1. General information Location and description of the intervention City or FUA Lima (FUA) Region Latin America and the Caribbean Native title of the NBS intervention Praderas de vida. Jardín comunitario de plantas medicinales Short description of the intervention The Praderas de Vida garden is an initiative to transform a former rubbish dump into a source of employment and empowerment for the residents of the Praderas de San Juan de Miraflores Human Settlement (1). This agroecological community garden was developed as part of ISA REP's Sustainable Easements programme (13), located in the easement area of Peru's energy network, and it has collaboration efforts with KUNAN, Misha Rastrera, and La Muyita, brings together twelve female heads of households who cultivate, harvest, and process a variety of medicinal plants that have aromatic, antiseptic, and relaxing properties (2, 3). Beyond agricultural production, the garden has become a hub for emotional and economic support, fostering a connection with nature through plant care and interaction with the local ecosystem (3). It has also led to the establishment of a social enterprise, "Praderas de Vida," allowing women to participate in agroecological fairs to market the products derived from the medicinal plants grown in the garden (3). The garden has evolved into a space for learning and community collaboration, promoting the importance of sustainability and biodiversity conservation (6). Website of the intervention https://www.facebook.com/praderasdevida/ Principal problems Land use and Socio-economic change Limited economic opportunities and local livelihoods Health, Well-being and Social cohesion Insecurity in public spaces Resource Scarcity and Competition Food insecurity due to disruptions in food production and distribution Implementation area characterization Climate Arid (Desert, Steppe) Ecosystem Urban or built environment Address C. las Torres, San Juan de Miraflores 15829, Perú San Juan de Miraflores Peru 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) Total area 2350.00m² Area description Other urban area outside city center (e.g. another municipality in the FUA, commuting zone) Type of area before implementation of the NBS Waste disposal site or landfill Timeline of intervention Start date of the intervention (planning process) 2019 Start date of intervention (implementation process) 2019 End date of the intervention ongoing Present stage of the intervention Ongoing 2. Objectives of the intervention Objectives of the intervention Goals of the intervention - To transform a derelict site into a safe and productive one, especially during the pandemic (1, 7) - To build unity among the neighbours of the community garden (7) - To generate income to support women and elderly people within the community (7) - To promote entrepreneurship and empowerment through the production of medicinal plants (4, 6) - To promote the responsible use of medicinal plants and to contribute to the conservation of biodiversity (6) 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 Inclusive and effective governance (SDG 16) Inclusive governance Social justice, cohesion and equity (SDG 10) Social justice and equity Social interaction Sense of community and community engagement Economic development and employment (SDG 8) Economic development: agriculture Sustainable consumption and production (SDG 12) Sustainable production Food scarcity / security Implementation activities and NBS focus Implementation activities The gardens have implemented agroecological practices for the cultivation, harvesting, and processing of medicinal plants (5). A diverse range of plants, including both highland and coastal species, have been successfully adapted and cultivated in the gardens. The use of agrochemical-free methods for herb cultivation has contributed to increased biodiversity, attracting pollinators (3). ISA REP has provided ongoing support and monitoring to the gardeners, ensuring the project's success (3). Furthermore, with ISA REP's assistance, alliances have been formed with strategic partners, Kunan and Misha Rastrera. These collaborations have resulted in the establishment of cultivation and production spaces that directly benefit the community (6). The initiative has also encouraged active participation in ecological fairs and the development of new products based on the medicinal plants grown in the garden (6). As a result, the gardens have become the primary suppliers for Misha Rastrera, a social enterprise that markets natural food products and natural cosmetics. Forty-three products from the gardens are currently sold on the Misha Rastrera platform, providing a stable source of income (7). Lastly, the gardens have also evolved into spaces for learning and community engagement, fostering awareness of sustainability and biodiversity conservation within the community (6). Type of NBS project Creation of new green areas Creation of any other green urban spaces Ecological restoration of ecosystems Soil remediation and revegetation Remediation activities of sites with very poor environmental quality Transformation of previously derelict areas Landfill reclamation 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 Community gardens and allotments Community gardens Amenities offered by the NBS Playgrounds Please specify other amenities offered by the NBS Mural Design elements for well-being Olfactory elements (e.g., floral scents, earthy smells) Services Expected ecosystem services delivered Provisioning services Food for human consumption (crops, vegetables) Raw materials Medicinal resources Regulating services Pollination Habitat and supporting services Habitats for species Cultural services Aesthetic appreciation Recreation Mental and physical health and wellbeing Physical and experiential interactions with plants and animals Social and community interactions Scale Spatial scale Sub-microscale: Street scale (including buildings) Beneficiaries Demographics in implementation area This human settlement is located in the district of San Juan de Miraflores, in which houses with medium, medium-low and low socio-economic incomes predominate (9). Specifically, this settlement is located in Pamplona alta, and is part of one of the settlements in this district where more than 95,000 people live (10). These areas have been marginalised and with little government presence, as they are considered invasions, mainly inhabited by migrant populations (10). Basic services such as drinking water are not available in these areas (7, 10). Socio-economic profile of the area Low-income Communities vulnerable to environmental hazards or climate change impacts Unknown Non-government actors Private sector/Corporate/Business Citizens or community groups Social enterprise Primary Beneficiaries Citizens or community groups Marginalized groups Specify primary beneficiaries The initiative is committed to generating a positive impact on the community through its contribution to sustainable development and empowerment of women and older adults in San Juan de Miraflores (6). It directly benefits 25 families and the community of Pampa de San Juan in the district of San Juan de Miraflores (6). Marginalized groups Elderly people Women Socio-economically disadvantaged populations (e.g. low-income households, unemployed) Measures for inclusion of marginalised groups The Praderas de Vida project, situated in San Juan de Miraflores, seeks to empower women and the elderly in the community (6). Capacity-building programs have been implemented to train 12 female heads of household from the AAHH 'Las Praderas' (5, 7), aged 40 to 70, to take the lead on the project (7) and engage them actively in the cultivation and processing of medicinal plants (7, 13). Specify measures taken for vulnerable or marginalized communities Implementation of specific programs to address the needs of these communities Provision of resources tailored to the unique challenges faced by vulnerable or marginalized groups Collaboration with local community organizations or advocacy groups representing these communities Other beneficiaries Local wildlife (e.g., birds, pollinators) Native plant vegetation 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 ISA REP funding actor. Part of its Corporate Social Responsibility efforts, providing ongoing support for its implementation and maintenance (2) KUNAN is a strategic partner of ISA REP, acting as a bridge between social enterprises and companies (4) Misha Rastrera and La Muyita: social enterprises. Implementing actors (12). Misha Rastrera is an ally of the garden. The women of the community garden sell their products on its web platform (11). Several local enterprises and people have donated resources: PG provided a mural, Lombri Wasi donated a compost bin, Huertos en Línea project participants offered early-stage support, Cajas Ecológicas made a playground for kids, and volunteers (11). Key actors - initiating organization Citizens or community group Private sector/corporate actor/company Key actors - Other stakeholders involved (besides initiating actors) Citizens or community group Private sector/corporate actor/company Social enterprise Stages of citizen and community engagement On-the-ground implementation Level of citizen and community engagement Moderate Community empowerment or capacity-building initiatives Implementation of educational programs, workshops or trainings Formation of community-led groups responsible for the the implementation, maintenace or monitoring of the project Support of local entrepreneurs or small business development related to the project Participatory methods/forms of stakeholder involvement (all stakeholders) Dissemination of information and education Consultation (e.g. workshop, surveys, community meetings, town halls) Joint implementation (e.g. tree planting) Uncommon actors ("Missing actors") Community & Social Groups Women or Women's groups Elderly population or elderly rights associations Infrastructure & Management Utility companies: water, sewage, etc. Private Sector Local businesses (e.g. stores, restaurants) Land owners Utility company Policy drivers NBS intervention implemented in response to a Regional Directive/Strategy No NBS intervention implemented in response to a national regulations/strategy/plan No NBS intervention implemented in response to a local regulation/strategy/plan No Mandatory or voluntary intervention Voluntary (spontaneous) Enablers & Barriers Type of enablers Collaboration with other projects that implemented NBS Please provide details (e.g, name of the plan or strategy) for the selected policies or initiatives. For the development of this project, we have collaborated with social enterprises that are working for the development of urban agriculture in Lima and that have provided services and resources to the community garden, as well as support from other projects that have implemented this type of NBS in the area, such as Huertos en Línea (11, 12) Governace and decison-making instruments Unknown Arrangements for governance cooperation Information-sharing platforms or networks (e.g. websites for sharing best practices, data or resources pertinent to the project) Barriers The human settlement does not have drinking water and therefore neither does Praderas de Vida, which has been a challenge from the beginning (7). Financing Total cost Unknown Please specify total cost (EUR) Unknown What is/was the Cost/Budget (EUR) of the NBS or green infrastructure elements? Unknown Source(s) of funding Corporate investment Type of fund(s) used Direct funding (grants, subsidies, or self-financed projects by private entities) Donations Non-financial contribution Yes Who provided the non-financial contribution? Citizens (e.g. volunteering) Private sector (businesses, financial institution) Type of non-financial contribution Provision of land Provision of goods Provision of labour Provision of expertise Co-finance for NBS No Entrepreneurship opportunities Yes What entrepreneurship opportunities have arisen from the NBS project? Sustainable agriculture or agroforestry businesses Eco-friendly product manufacturing What types of actors are leading the entrepreneurship activities linked to the NBS project? Local community groups/ citizens Social enterprises or cooperatives Private sector companies engaging in community-led initiatives What types of support are provided to entrepreneurs engaged in NBS-related activities? Technical assistance or mentoring Access to markets or supply chains Networking events or conferences Business models Business models Local stewardship model Vacant space model Which of the involved actors was motivated by this model? Private for-profit actor (e.g. firm, insurer) Citizens / local communities 5. Evaluation and learning Impacts, benefits Environmental impacts 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 Enhanced support of pollination Achieved enhanced support of pollination Restoration of derelict areas Achieved restoration of derelict areas Description of environmental benefits -Increased green space area: "By 2022, the members have transformed 2350 m2 of illegal waste dump into a green area that allows them to recreate and generate income." (8) -Increased conversion of degraded land or soil: "Faviola Pardavé together with other people with initiative and entrepreneurial vision organised a small garden with the dream of preserving and giving better use to spaces that were being contaminated by rubbish and land clearing." (3) -Enhanced support of pollination: "In the garden, you will find wild bees and ladybirds." (3) -Restoration of derelict areas: "Faviola Pardavé and eleven neighbours from the community decided to transform a rubbish dump into a safe and productive social space." (7) Environmental impact indicators Green space area created (in ha) 0.235 Economic impacts Generation of other type of work opportunities (e.g. voluntary, work for rehabilitation) Achieved generation of other type of work opportunities (e.g. voluntary, work for rehabilitation) Increase in agricultural production (for profit or not) Achieved increase in agricultural production (for profit or not) Generation of income from NBS Achieved generation of income from NBS Description of economic benefits -Generation of other type of work opportunities (e.g. voluntary, work for rehabilitation): "In Praderas de Vida, the members, who are housewives, have found an economic activity that allows them to generate income, as well as being a personal motivation." (7) -Increase in agricultural production (for profit or not): "The women sow and cultivate various medicinal plants and aromatic herbs using agro-ecological practices, which they dehydrate with solar energy to produce products ranging from herbal teas to cat toys." (8) -Generation of income from NBS: "With this project, we support women in the area of Pampa de San Juan in San Juan de Miraflores to promote entrepreneurship and empowerment through the production of medicinal plants." (4) Social and cultural impacts Social justice and cohesion Increased involvement of locals in the management of green spaces Achieved increased involvement of locals in the management of green spaces Increased access to healthy/affordable food Achieved increased access to healthy/affordable food Increased sustainability of agriculture practices Achieved increased sustainability of agriculture practices Health and wellbeing Gain in activities for recreation and exercise Achieved gain in activities for recreation and exercise Improved mental health Achieved improved mental health Enhanced cognitive restoration, relaxation and stress relief Achieved enhanced cognitive restoration, relaxation and stress relief Cultural heritage and sense of place Improvement in people’s connection to nature Achieved improvement in people’s connection to nature Education Increased knowledge of locals about local nature Achieved increased knowledge of locals about local nature Increased awareness of NBS and their benefits Achieved increased awareness of NBS and their benefits Safety Decreased crime rates Achieved decreased crime rates Social and cultural impact indicators Percentage of women involved in key decision-making processes (%) 12 women Other indicators 25 families directly impacted Description of social and cultural benefits -Increased involvement of locals in the management of green spaces: "Faviola Pardavé and eleven neighbours from the community decided to transform a rubbish dump into a safe and productive social space." (7) -Increased access to healthy/affordable food: "At Praderas de Vida they grow, tend and harvest herbs to prepare healthy natural drinks and nutritious meals." (3) -Increased sustainability of agriculture practices: "They are in charge of keeping the plants alive, guaranteeing water and ecological maintenance, as they are organic medicinal plants, without pesticides that are not allowed in organic farming." (12) -Gain in activities for recreation and exercise: "We want it to be not only a productive place but also a recreational space where people can relax and forget about everyday life." (12) -Improved mental health: "Faviola found in the medicinal garden a powder format to take her mind off her worries." (3) -Enhanced cognitive restoration, relaxation and stress relief: "Susy gratefully confesses that here she found an excellent way to de-stress and connect with nature" (3) -Improvement in people’s connection to nature: "Susy gratefully confesses that here she found an excellent way to de-stress and connect with nature" (3) -Increased knowledge of locals about local nature: "‘Praderas de Vida’ has become a space for learning and community collaboration, promoting the importance of sustainability and biodiversity conservation." (6) -Increased awareness of NBS and their benefits: "With our project, we promote the responsible use of medicinal plants and contribute to the conservation of biodiversity." (6) -Decreased crime rates "This land you see here was a dangerous lot, where there could be thieves and debris." (12) Mental health benefits Reduced stress Increased feelings of nature connection 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 Inclusion of diverse stakeholders in project governance processes (e.g. planning, implementation, monitoring, etc.) Community forums for information sharing and encouraging the participation of marginalized groups Justice Community satisfaction Positive: The majority of feedback and reports indicate high levels of satisfaction and appreciation for the NBS project within the community. Description of locals satisfaction with the project The feedback found is positive, especially from the women involved. They mention that this project has meant a change in their lives, as it has allowed them not only to receive economic support but also to have contact with nature. This project has supported their families, and the community in general, by transforming the vacant land (3, 12). On the other hand, there are positive comments from users of Misha Rastrera's social networks (11). Trade-offs & Negative impacts 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 Unknown 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 Long-term perspective Yes Cost-effective solutions Yes 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 Reformist: by focusing on addressing underlying drivers of change but failing to address the problem structurally or systemically 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. Agricultura en Lima (n.d.). MAPEO DE HUERTAS. Accessed on August 30, 2024, [Source link] [Archive]; 2. Praderas de vida (n.d.). Praderas de Vida - Facebook page. Accessed on August 30, 2024, [Source link] [Archive]; 3. ISA REP (n.d.). Fanzine historias de jardín. Accessed on August 30, 2024, [Source link] [Archive]; 4. ISA REP (n.d.). Gestión Social. Accessed on August 30, 2024, [Source link] [Archive]; 5. (n.d.). Praderas de Vida. Accessed on August 30, 2024, [Source link] [Archive]; 6. desde adentro (2023). Proyecto “Praderas de Vida” de ISA REP recibe reconocimiento de Lima Cómo Vamos. Accessed on August 30, 2024, [Source link] [Archive]; 7. Diario Correo (2023). Praderas de Vida, el jardín comunitario de plantas medicinales en San Juan de Miraflores. Accessed on August 30, 2024, [Source link] [Archive]; 8. Redacción Diario Correo (2023). Praderas de Vida, el jardín comunitario de plantas medicinalesen San Juan de Mirafl ores. Accessed on August 30, 2024, [Source link] [Archive]; 9. EcoBio Negocios (n.d.). Praderas de Vida. Accessed on August 30, 2024, [Source link] [Archive]; 10. Instituto Nacional de Estadística e Informática (2020). Planos Estratificados de Lima Metropolitana a nivel de Manzanas 2020. Accessed on August 30, 2024, [Source link] [Archive]; 11. Pérez, C. (2023). Pamplona Alta: vivir en el cerro, sin agua y sin esperanza. Accessed on August 30, 2024, [Source link] [Archive]; 12. @misha_rastrera (2019). Intagram Post - Misha Rastrera. Accessed on September 2, 2024, [Source link] [Archive]; 13. ISA REP (2020). Jardín Medicinal "Praderas de Vida". Accessed on September 2, 2024, [Source link] [Archive]; 14. ISA REP (2024). ¡Voluntariado Verde en el Jardín Praderas de Vida!. Accessed on September 2, 2024, [Source link] [Archive]; Comments and notes Public Images Image Logo of the Praderas de Vida business initiative Facebook page Praderas de Vida Image Women who lead the community garden Facebook page Praderas de Vida
