1. General information
Location and description of the intervention
City or FUA
Genova
Region
Europe
Native title of the NBS intervention
Orto Collettivo
Short description of the intervention
The OrtoCollettivo project focuses on the creation of common spaces to grow local sustainable food while raising awareness about environmental challenges in cities. The project is based on teamwork: if there is work planned for today and someone cannot come to do that job, someone else will do it, with the ultimate benefit of everyone. It, therefore, stimulates common values about well-being, sustainable food production, and sharing time and activities collectively as a group (2). The initiative is ongoing and expanding, however in 2020 there were voices from the people living in the area that the poor maintenance of the terraces caused landslides and disturbed traffic. Nevertheless the NGO that initiated the intervention defended the project and suggested that the issue is caused by the lack of canals for the rain water to flow in. (8)
Address

Corso Ferdinando Maria Perrone 38
16152 Genova
Italy

Location
Point location, which indicates where the NBS takes place
NBS area
70000.00m²
Type of area before implementation of the NBS
Agricultural area or farmland
Previous derelict area
Website of the intervention
https://www.facebook.com/ortocollettivogenova?fref=ts
Timeline of intervention
Start date of the intervention (planning process)
2014
Start date of intervention (implementation process)
2015
End date of the intervention
ongoing
Present stage of the intervention
Ongoing
Goals of the intervention
The main goal of the NBS intervention is to recover derelict areas of the city of Genova by turning them into community gardens. The green spaces are mainly aimed young citizens and disadvantaged groups to be able to provide their own food at lower costs. Several workshops to educate citizens on best practices for sustainable food production, the value of the land and environmental issues are being held by the project partners (4).
Quantitative targets
Unknown.
Monitoring indicators defined
Unknown.
Sustainability challenge(s) addressed
Social justice, cohesion and equity (SDG 10)
Environmental education
Social justice and equity
Environmental and climate justice
Social cohesion
Social interaction
Economic development and employment (SDG 8)
Economic development: agriculture
Sustainable consumption and production (SDG 12)
Sustainable consumption
Sustainable production
Implementation activities
All the soil used for the creation of the community gardens is property of the Municipality of Genova. Most gardens are created from derelict areas. The project not only focuses on the administration of the community gardens and the education of citizens, but it also pushes for widespread research of all derelict areas in the municipal area that could be turned into green spaces for cultivation and for the spreading of information to communities and public offices (4).The unkept and out of shape trees have been cut and weeds have been removed. Regarding the cleaning process, there have been voices against it, as the trees were seen as protective of the landslides (8)
Type of NBS project
Creation of new green areas
Transformation of previously derelict areas
Knowledge creation and awareness raising
NBS domain and interventions
Ecological domain(s) where the NBS intervention(s) is/are implemented
Community gardens and allotments
Community gardens
Please specify the number of plots or allotment gardens
250 all over the city (1)
Vegetation Type
Garden beds
Other
Amenities offered by the NBS
Unknown
Please specify "other marginalized group"
disadvantaged groups (4)
Services
Expected ecosystem services delivered
Provisioning services
Food for human consumption (crops, vegetables)
Cultural services
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
Citizens or community groups
Marginalized groups
Young people and children
Marginalized groups
Refugees, asylum seekers, and migrants
Socio-economically disadvantaged populations (e.g. low-income households, unemployed)
Other
Please specify other local relevant strategy
law: This project came to light thanks to a law of the Liguria region that established the "Regional Bank of the Earth" with the aim of recovering abandoned land and reviving agriculture. The law provides that "lands where owners cannot take care of are transferred to the availability of those who want to use it, through a third party guarantor", which is precisely the "Regional Bank of the Earth" - a bank Data that contains land cadastral estates that landlords do not intend to cultivate but make available to anyone interested in acquiring management and planting them (2).
Governance
Governance arrangements
Co-governance with government and 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 Comitato 4 Valli is cooperating with the Municipality of Genova in the administration of the community gardens. They particularly focus on organising workshops and launching educational campaigns (2).
Key actors - initiating organization
Non-government organisation/civil society
Land owners
Public space owned by the city
Please specify other Key actors - Other stakeholders involved
young citizens and disadvantaged groups (4)
Key actors - Other stakeholders involved (besides initiating actors)
Local government/municipality
Non-government organisation/civil society
Citizens or community group
Other
Please specify other participatory methods
it seems that they focus mostly on people's participation and collective activities (2 and 4).
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
Other
Policy drivers
NBS intervention implemented in response to an 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"
This project came to light thanks to a law of the Liguria region that established the "Regional Bank of the Earth" with the aim of recovering abandoned land and reviving agriculture. The law provides that "lands where owners cannot take care of are transferred to the availability of those who want to use it, through a third party guarantor", which is precisely the "Regional Bank of the Earth" - a bank Data that contains land cadastral estates that landlords do not intend to cultivate but make available to anyone interested in acquiring management and planting them (2).
Mandatory or voluntary intervention
Mandatory (based on policy)
Intervention is mandatory
Spatial planning law
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
Yes
If there is a relevant strategy or plan, please specify the theme / type of the plan.
Other
Please specify other vegetation type
green spaces for cultivation (4)
common spaces to grow local sustainable food (2)
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
Thanks to the initiative called Soil Bank, the project pushes for a widespread research of all derelict areas in the municipal area of Genova that could be turned into green spaces for cultivation and for the spreading of information to communities and public offices (4).
Subsidies/investment for GI / NBS in the city - mentioned in connection to the project
Unknown
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
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)
Unknown
Source(s) of funding
Unknown
Type of fund(s) used
Unknown
Non-financial contribution
Yes
Type of non-financial contribution
Provision of land
Provision of goods
Provision of labour
Provision of expertise
Exchange of services
Who provided the non-financial contribution?
Public authorities (e.g. land, utility services)
Citizens (e.g. volunteering)
Other
Business models
Green health model
Vacant space model
Green education model
Which of the involved actors was motivated by this model?
Public actor (e.g. municipality)
Private non-for-profit actor (e.g. NGO, foundation)
Citizens / local communities
Type of innovation
Technological
Product innovation
Please specify technological innovation
It is the largest community garden ever created in Italy (7 hectares) (2).
Novelty level of the innovation
The innovation is copied/derived from previous initiative(s) with substantial adaptation
Please specify novelty level of the innovation
Community gardens are starting to become popular and this is not the first one created in Genova (2), but it is the first one of this size in Italy and it has the unique concept of sharing all the space and work as a collective good.
Replicability/Transferability
The innovation is transferred to new initiative(s) without substantial adaptation
Please specify Replicability/Transferability
The website of the project is down, but they have a Facebook page where I could see the project is a success and it keeps expanding in other areas of the city. Now they've been involving especially refugee communities in order to bring together local citizens and foreigners (5)
Impacts, benefits
Environmental impacts
Green space and habitat
Increased green space area
Restoration of derelict areas
Description of environmental benefits
This NBS is an ongoing project and the organizers have not issued reports regarding the environmental benefits, however from the news it was reported that the area where the NBS was implemented has been transformed from a derelict space to an agricultural one and that approx 70.000 sqm of green space has been created. (7)
Economic impacts
Unknown
Description of economic benefits
Unknown
Social and cultural impacts
Social justice and cohesion
Improved social cohesion
Increased visibility and opportunity for marginalised groups or indigenous peoples
Increased opportunities for social interaction
Increased involvement of locals in the management of green spaces
Increased access to healthy/affordable food
Cultural heritage and sense of place
Promotion of cultural diversity
Description of social and cultural benefits
Even though no reports regarding social benefits were issued, the media reported that the project is a high success, with over 2200 people applying for it (over 80% of them are women between 25-40 years old). It is expected from the NBS to increase access to affordable food among the most vulnerable citizens of Genoa (7) The project keeps expanding in other areas of the city and involves refugee communities in order to bring together local citizens and foreigners (5)
Type of reported impacts
Expected impacts
Indicators
Even though no reports regarding social benefits were issued, the media reported that the project is a high success, with over 2200 people applying for it (over 80% of them are women between 25-40 years old). It is expected from the NBS to increase access to affordable food among the most vulnerable citizens of Genoa (7)
Environmental, social and economic impacts
Cultural heritage and cultural diversity
Green space, habitats and biodiversity (SDG 15)
Sustainable consumption and production (SDG 12)
Analysis of specific impact categories
Job creation: The NBS created ...
Voluntary work opportunities
Environmental justice: The implementation of the NBS project resulted in ...
Improved access to green and/or blue spaces
Affected negatively the community life of local residents
Increased access to healthy food for humans and/or animals
Please specify other method used to evaluate the impacts of NBS
I could not find explicit monitoring indicators, but it seems that they focus mostly on people's participation and collective activities (2 and 4).
Negative impacts: Did the project cause any problems or concerns?
Yes
Please specify the negative impacts
The initiative is ongoing, however in 2020 there were voices from the people living in the area that the poor state of maintenance of the terraces caused landslides and disturbed traffic. Nevertheless the NGO that initiated the intervention defends itself by saying that the issue is not with the community gardens themselves but more with the lack of canals for the rain water to flow in. (8)
COVID-19 pandemic
It doesn't seem that the NBS was stopped during the pandemic, it's actually the contrary. In August of 2020 the initiative had a harvest party which was attended by a significant no of people. Documentation was shown on their Facebook page.
Methods of impact monitoring
Process of recording NBS impacts
No evidence in public records
Methods used to evaluate the impacts of NBS
Unknown
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; I could not find explicit monitoring indicators, but it seems that they focus mostly on people's participation and collective activities (2 and 4).
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)
Other
Please specify other modes of citizen involvement in evaluation/assessment
On the Facebook page of the project it is possible to see several pictures of the activities carried out and read the enthusiast experiences of people participating (5).
It seems that they focus mostly on people's participation and collective activities (2 and 4).
Citizens involvement in the analysis of the assessment/evaluation
Unknown
Follow-up to the evaluation / assessment
Unknown
References
Web links relevant to the intervention
Article on NBS
Orto Collettivo
Interview to one of the projects coordinator
NBS presentation
Project website
Update on the project and first plants
List of references
1. Comune Genova (2013), Orti urbani, una visione sistemica. Territorio cittadino come bene comune, Available at http://www.comune.genova.it/articoli/orti-urbani-una-visione-sistemica-territorio-cittadino-come-bene-comune (Accessed 3-9-2020)

2. Italia Che Cambia (2015), Orto Collettivo, Available at http://www.italiachecambia.org/2015/06/orto-collettivo-genova/ (Accessed 3-9-2020)

3. Youtube (2013), Interview to one of the project coordinators, Available at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5Ztq5rPrba4&feature=youtu.be (Accessed 3-9-2020)

4. Comune di Genova (2013), Orti urbani. Una visione sistemica del territorio, Available at https://issuu.com/comunedigenova/docs/orti_urbani_terra__stampa (Accessed 3-9-2020)

5. Facebook page of the project, Project website, Available at https://www.facebook.com/ortocollettivogenova?fref=ts (Accessed 3-9-2020)

6. Il Sole 24 ore (2016), A Genova l'Orto collettivo più grande del mondo, Available at http://www.ilsole24ore.com/art/food/2016-10-28/a-genova-orto-collettivo-piu-grande-mondo-125946.shtml?uuid=AD3enBlB (Accessed 3-9-2020)
7. European Consumers (2015), Orto collettivo più grande d’Europa a Genova, Available at http://www.europeanconsumers.it/2018/04/26/01-12-2015-orto-collettivo-piu-grande-deuropa-a-genova/, (Accessed 3-9-2020)

8. Genova24 (2020), Corso Perrone, torna l’incubo delle frane: sotto accusa l’area per i detriti del Terzo Valico, available at https://www.genova24.it/2020/01/corso-perrone-torna-lincubo-delle-frane-sotto-accusa-larea-per-i-detriti-del-terzo-valico-229858/ (accessed 19-9-2021)
Comments and notes
Comments
2020 comments:
The project is still ongoing and does not produce a relevant amount of quantitative information, but mostly quantitative, as websites talk mostly about the citizens' experiences. The official website of the project has been taken down, which did not make the research that easy, as I could use only articles and the Facebook webpage. I could not find explicit monitoring indicators, but it seems that they focus mostly on people's participation and collective activities (2 and 4).
Pictures of the NBS
/sites/default/files/nbs/images/orto_collettivo.jpg
/sites/default/files/nbs/images/orto_collettivo_2.jpg
/sites/default/files/nbs/images/orto_collettivo_3.jpg
Public Images
Collective Work at OrtoCollettivo
Collective Work at OrtoCollettivo
OrtoCollettivo Genova (https://www.facebook.com/pg/ortocollettivogenova), retrieved 08/24/2018
Landslide
https://www.genova24.it/2020/01/corso-perrone-torna-lincubo-delle-frane-sotto-accusa-larea-per-i-detriti-del-terzo-valico-229858/
Please specify other source of non-financial contribution
NGO