1. General information Location and description of the intervention City or FUA Cagliari (FUA) Region Europe Native title of the NBS intervention Parco del Nervi Short description of the intervention Del Nervi Park is a project co-led by the Port System Authority of the Sardinian Sea and the Municipality of Cagliari. Completed in 2021, it transformed a long-abandoned and degraded area on the Cagliari waterfront into a vibrant green space. The two-hectare site surrounds a 1950s industrial building and underwent extensive redevelopment to enhance its structural integrity and convert it into a public park. With a budget exceeding 5 million euros, the project prioritized green investments by creating new pedestrian and cycling paths, along with green spaces featuring local plants, flower beds, grass, and lawns. Nervi Park is set to become a key destination for leisure, sports, and cultural activities, while also providing the Cagliari community with greater access to green spaces. The environmental and urban renewal efforts aimed to beautify and modernize the area, with future development plans focusing on long-term management and the introduction of commercial activities to further enhance the space The project faced significant barriers, including prolonged disruptions due to the COVID-19 pandemic, which halted work for about eight months. (Refs. 1, 2, 3 & 4). Website of the intervention https://www.adspmaredisardegna.it/2021/07/30/inaugurato-il-parco-del-nervi/ Principal problems Environmental Degradation Soil degradation and loss Land use and Socio-economic change Limited economic opportunities and local livelihoods Health, Well-being and Social cohesion Inadequate access to recreational opportunities Implementation area characterization Climate Temperate ( Humid subtropical, Hot-summer Mediterranean, Warm-summer Mediterranean, Warm-temperate with dry winter) Ecosystem Other Please specify other ecosystem Portual/coastal ecosystem (Ref. 1, 2 & 3). Address Via Calata della Fiera 09126 Cagliari Italy 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 Google Images: https://www.google.com/maps/place/Parco+del+Nervi/@39.2014976,9.1289651,240m/data=!3m1!1e3!4m6!3m5!1s0x12e73399fcc2d4e1:0x75a0361117cb6c9!8m2!3d39.2012575!4d9.1282295!16s%2Fg%2F11rsp3z1gf?entry=ttu&g_ep=EgoyMDI0MDkxNi4wIKXMDSoASAFQAw%3D%3D Total area 2000.00m² NBS area 1999.00m² Area description Seascape Type of area before implementation of the NBS Previous derelict area Vacant or abandoned land Timeline of intervention Start date of the intervention (planning process) 2008 Start date of intervention (implementation process) 2011 End date of the intervention 2021 Present stage of the intervention Completed 2. Objectives of the intervention Objectives of the intervention Goals of the intervention The intervention aims: To revitalize a degraded, former industrial area on the Cagliari waterfront, which had been abandoned since the 1980s To transform an abandoned site into a green space and preserve its industrial heritage To create new public spaces for leisure, sports, and educational activities by including nature and educational trails To improve access to green areas and to the nearby San Bartolomeo Canal and the Molentargius salt pans, promoting sustainable tourism To boost social and economic activities through future commercial opportunities by renovating the site that will boost new economic activities (restaurants, refreshment points on the promenade, recreational boating) (Refs. 1, 2, 3, 4, 5 & 8). Key Priorities Social Justice and community Sustainability challenge(s) addressed Green space, habitats and biodiversity (SDG 15) Green space creation and/or management Regeneration, land-use and urban development Conversion of former industrial areas Promote natural styles of landscape design for urban development Cultural heritage and cultural diversity Protection of historic and cultural landscape/infrastructure Health and well-being (SDG 3) Creation of opportunities for recreation Enabling opportunities for physical activity Social justice, cohesion and equity (SDG 10) Environmental education Economic development and employment (SDG 8) Economic development: service sectors Tourism support Implementation activities and NBS focus Implementation activities The Parco del Nervi project encompassed several phases aimed at revitalizing and restoring the area. The first phase involved structural stabilization and restoration, focusing on consolidating the Capannone Nervi and the adjacent quay (static consolidation of the former warehouse and the dock overlooking the first stretch of the San Bartolomeo canal, the recovery of the stairwell and the iron structure of the overhead crane, the maintenance of the crane) Landscaping played a central role in the transformation, with native plants, flower beds, grass, and lawns introduced across approximately 2,000 square meters. Pedestrian and cycling paths were added to promote accessibility and sustainable mobility. The waterfront was also redeveloped, featuring a new promenade, a dock for zero-impact small boats, and a cycle-pedestrian bridge, enhancing connectivity to nearby natural attractions. The project included the installation of lighting, urban furniture such as benches, and security cameras. In addition, specific cleaning services, green maintenance, and 24-hour video surveillance were provided to protect and care for the newly revitalized space. (Refs. 1, 2, 3, 4, 5 & 8) Type of NBS project Creation of new green areas Creation of large parks and urban and peri-urban forests Coastal landscape management or protection Coastal ecosystems restoration and maintenance (mangroves, dunes, saltplains, underwater meadows) Improving coastal resilience Transformation of previously derelict areas Post-industrial site regeneration 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 Blue infrastructure Coastlines Parks and urban forests Large urban parks or forests Amenities offered by the NBS Benches and drinking water stations Sports areas and equipment Educational or biodiversity trails Complementing infrastructure (bathrooms, café) Design elements for well-being Visual elements (e.g., expansive views, scenic views, natural light, diverse vegetation) Auditory elements (e.g., birdsong, water features, quiet areas, rustling leaves) Services Expected ecosystem services delivered Cultural services Tourism Recreation Mental and physical health and wellbeing Intellectual interactions (scientific and / or educational) Scale Spatial scale Micro-scale: District/neighbourhood level Beneficiaries Demographics in implementation area The park is located in the neighborhood of Bonaria, which had, in 2021, when the project started, 8,386 inhabitants (around 5.5% of the total population of Cagliari). The average age is around 50 years old, distributed as follows in different age groups (this data refers to 2022): 1. 0-14: 814 (10%) 2. 15-64: 5,184 (62%) 3. over 65: 3,349 (28%) Immigration flows are quite high compared to other neighborhoods, and the foreign population amounts to 8% of its total population, which is one of the highest rates in Cagliari's neighborhoods. Most of the foreigners in the area come from the Philippines, China, and Ukraine (Ref. 9). 51% of the households in the neighborhood are composed of 1 single person, 25% of 2 people, 14% of 3, 8% of 4, 2% of 5, and less than 1% of 6 or more people (Refs. 7 & 9). Socio-economic profile of the area Unknown Communities vulnerable to environmental hazards or climate change impacts No Non-government actors Private sector/Corporate/Business Primary Beneficiaries Citizens or community groups Coastal-dependent communities (e.g. small-scale fishers, coastal farmers, and indigenous peoples) Specify primary beneficiaries The main expected users for the initiative include citizens, such as local residents seeking leisure and recreational spaces, tourists interested in cultural and historical sites, nature enthusiasts exploring the nearby Molentargius salt pans, and small boat owners utilizing the new zero-impact dock. Additionally, the park is anticipated to attract sports enthusiasts using the cycling and pedestrian paths, as well as educational groups engaging in environmental and industrial heritage activities. Finally, given its location in Cagliari's harbor, it may attract workers in the coastal area (such as fishermen) (Refs. 1, 2, 3 & 4). Marginalized groups Unknown Other beneficiaries Native plant vegetation Public health (e.g. increased physical activity opportunities, reduced stress) 4. Governance and financing Governance Governance arrangements Co-governance with government and non-government actors Please specify the roles of the specific government and non-government actor groups involved in the initiative - AdSP del Mare di Sardegna (Cagliari Port Authority): Led the project, overseeing redevelopment and future site management. - Comune di Cagliari: Collaborated on urban planning and public access. -Several local private companies were contracted to provide landscaping and to manage environmental renewal, including planting, lighting, and urban furniture. Funding was provided by AdSP del Mare di Sardegna, the regional body that oversees the Port of Cagliari. (Refs. 1, 2, 3, 4 & 6). Key actors - initiating organization Regional government Local government/municipality Key actors - Other stakeholders involved (besides initiating actors) Private sector/corporate actor/company Participatory methods/forms of stakeholder involvement (all stakeholders) Co-planning (e.g. stakeholder workshops, focus groups, participatory mapping) Joint implementation (e.g. tree planting) Uncommon actors ("Missing actors") Infrastructure & Management Port authorities 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 Unknown Mandatory or voluntary intervention Voluntary (spontaneous) Enablers & Barriers Type of enablers Governance innovations (such as public private partnerships) Please provide details (e.g, name of the plan or strategy) for the selected policies or initiatives. Several private companies in charge of landscaping and managing accessibility to the park collaborated with the municipality who was involved in the project on urban planning and public access. (1,2,3,4,6) Governace and decison-making instruments Public - private business agreement (e.g. public private collaborations, public-private-partnerships (PPP)) Arrangements for governance cooperation Unknown Barriers The project faced significant barriers, including prolonged disruptions due to the COVID-19 pandemic, which halted work for about eight months. Additional delays were caused by the late arrival of steel components and challenges in assembling the structural parts. The situation was further complicated by the removal and six-month absence of the bridge support heads, leading to delays in the reassembly and final positioning of the iron structure (Refs. 4 & 10). Financing Total cost More than €4,000,000 Please specify total cost (EUR) The costs are estimated over €5.000.000 (Refs. 1, 2 & 3). What is/was the Cost/Budget (EUR) of the NBS or green infrastructure elements? Unknown Source(s) of funding Public regional budget Type of fund(s) used Earmarked public budget Non-financial contribution Unknown Co-finance for NBS Unknown Entrepreneurship opportunities Unknown Business models Business models Green densification model Vacant space model Which of the involved actors was motivated by this model? Public actor (e.g. municipality) 5. Evaluation and learning Impacts, benefits Environmental impacts Water management and blue areas Enhanced protection and restoration of coastal and marine ecosystems Expected enhanced protection and restoration of coastal and marine ecosystems Green space and habitat Increased green space area Achieved increased green space area Increased conversion of degraded land or soil Achieved increased conversion of degraded land or soil Description of environmental benefits - increased green space area: "Environmental and urban upgrading of the entire surrounding area [...] with the completion of greenery, planting of native species and turf on 2,000 sqm" (Ref. 2) - increased conversion of degraded soil: "A complex transformation that, in addition to making usable an area abandoned since its decommissioning in the mid-1980s, embellishes the already redeveloped stretch of Cagliari's waterfront". (Ref. 1) -Expected enhanced protection and restoration of coastal and marine ecosystems: "The objective of the AdSP, in agreement with the Municipality of Cagliari, is to define the conditions of future use of the structure and the entire surrounding area, entrusting the identification of a manager to an international tender." (Ref.1) Environmental impact indicators Green space area created (in ha) 0.2 Total area of habitat restored (in ha) 0.2 Economic impacts More sustainable tourism Expected more sustainable tourism Attraction of business and investment Achieved attraction of business and investment Description of economic benefits - More sustainable tourism: "Nature and educational trails that, from the newly rearranged which will become a new zero-impact landing place for small boats-cross the entire San Bartolomeo canal (of which, next week, deepening work will begin) to the Molentargius salt pans." (Ref. 1 & 2) - attraction of business and investment: "restaurant in the park and 3 waterfront kiosks [...], three new business ventures that will add vitality and services to an area that is gradually regaining its natural vocation." (Ref. 1 & 2) Economic impact indicators Number of businesses attracted by the NBS (number) 3 Social and cultural impacts Social justice and cohesion Increased opportunities for social interaction Expected increased opportunities for social interaction Health and wellbeing Gain in activities for recreation and exercise Expected gain in activities for recreation and exercise Cultural heritage and sense of place Protection of historic and cultural landscape / infrastructure Achieved protection of historic and cultural landscape / infrastructure Safety Increased perception of safety Expected increased perception of safety Social and cultural impact indicators Surface area of accessible green spaces (in ha) 0.2 Description of social and cultural benefits - increased opportunities for social interaction: "It will be able to host various events, both cultural and musical, and become the gateway to Molentargius" (Ref. 4) - gain in activities for recreation and exercise: "it will become a new reference point for leisure, sports, and culture, as well as a starting point for excursions to discover, through the San Bartolomeo navigable canal, the Molentargius nature oasis, the history of the salt pans, and related industrial and commercial activities." (Refs. 1 & 2). - protection of historic and cultural landscape/infrastructure: " (it is) A jewel of high historical and environmental value, for the protection and care of which we have provided special cleaning services, green maintenance" (Refs. 1 & 2). - increased perception of safety: Consorzio Stabile Marr took care of the "environmental and urban redevelopment of the entire surrounding area [...] with the completion of greenery, planting of native species and turf" (Ref. 1 & 2) & "for the protection and care of which we have provided [...] video surveillance and 24-hour security services" (Refs. 1 & 2). 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 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 Mixed: Feedback and reports show a combination of positive and negative sentiments regarding satisfaction with the NBS project within the community. Description of locals satisfaction with the project Locals were dissatisfied with the length of work in the area, which had been interrupted multiple times. Moreover, there is a general negative feeling towards the commercial activities in the park (restaurants and discobar), which play too loud music, disturbing the environment's peace (Refs. 10 & 11). However, the park became a cultural reference point for the citizens, who also left positive feedback, appreciating the contact with nature and the fact that the green areas are clean and well-maintained (Ref. 11). Trade-offs & Negative impacts Social justice and conflicts Lack of social acceptance Please specify Trade-offs & Negative impacts Selected Locals were dissatisfied with the length of work in the area, which had been interrupted multiple times. Moreover, there is a general negative feeling towards the commercial activities in the park (restaurants and discobar), which play too loud music, disturbing the environment's peace (Refs. 10 & 11). 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 Social justice and community: - increased opportunities for social interaction: "It will be able to host various events, both cultural and musical, and become the gateway to Molentargius" (Ref. 4) - gain in activities for recreation and exercise: "it will become a new reference point for leisure, sports, and culture, as well as a starting point for excursions to discover, through the San Bartolomeo navigable canal, the Molentargius nature oasis, the history of the salt pans, and related industrial and commercial activities." (Refs. 1 & 2). - protection of historic and cultural landscape/infrastructure: " (it is) A jewel of high historical and environmental value, for the protection and care of which we have provided special cleaning services, green maintenance" (Refs. 1 & 2). - increased perception of safety: Consorzio Stabile Marr took care of the "environmental and urban redevelopment of the entire surrounding area [...] with the completion of greenery, planting of native species and turf" (Ref. 1 & 2) & "for the protection and care of which we have provided [...] video surveillance and 24-hour security services" (Refs. 1 & 2). Long-term perspective Unknown: No information about the project's long-term sustainability. Cost-effective solutions No Equitable impacts A. All stakeholders benefit fairly from the project Transformative capacity Social change (e.g. social relationships, networks and dynamics within them) Magnitude of change Incremental: shallow; that is, mostly maintaining business-as-usual approaches to adaptation Application of lessons learned Unknown Perception of Environmental Change Unknown 6. Sources References 1. CagliariPad (2021). Una nuova area verde sul lungomare: inaugurato a Cagliari il Parco del Nervi. Cagliari: Accessed on August 12, 2024, [Source link] [Archive]; 2. Autorità di Sistema Portuale del Mare di Sardegna (2021). Inaugurato il “Parco del Nervi”. Accessed on August 12, 2024, [Source link] [Archive]; 3. Ansa (2021). Area verde davanti al mare, nasce a Cagliari il parco Nervi. Ansa, Accessed on August 13, 2024, [Source link] [Archive]; 4. Casteddu Online (2021). Aperitivi, concerti e relax vista mare: a Cagliari nasce il “Parco del Nervi”. Cagliari: Accessed on August 13, 2024, [Source link] [Archive]; 5. Daniele Melis (2009). Ex magazzini del sale a Cagliari. Accessed on August 13, 2024, [Source link] [Archive]; 6. Sardegna Live (2019). Su Siccu, ecco come cambia la bellissima passeggiata davanti al porto di viale Colombo. Accessed on August 13, 2024, [Source link] [Archive]; 7. Associazione per il Parco Molentargius (2011). Al via il recupero del padiglione Nervi. Unione Sarda, Accessed on August 13, 2024, [Source link] [Archive]; 8. Comune Cagliari News (2023). Cagliari, parte la svolta turistica a Su Siccu: ristorante nel parco e 3 chioschi sul lungomare. Accessed on August 13, 2024, [Source link] [Archive]; 9. Comune di Cagliari (2022). Atlante Demografico Cagliari 2022. Accessed on August 14, 2024, [Source link] [Archive]; 10. Cilloccu, M; Portoghese, G; Marcello, F; Polo, R; Dettori, A; Lecis, M; Ortu, C; Soru, C; Benucci, M; Andreozzi, G; Massa, M; Ghirra, F (2022). Lavori fermi sul ponte ciclopedonale del canale di San Bartolomeo. Cagliari: Accessed on August 13, 2024, [Download]; 11. Google maps - Reviews (n.d.). Parco del Nervi - Recensioni. Accessed on August 13, 2024, [Source link] [Archive]; Comments and notes Public Images Image Parco Nervi https://monumentiaperti.com/it/monumenti/parco-nervi/ Image Restoration work on the iron crane structure. Nuova Icom. 2021. “Restauro Gru Portuale, Padiglione Nervi Cagliari - Nuova Icom Srl.” Nuova Icom Srl. December 9, 2021. http://www.nuovaicom.it/restauro-gru-portuale-padiglione-nervi-cagliari/. Image Photo of the park: green spaces, walking path, restaurant on the left and historical building on the right. Autorità di sistema portuale del mare di Sardegna. 2021. “Inaugurato Il ‘Parco Del Nervi.’” Autorità Di Sistema Portuale Del Mare Di Sardegna. 2021. https://www.adspmaredisardegna.it/2021/07/30/inaugurato-il-parco-del-nervi/.
Image Restoration work on the iron crane structure. Nuova Icom. 2021. “Restauro Gru Portuale, Padiglione Nervi Cagliari - Nuova Icom Srl.” Nuova Icom Srl. December 9, 2021. http://www.nuovaicom.it/restauro-gru-portuale-padiglione-nervi-cagliari/.
Image Photo of the park: green spaces, walking path, restaurant on the left and historical building on the right. Autorità di sistema portuale del mare di Sardegna. 2021. “Inaugurato Il ‘Parco Del Nervi.’” Autorità Di Sistema Portuale Del Mare Di Sardegna. 2021. https://www.adspmaredisardegna.it/2021/07/30/inaugurato-il-parco-del-nervi/.
