associació d´Amics del Jardí Botànic de Barcelona is in charge of handling the community garden and carries environmental education programs (1 and 2). The task of the Citizen's Commission of Support of the Botanical Garden, presided by Pere Duran, was supported by the promotion work from the Botanical Institute. It was therefore a necessity generated by a local group of people (citizens) that developed into an implementation plan (Ref 1).

Key actors - initiating organization

Non-government organisation/civil society

Citizens or community group

District/neighbourhood association

Land owners

Public space owned by the city

Key actors - Other stakeholders involved (besides initiating actors)

Non-government organisation/civil society

Citizens or community group

District/neighbourhood association

Land owners

Public space owned by the city

Participatory methods/forms of community involvement used

Dissemination of information and education

Joint implementation (e.g. tree planting)

Co-management/Joint management

Policy drivers

NBS intervention implemented in response to an Regional Directive/Strategy

NBS intervention implemented in response to a national regulations/strategy/plan

NBS intervention implemented in response to a local regulation/strategy/plan

Yes

Please specify the "local regulation/strategy/plan"

The task of the Citizen's Commission of Support of the Botanical Garden, presided by Pere Duran, was supported by the promotion work from the Botanical Institute. It was therefore a necessity generated by a local group of people that developed into an implementation plan (Ref 1).

Mandatory or voluntary intervention

Voluntary (spontaneous)

Please specify other type of voluntary intervention

Voluntary community management of the green space (Ref1).

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

Please specify other vegetation type

ex-situ seed exchange: - Cultivation of traditional horticultural breeds, distribution for those who are interested and in the promotion of activities, courses and conferences related to this topic (Ref. 1)

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

A study by URBES researchers supports urban planning initiatives with concrete figures on visitors’ views on the importance of cultural ecosystem services provided by Montjuïc, helping to further develop the area’s potential to contribute to human well-being. The study demonstrates the need for stronger consideration of co-management models for Montjuïc and Barcelona in general, where citizens actively participate in the management of green infrastructure. An example of such a co-management approach is given in an urban garden at Montjuïc (Hort de la Masia de l'Antic Jardí Botànic) which is run by a citizens’ association under the professional guidance of a gardener (Ref 5).

Subsidies/investment for GI / NBS in the city - mentioned in connection to the project

Unknown

Co-finance for NBS

Yes

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

Unknown

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 seeds from the orchard can be purchased in the botanical garden (Ref. 8)
- Distribution of cultivated plants to those in need (Ref. 1)

Source(s) of funding

Private Foundation/Trust

Type of fund(s) used

Membership or entrance fees

Non-financial contribution

Yes

Type of non-financial contribution

Provision of labour

Exchange of services

Other

Please specify other type of non-financial contribution

- Cultivation of traditional horticultural breeds, distribution for those who are interested and in the promotion of activities, courses and conferences related to this topic (Ref. 1)

Who provided the non-financial contribution?

Citizens (e.g. volunteering)

Business models

Local stewardship model

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)

Citizens / local communities

5. Innovation

Type of innovation

Technological

Product innovation

Please specify technological innovation

Selection of a portion of an already existing park and botanical garden to design a community garden with the goal to maintain biodiversity (Ref 1 and 2).

Novelty level of the innovation

Unknown

Please specify novelty level of the innovation

Unknown

Replicability/Transferability

Unknown

Please specify Replicability/Transferability

Unknown

6. Evaluation and learning

Impacts, benefits

Environmental impacts

Green space and habitat

Increased conservation or restoration of ecosystems

Reduced biodiversity loss

Increased number of species present

Increased protection of threatened species

Increased spread of native/heirloom/open-pollinated seed

Please specify other economic impact

- Distribution of the cultivated plants to those in need (Ref. 1)

Description of environmental benefits

- The orchard has allowed the protection of traditional horticultural diversity (Ref. 2)
- Reproduction of autochthonous horticulture varieties (Ref. 5)
- Conservation of indigenous seeds in the area (Ref. 7)

Nowadays, the Masia has an orchard. A living being that grows with care and some water by the volunteers. The privileged environment of the Masia offers a paradise within the city and the possibility of cultivating the land for the conservation of biodiversity. In the space of the Old Botanical Garden, volunteers have developed an orchard, which aims to protect traditional horticultural diversity, and serve as a distribution point of traditional cultivation knowledge. A new space for private citizens to cultivate the land is offered as well (Ref 3).

Economic impacts

Reduce financial cost for urban management

Increase in agricultural production (for profit or not)

Other

Please specify other socio-cultural impact

integrating human back into ecosystem: - Cultivation of vegetables that allow putting emphasis on the relationship of man and plants and on our daily dependence on some domesticated species since the Neolithic (Ref. 1); the recognized need to have citizens actively participate in the management of green infrastructure (Ref 5).
autonomous governance: The task of the Citizen's Commission of Support of the Botanical Garden, presided by Pere Duran, was supported by the promotion work from the Botanical Institute. It was therefore a necessity generated by a local group of people (citizens) that then developed it into an implementation plan and implemented the project this way (Ref 1).

Description of economic benefits

- The seeds from the orchard can be purchased in the botanical garden (Ref. 8)
- Distribution of the cultivated plants to those in need (Ref. 1)

Please specify other environmental justice issue

- Distribution of the cultivated plants to those in need (Ref. 1); protection of traditional horticultural diversity, and the distribution of traditional cultivation knowledge. A new space for private citizens to cultivate the land is offered as well (Ref 3).

Type of reported impacts

Achieved impacts

Indicators

protection of traditional horticultural diversity, and the distribution of traditional cultivation knowledge. A new space for private citizens to cultivate the land is offered as well (Ref 3).

Environmental, social and economic impacts

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

Inclusive and effective governance (SDG 16)

Inclusive governance

Social justice, cohesion and equity (SDG 10)

Social justice and equity

Social cohesion

Social interaction

Health and well-being (SDG 3)

Improving mental health

Creation of opportunities for recreation

Cultural heritage and cultural diversity

Preservation of natural heritage

Preservation of historic traditions

Sustainable consumption and production (SDG 12)

Sustainable production

Analysis of specific impact categories

Job creation: The NBS created ...

Voluntary work opportunities

Environmental justice: The implementation of the NBS project resulted in ...

Positive distribution of NBS benefits

Improved access to green and/or blue spaces

Increased access to healthy food for humans and/or animals

Other

Negative impacts: Did the project cause any problems or concerns?

No information was found regarding negative impacts of the project

COVID-19 pandemic

Activities were suspended (such as workshops and volunteering opportunities) as per government instructions on March, 2020.
In July, some groups of volunteers from the orchard returned to activities under contingency plan of return to normal activity that requires to maintain some rules of safety and individual protection, distance maintenance, use of masks and continued hand disinfection. These measures prevent for the time being those over 70 years old and those with a medical situation that does not recommend their return from being able to carry out their activity in a normalized way. We hope that in September the return can already be for everyone (Source: https://www.amicsjbb.org/)

Methods of impact monitoring

Process of recording NBS impacts

No evidence in public records

Methods used to evaluate the impacts of NBS

Questionnaire surveys / online surveys

Where can this data be accessed? Please include a link to a report or web-page.

https://www.amicsjbb.org/castellano/descargas/

Evidence for use of assessment

Presence of an assessment, evaluation and/or monitoring process

Yes

Presence of indicators used in reporting

Yes

Presence of monitoring/evaluation reports

Yes

Link to monitoring/evaluation reports

https://www.amicsjbb.org/castellano/descargas/

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

Questionnaire

Citizens involvement in the analysis of the assessment/evaluation

Unknown

Follow-up to the evaluation / assessment

Unknown

7. Sources

References

Web links relevant to the intervention

NBS webpage - Ref. 1

DE LA LLAVOR ALS FRUITS - Ref. 2

Brolla - Ref. 3

Cultural Ecosystem Services at Barcelona's largest park - Ref. 4

The generation of ecosystem services in urban gardens from a socio-ecological s…

Ref. 6

Ref. 7

Ref. 8

Documents relevant to the intervention

Attachment	Size
https://www.amicsjbb.org/catal%C3%A0/les-nostres-activitats/l-hort/ (1.67 MB)	1.67 MB
Orchard Brochure (1.75 MB)	1.75 MB

List of references

1. Associació d'Amics del Jardí Botànic de Barcelona. (no date). "L'hort". Available at: https://www.amicsjbb.org/catal%C3%A0/les-nostres-activitats/l-hort/ (Accessed: July 18, 2020)
2. Associació d'Amics del Jardí Botànic de Barcelona. (no date). "Un Hort a la masia de l'antic Jardì Botànic". Available at: http://museuciencies.cat/wp-content/uploads/Dossier_Premsa_De_la_llavor_als_fruits.pdf (Accessed: July 18, 2020)
3. Jardí Botànic de Barcelona. (2013). "Brolla". Available at: https://bcnroc.ajuntament.barcelona.cat/jspui/bitstream/11703/92016/1/13442.pdf (Accessed: July 18, 2020)
4. Cultural Ecosystem Services at Barcelona's largest park: https://www.iucn.org/id/node/17393 (website not available in 2020)
5. Langemeyer, J. (2014). The generation of ecosystem services in urban gardens from a socio-ecological systems perspective. Institute for Environmental Science and Technology Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona and Stockholm Resilience Centre. Available at: https://www.urbanallotments.eu/fileadmin/uag/media/STSM/Langemeyerr_STSM_Report_short_final.pdf (Accessed: July 18, 2020)
6. Un Buen Día en Barcelona (2018). "El secreto mejor escondido de la jardinería barcelonesa en la Foixarda de Montjuïc". Available at: https://unbuendiaenbarcelona.com/jardin-botanico-historico/ (Accessed: July 18, 2020)
7. LOSVIAJESDEQUIMYELENA (2020). "Jardín Botánico Histórico en Barcelona". Available at: https://losviajesdequimyelena.com/jardin-botanico-historico/ (Accessed: July 18, 2020)
8. Imedio, F. (2019). "Una masía 'secreta' tras el Palau Nacional de Montjuïc". Available at: https://www.elperiodico.com/es/onbarcelona/a-la-ultima/20190208/la-masia-del-jardi-botanic-historic-7276069 (Accessed: July 18, 2020)

Comments and notes

Comments

2017 comment- Is difficult to find information about this NBS. There seems to be limited info provided on the web.

Public Images