1. General information Location and description of the intervention City or FUA Berlin (FUA) Region Europe Native title of the NBS intervention Nanowald an der Oderstraße Short description of the intervention On a small roadside green space in Berlin, a tiny forest was created. The idea of Tiny Forests comes from Japan, there are already some in France and the Netherlands, and since 2020 also in Germany. Tiny forests are constituted of trees planted densely next to each other in small spaces, such as tiny green roadsides. At Oderstraße, the NGO TinyForestBerlin planted an even smaller forest, a nano forest on a roadside where trees cool down the area, filter the air and create a habitat for insects. Trees in urban areas loosen up the dense and degraded soil, allowing it to store carbon and let rainwater properly seep into the ground to prevent urban flooding. Roadsides are hardly utilised or recognized in their environmental potential, such as hosting a nano forest. Projects like the one implemented by TinyForestBerlin present an approach for collaboration between the district and civil society, as the district's park department lack the capacity to maintain small roadsides. The project at Oderstraße is the first official tiny forest in Berlin, as a previous planting campaign in Friedrichshain was not entirely legal due to missing approval of local authorities. (Ref. 2; Ref. 5) The TinyForestBerlin association has set itself the goal of creating such small nano-forests all over Berlin. An ambitious project that aims to enrich the city's green spaces and contribute to improving the urban climate. The trees planted on Oderstraße are one of many smaller planting projects that are spread throughout the city on public as well as private land. (Ref. 3) Website of the intervention https://www.tinyforestberlin.de/2023/12/07/einen-neuen-nanowald-fuer-die-oderst… Principal problems Climate-Related Hazards Urban flooding (stormwater) Heat stress & Extreme temperatures Degradation of carbon sinks Environmental Degradation Biodiversity loss Soil degradation and loss Air pollution Land use and Socio-economic change Rapid urbanization Implementation area characterization Climate Continental (Cold-summer humid continental, Cold-winter dry continental, Cold-summer dry continental) Ecosystem Urban or built environment Address Oderstraße 174 12049 Berlin Germany 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 (map-based) NBS area image Source of NBS area image https://www.google.de/maps/place/Oderstra%C3%9Fe+174,+12049+Berlin,+Germany/@52.470319,13.4199474,155m/data=!3m1!1e3!4m6!3m5!1s0x47a84f93905c8159:0xe7d74bdb45fadf0f!8m2!3d52.4701736!4d13.4176791!16s%2Fg%2F11b8z38fcy?entry=ttu&g_ep=EgoyMDI0MTAwMS4wIKXMDSoASAFQAw%3D%3D Total area 12.00m² NBS area 12.00m² Area description Urban (main city) Type of area before implementation of the NBS Roads / Roadsides Timeline of intervention Start date of the intervention (planning process) unknown Start date of intervention (implementation process) 2023 End date of the intervention 2023 Present stage of the intervention Completed 2. Objectives of the intervention Objectives of the intervention Goals of the intervention To use vacant roadside spaces for planting trees. (Ref. 2) To increase the carbon content of the soil. (Ref. 2) To improve soil quality by loosening it, enabling better water storage and reducing flooding risks from stormwater. (Ref. 2; Ref. 5) To improve air quality. (Ref. 2) To lower local temperatures. (Ref. 2; Ref. 5) To create habitats for insects. (Ref. 3; Ref. 5) Key Priorities Climate action (adaptation and/or mitigation) Biodiversity (conservation and/or restoration) Sustainability challenge(s) addressed Climate action for adaptation, resilience and mitigation (SDG 13) Climate change adaptation Climate change mitigation Environmental quality Air quality improvement Soil quality improvement Green space, habitats and biodiversity (SDG 15) Green space creation and/or management Habitat and biodiversity restoration Water management (SDG 6) Flood protection Stormwater and rainfall management and storage Climate change adaptation: What activities are implemented to realize the conservation goals and targets? Increase urban vegetation cover to reduce urban heat island effect Climate change mitigation: What activities are implemented to realize the conservation goals and targets? Increase the availability of green urban space for carbon storage (street tree cover) 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) Implementation activities and NBS focus Implementation activities Before the nano forest was planted, the NGO had to get the district's approval as the space belongs to the city. To create a nano forest, 90 native, young trees and shrubs were planted close to each other on the roadside by members of the NGO. While some trees die due to lacking space, they provide fertilizer for the other trees (Ref. 2; Ref. 3) Trees' roots loosen up the ground, wherefore the soil can take in more rain water that seeps into the ground instead of running off. Trees as well as the soil itself take up carbon and are habitats for insects and other animals. As the trees provide shade but also evaporate water, the immediate surrounding is being cooled down and the air quality improved due to their absorption of fine dust particles. (Ref. 2; Ref. 3) Type of NBS project Creation of new green areas Creation of any other green urban spaces Ecological restoration of ecosystems Soil remediation and revegetation Protection of natural ecosystems Habitat restoration Transformation of previously derelict areas Transformation of vacant land into green spaces 3. NBS domains, ES and scale NBS domain and interventions Ecological domain(s) where the NBS intervention(s) is/are implemented Grey infrastructure featuring greens Alley or street trees and other street vegetation Parks and urban forests Pocket parks/neighbourhood green spaces Amenities offered by the NBS Unknown Design elements for well-being None of the above Services Expected ecosystem services delivered Regulating services Local climate regulation (temperature reduction) Air quality regulation Carbon storage/sequestration Flood regulation Habitat and supporting services Habitats for species Scale Spatial scale Sub-microscale: Street scale (including buildings) Beneficiaries Demographics in implementation area The project is located in the district Neukölln. In 2023, 163.735 people lived there, of whom 58.977 were classified as foreigners (Ref. 6). In August 2024, 27.017 people were unemployed. (Ref. 7) Socio-economic profile of the area Unknown Communities vulnerable to environmental hazards or climate change impacts Unknown Non-government actors Non-governmental organisation (NGO) / Civil society / Churches Primary Beneficiaries Citizens or community groups Specify primary beneficiaries As the project contributes to flood protection, improved air quality and lowered local temperature, local citizens benefit from the project the most. (Ref. 2) Marginalized groups Unknown Other beneficiaries Local wildlife (e.g., birds, pollinators) Ecosystem services (e.g. improved air quality, water purification) City infrastructure (e.g., reduced flooding, improved water quality) 4. Governance and financing Governance Governance arrangements Led by non-government actors Please specify the roles of the specific government and non-government actor groups involved in the initiative The trees were planted by members of Tiny Forest Berlin, who planned the project and initiated other plantings before (Ref. 1). The land was provided by the district administration. (Ref. 4) Key actors - initiating organization Non-government organisation/civil society Key actors - Other stakeholders involved (besides initiating actors) Local government/municipality Participatory methods/forms of stakeholder involvement (all stakeholders) The project didn't involve any form of stakeholder participatory activities Uncommon actors ("Missing actors") Unknown Land owners Public space owned by the city Policy drivers NBS intervention implemented in response to a 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 Yes Please specify the "local regulation/strategy/plan" The cooperation with Tinyforestberlin is part of the ‘Putting down roots’ action programme with which the district of Neukölln is tackling targeted and increased planting and replanting in the district's cemeteries, public green spaces and street trees. (Ref. 4) Relevant strategy or plan City specific green space strategy or plan Mandatory or voluntary intervention Voluntary (spontaneous) Enablers & Barriers Type of enablers NGOs/Community groups driving the implementation Governace and decison-making instruments Strategic instruments (e.g. GI strategies, green space strategy or plans) Arrangements for governance cooperation Unknown Barriers The growing trees pose a particular challenge. After ten years, they are initially scrub, and after another 20 to 30 years, some trees have to be removed as they have become too large. (Ref. 3) Financing Total cost Unknown Please specify total cost (EUR) The implementation of a nano/tony forests costs about 6€ per square meter. (Ref. 3) What is/was the Cost/Budget (EUR) of the NBS or green infrastructure elements? n/a Source(s) of funding Funds provided by non-governmental organization (NGO) Type of fund(s) used Donations Membership or entrance fees Non-financial contribution Yes Who provided the non-financial contribution? Public authorities (e.g. land, utility services) Type of non-financial contribution Provision of land Co-finance for NBS Yes Co-governance arrangement An NGO Entrepreneurship opportunities No Business models Business models Urban offsetting model (biodiversity or water) Vacant space model Which of the involved actors was motivated by this model? Private non-for-profit actor (e.g. NGO, foundation) 5. Evaluation and learning Impacts, benefits Environmental impacts Climate change Lowered local temperature Achieved lowered local temperature Enhanced carbon sequestration Achieved enhanced carbon sequestration Environmental quality Improved air quality Achieved improved air quality Improved soil quality Achieved improved soil quality Water management and blue areas Improved stormwater management Achieved improved stormwater management Green space and habitat Reduced biodiversity loss Achieved reduced biodiversity loss Increased number of species present Achieved increased number of species present Description of environmental benefits --Achieved lowered local temperature: " The small green islands in the city also serve to ensure cooler temperatures in summer and cleaner air." (Ref. 2) --Achieved enhanced carbon sequestration/--Achieved improved soil quality: "The mini forests are intended to increase the carbon content of the soil and improve its quality so that it can retain water well. " (Ref. 2) --Achieved improved air quality: "The small green islands in the city also serve to ensure cooler temperatures in summer and cleaner air." (Ref. 2) Improved stormwater management: "Because the trees are so close together, the soil is protected from being walked on and from the sun's rays. It therefore does not solidify and absorbs the water instead of it simply flowing over it" (Ref. 4) Reduced biodiversity loss: "We took this opportunity to add several species to our TinyForest quartet, such as cornelian cherry, common hazel and rock pear. In this way, we have significantly increased the biodiversity and grazing opportunities for flying insects." (Ref. 1) --Achieved increased number of species present: "There they planted 90 trees and shrubs on the green strip between the bike path and the footpath - their first nano forest." (ref. 2) Environmental impact indicators Total number of vascular plant species protected or introduced 90 trees and shrubs planted (Ref. 2) Economic impacts Unknown Description of economic benefits Unknown Social and cultural impacts Unknown Description of social and cultural benefits Unknown Evidence for use of assessment Presence of an assessment, evaluation and/or monitoring process Yes Actors involved in the assessment, monitoring or evaluation of NBS impacts Non-government organisation/civil society Presence of indicators used in reporting Yes Type of indicators Progress indicators Presence of monitoring/evaluation reports Yes Link to monitoring/evaluation reports https://www.tinyforestberlin.de/2023/06/11/neues-aus-neukoelln/ Availability of a web-based monitoring tool No evidence in public records Name of any specific impact assessment tools Unknown Use of GIS in mapping impacts No evidence in public records Cost-benefit analysis Unknown Transparency Unknown Justice Community satisfaction Unknown Description of locals satisfaction with the project Unknown Trade-offs & Negative impacts Unknown Please specify Trade-offs & Negative impacts Selected Unknown Emphasis of existing social inequalities or injustices No information reported related to negative social justice-related impacts of the NBS project Measures to prevent gentrification or displacement No initiatives or policies were implemented High-quality & Transformative NBS Multiple impacts delivery (climate, biodiversity, just community) No Goal setting and impacts delivery No, project goals were not set, and benefits were not delivered in all 3 key areas. Reaching original project goals Most of the project goals were achieved Please specify the achievements of the project goals Climate action and biodiversity: --Achieved lowered local temperature: " The small green islands in the city also serve to ensure cooler temperatures in summer and cleaner air." (Ref. 2) --Achieved enhanced carbon sequestration/--Achieved improved soil quality: "The mini forests are intended to increase the carbon content of the soil and improve its quality so that it can retain water well. " (Ref. 2) --Achieved improved air quality: "The small green islands in the city also serve to ensure cooler temperatures in summer and cleaner air." (Ref. 2) Improved stormwater management: "Because the trees are so close together, the soil is protected from being walked on and from the sun's rays. It therefore does not solidify and absorbs the water instead of it simply flowing over it" (Ref. 4) Reduced biodiversity loss: "We took this opportunity to add several species to our TinyForest quartet, such as cornelian cherry, common hazel and rock pear. In this way, we have significantly increased the biodiversity and grazing opportunities for flying insects." (Ref. 1) --Achieved increased number of species present: "There they planted 90 trees and shrubs on the green strip between the bike path and the footpath - their first nano forest." (ref. 2) Long-term perspective Unknown: No information about the project's long-term sustainability. Cost-effective solutions Yes Equitable impacts C. Unknown Transformative capacity Ecological change (e.g. ecosystem functions and their distribution) Magnitude of change Incremental: shallow; that is, mostly maintaining business-as-usual approaches to adaptation Application of lessons learned The NBS has been shared or used as a good practice to trigger transformative change Perception of Environmental Change Unknown 6. Sources References 1. TinyForestBerlin (n.d.). Oderstraße: neuer Nanowald!. Accessed on September 21, 2024, [Source link] [Archive]; 2. Schilp, S. (2023). An der Oderstraße sollen 90 Gehölze auf engstem Raum wachsen. Accessed on September 21, 2024, [Source link] [Archive]; 3. Wom, D. (2023). Berlin-Neukölln: Winziger Nano-Wald bewirkt Großes – TinyForestBerlin pflanzt Bäume auf nur zwölf Quadratmetern. Accessed on September 21, 2024, [Source link] [Archive]; 4. District Office Neukölln (2023). Nanowälder für Neukölln – Kooperation mit dem Verein Tinyforestberlin. Accessed on September 21, 2024, [Source link] [Archive]; 5. Pfannkuche, I. (2023). DAS ist Berlins kleinster Wald. Accessed on September 21, 2024, [Source link] [Archive]; 6. District Office Neukölln (n.d.). EInwohnerregisterstatistik. Accessed on September 21, 2024, [Source link] [Archive]; 7. District Office Neukölln (n.d.). Arbeitsmarktreport für Berlin-Süd (Neukölln). Accessed on September 21, 2024, [Source link] [Archive]; Comments and notes Comments Only limited information was found about the project, especially about actors and finances. Sources of funding: the NGO TinyForest Berlin finances itself through membership fees and donations. Whether these were used (or additional funding through the municipality was provided) is unclear. Public Images Image Members of TinyForestBerlin plant trees on the roadside green space Maryvonne Knoch-Wuillemin Image TinyForestBerlin https://www.berliner-woche.de/neukoelln/c-umwelt/an-der-oderstrasse-sollen-90-gehoelze-auf-engstem-raum-wachsen_a372926#gallery=null Image TinyForestBerlin https://www.berliner-woche.de/neukoelln/c-umwelt/an-der-oderstrasse-sollen-90-gehoelze-auf-engstem-raum-wachsen_a372926#gallery=null Image TinyForestBerlin https://www.berliner-woche.de/neukoelln/c-umwelt/an-der-oderstrasse-sollen-90-gehoelze-auf-engstem-raum-wachsen_a372926#gallery=null
Image TinyForestBerlin https://www.berliner-woche.de/neukoelln/c-umwelt/an-der-oderstrasse-sollen-90-gehoelze-auf-engstem-raum-wachsen_a372926#gallery=null
Image TinyForestBerlin https://www.berliner-woche.de/neukoelln/c-umwelt/an-der-oderstrasse-sollen-90-gehoelze-auf-engstem-raum-wachsen_a372926#gallery=null
Image TinyForestBerlin https://www.berliner-woche.de/neukoelln/c-umwelt/an-der-oderstrasse-sollen-90-gehoelze-auf-engstem-raum-wachsen_a372926#gallery=null
