1. General information
Location and description of the intervention
City or FUA
Sevilla (FUA)
Region
Europe
Native title of the NBS intervention
Parque de Miraflores
Short description of the intervention
A citizen initiative to transform a derelict urban area into a park. From 1987 the park's construction was left abandoned until in 1993 when over 80 citizen committees from the area organized themselves to start cleaning and reforestation activities in the park (ref 5,7). The sum of their efforts included reforestation, the creation of a community garden, and the redesign of watering systems for the park. (ref 5,6,7)
Address

Ctra. de Miraflores, 35
41008 Sevilla
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 (-5.966994 37.411771)
POINT (-5.963732 37.408124)
POINT (-5.950815 37.419202)
POINT (-5.951115 37.424041)
POINT (-5.957596 37.424178)
NBS area image
Source of NBS area image
Ref 7
Total area
1350000.00m²
NBS area
1350000.00m²
Type of area before implementation of the NBS
Previous derelict area
Website of the intervention
https://jardinessinfronteras.wordpress.com/2016/10/23/parque-de-miraflores/
Timeline of intervention
Start date of the intervention (planning process)
pre-1990
Start date of intervention (implementation process)
1991
End date of the intervention
1995
Present stage of the intervention
Completed
Please specify "other" stage of the intervention
The initiative started in 1983 through the collective action of 150 000 residents which resulted in the park being planned in the 1987 General Urban Order Plan (Plan General de Ordenación Urbana) of Sevilla. In this document the Parque Miraflores is included as a public space of the city.
Goals of the intervention
- An opportunity to improve the living condition in the neighborhood (ref 5)
- Transformation of a derelict space into a green and public area. (ref 5)
- Leisurely space for residents (ref 5)
- Feature the historic aspects of the area in which the park is now. (ref 5)
- Educational purpose of the orchards. (ref 5 and 7)
Quantitative targets
Transformation of 86 hectares (860 000 m2) into a leisurely park (ref 5)
Rehabilitation of two orchards in the park (ref 5)
Monitoring indicators defined
Green space area [ha, m2] (ref 5)
Sustainability challenge(s) addressed
Green space, habitats and biodiversity (SDG 15)
Habitat and biodiversity restoration
Green space creation and/or management
Regeneration, land-use and urban development
Regulation of built environment
Inclusive and effective governance (SDG 16)
Inclusive governance
Social justice, cohesion and equity (SDG 10)
Environmental education
Social interaction
Health and well-being (SDG 3)
Improving physical health
Creation of opportunities for recreation
Cultural heritage and cultural diversity
Protection of historic and cultural landscape/infrastructure
Preservation of historic traditions
Sustainable consumption and production (SDG 12)
Sustainable consumption
Sustainable production
What types of restoration goals are / were defined for the NBS intervention?
Species-focused
What activities are implemented to realize the restoration goals and targets?
Restore species (native, endangered, or unspecified)
Restore native species
Public engagement
Implementation activities
- In 1985 the citizen group Comite Pro Parque Miraflores requested the city government to catalogue the park as historic and artistic heritage due to the archaeological remains found (drainage systems from the 15th century and a Roman Villa from the 2nd century AD). (ref 2)
- In 1987 the park's construction is left abandoned until in 1993, over 80 citizen committees from the area organize themselves to start cleaning and reforestation activities in the park. (ref 5,7)
- In 1991 the designation/ rehabilitation of two orchards (Huerta Las Moreras), sectioned into an area used for educational purposes and the other leisure. (ref 5)
- Reforestation by means of autochthonous species. (ref 5)
- Arrangement of waterwheels and irrigation system in the area currently used by the orchards that, since 1990, has been used by the Miraflores Pro-Educational Park Committee Association. (ref 5)
- Leisure gardens, school gardens and pedagogical itineraries (ref 5)
- Development of pedestrian walkway that connects northern and southern parts of the park (ref 6)
- In 2008, the Guadalquivir Hydrographic Confederation together with the Urban Planning Management of the Seville City Council decided to begin the remodeling of what would become the extension of the Miraflores Park (ref 6)
Type of NBS project
Creation of new green areas
Maintenance and management of urban nature
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
Parks and urban forests
Large urban parks or forests
Community gardens and allotments
Community gardens
Horticulture
Please specify the number of plots or allotment gardens
Total unknown, but there are 100 plots for leisure gardens and 6 plots for school gardens (Ref 5)
Vegetation Type
Grass
Shrubs
Trees
Garden beds
Other
Please specify how many trees were planted
Unknown
Please specify other amenities offered by the NBS
The EcoMuseum has been founded on the grounds of the park and the orchards are used for school-class education and activities. (ref 4)
Amenities offered by the NBS
Benches and drinking water stations
Sports areas and equipment
Other
Services
Expected ecosystem services delivered
Provisioning services
Food for human consumption (crops, vegetables)
Raw materials
Water (surface and ground water for drinking and non-drinking purposes)
Habitat and supporting services
Habitats for species
Cultural services
Aesthetic appreciation
Inspiration for culture, art and design
Recreation
Mental and physical health and wellbeing
Intellectual interactions (scientific and / or educational)
Physical and experiential interactions with plants and animals
Social and community interactions
Scale
Spatial scale
Meso-scale: Regional, metropolitan and urban level
Micro-scale: District/neighbourhood level
Beneficiaries
Primary Beneficiaries
Local government/Municipality
Non-government organisation/Civil Society
Citizens or community groups
Governance
Governance arrangements
Co-governance with government and non-government actors
Non-government actors
Non-governmental organisation (NGO) / Civil society / Churches
Citizens or community groups
Please specify the roles of the specific government and non-government actor groups involved in the initiative
The Pro-Parque Miraflores Committee (group of citizens/ residents) was created in 1983 and it has been working since then to advance the construction of the park and organize citizen participation around its plan, activities and maintenance. (Ref 5,6)

City Council: tendered and awarded contracts for global amount of 200 000 euros – for collaboration agreement between Citizen Participation and Pro Parque Educativo Miraflores Committee to reorganize and re-promote the social gardens of the green space in the city, and the pedagogical and cultural activities promoted in our environment (ref 3, Diario de Sevilla)

The European Union invested 2 000 million Pesetas (roughly 12 million Euro) and the 900 million Pesetas were invested locally (roughly 5.5 million Euro). (ref 5)

The Guadalquivir Hydrographic Confederation (CHG) (regional body), in collaboration with the Urban Planning Management of the Seville City Council, has executed the works for the north expansion of the Miraflores Park, which will entail a total investment 7 million euros (ref 7)
Key actors - initiating organization
Regional government
Local government/municipality
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)
EU body
Regional government
Local government/municipality
Non-government organisation/civil society
Citizens or community group
District/neighbourhood association
Please specify other participatory methods
Citizen mobilization, implemented in result to citizen action and petitioning (ref 5,6,7)
Land owners
Public space owned by the city
Participatory methods/forms of community involvement used
Taskforce groups
Dissemination of information and education
Consultation (e.g. workshop, surveys, community meetings, town halls)
Joint implementation (e.g. tree planting)
Citizen oversight (e.g. boards, advisory)
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"
The plans for the park were included in the 1987 General Municipal Plan for Urban Organization (PGMOU) of Sevilla. (ref 5,6,7)
Mandatory or voluntary intervention
Voluntary (spontaneous)
Please specify other type of voluntary intervention
Citizen mobilization, implemented in result to citizen action and petitioning (ref 5,6,7)
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
Please specify the general plan with GI/NBS section
The plans for the park were included in the 1987 General Municipal Plan for Urban Organization (PGMOU) of Sevilla. (ref 5,6,7)
If there is a relevant strategy or plan, please specify the theme / type of the plan.
General municipal plan
Urban redevelopment plan
Please specify other vegetation type
orchards. (ref 5 and 7)
Reforestation by means of autochthonous species; waterwheels and irrigation system. (ref 5)
Leisure gardens, school gardens and pedagogical itineraries (ref 5)
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
The EcoMuseum has been founded on the grounds of the park and the orchards are used for school-class education and activities. (ref 4)
Subsidies/investment for GI / NBS in the city - mentioned in connection to the project
Yes
Please specify
The European Union invested 2 000 million Pesetas (roughly 12 million Euro) and the 900 million Pesetas were invested locally (roughly 5.5 million Euro). (ref 5)
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
More than €4,000,000
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 European Union invested 2 000 million Pesetas (roughly 12 million Euro) and the 900 million Pesetas were invested locally (roughly 5.5 million Euro). (ref 5)
Source(s) of funding
EU funds
Public local authority budget
Other
Please specify other source of funding
Unclear if citizen fundraising efforts also contributed.
Type of fund(s) used
Earmarked public budget
Direct funding (grants, subsidies, or self-financed projects by private entities)
Non-financial contribution
Yes
Type of non-financial contribution
Provision of labour
Who provided the non-financial contribution?
Citizens (e.g. volunteering)
Please specify other Business model
Urban regeneration (ref 5,6,7)
Business models
Vacant space model
Other
Please specify other environmental impact
Sustainable consumption & production (Ref 5)
Which of the involved actors was motivated by this model?
Public actor (e.g. municipality)
Citizens / local communities
Type of innovation
Technological
Infrastructural innovation
Social
Governance innovation
Please specify technological innovation
The park's rehabilitation involved the recovery of its stream, Tagarete, and the reconstruction of the water management systems around it. (5)
Please specify social innovation
The process of planning and petitioning was led by the Pro-Parque Miraflores Committee but it also involved over 80 other citizen groups in the area (signature collecting, tree planting, terrain clean-up). (7)
Novelty level of the innovation
The innovation is copied/derived from previous initiative(s) with substantial adaptation
Please specify novelty level of the innovation
The creation of the park drew from the historic use of the area as farm territory and the petitioning employed tactics such as crowd-sourcing that have been employed elsewhere. (2)
The park structure features its archaeological elements and highlights its historical features, and the orchards fit into the regional tradition of community orchards. (7)
Replicability/Transferability
Unknown
Please specify Replicability/Transferability
Possibly that aspects of the park's plan have been duplicated, but not explicitly mentioned. In 1996 the experience of the Pro-Parque Miraflores Committee was featured in the 1st Spanish Catalogue of Good Citizen Practices and presented at the HABITAT II Conference. (no 2017 reference found)
Impacts, benefits
Environmental impacts
Green space and habitat
Increased green space area
Increased number of species present
Increased spread of native/heirloom/open-pollinated seed
Restoration of derelict areas
Other
Please specify other economic impact
Occupational Training (Ref 5)
Description of environmental benefits
Green Space:
Creation of 135 hectares (1 350 000 m2) park (ref 6)
Consisting of a variety of plant species, including native species (ref 6)

Sustainable Production/Consumption:
‘the cultivation of small orchards for the self-consumption of legumes and vegetables (Ref 5)
Maintenance of the noria (water raising mechanisms) and water works used for the orchards in the park (ref 5)
Economic impacts
Other
Please specify other socio-cultural impact
Sustainable Production/Consumption:
‘the cultivation of small orchards for the self-consumption of legumes and vegetables (Ref 5)
Maintenance of the noria (water raising mechanisms) and water works used for the orchards in the park (ref 5)
Description of economic benefits
Occupational training project aimed at unemployed youth in the District. It was operating during the period 1992-1993 (Ref 5)
Social and cultural impacts
Social justice and cohesion
Improved access to urban green space
Increased opportunities for social interaction
Increased involvement of locals in the management of green spaces
Increased access to healthy/affordable food
Increased sustainability of agriculture practices
Health and wellbeing
Gain in activities for recreation and exercise
Cultural heritage and sense of place
Protection of natural heritage
Protection of historic and cultural landscape / infrastructure
Increased sense of place identity, memory and belonging
Increased awareness of flora and fauna as culturally and historically meaningful
Education
Increased awareness of NBS and their benefits
Other
Please specify other environmental justice issue
traditional seed conservation: ‘the cultivation of small orchards for the self-consumption of legumes and vegetables, in what involves the approach of residents of all ages to the traditional agricultural use of this territory and their own history forgotten by accelerated urban growth of Seville in the last twenty-five years’ (Ref 5)
Description of social and cultural benefits
Sustainable Agriculture/ Heritage:
‘the cultivation of small orchards for the self-consumption of legumes and vegetables, in what involves the approach of residents of all ages to the traditional agricultural use of this territory and their own history forgotten by accelerated urban growth of Seville in the last twenty-five years’ (Ref 5)

Environmental Education:
School gardens. Environmental education project aimed at the school population of the area. Didactic resource to which twelve schools in the Macarena district have access. There are six plots of 100 m 2 each. Groups of 15 children work in each plot for a specified period of time, attending two days a week (Ref 5)

Leisure:
Leisure gardens. They are intended for the adult population of the District, largely of rural origin (121,111 people of which 17,009 are over 64 years old). It is about offering an alternative occupation mode to your free time. There are 100 plots of 150 m 2 each. The "exploitation" of the orchards has no commercial purpose. The product obtained is intended for family consumption. (Ref 5)

Recreation/ Health:
Children’s play areas, skate parks are highly visited (ref 6)
Great attraction for runners and athletes (ref 6)

Sustainable Production/Consumption:
‘the cultivation of small orchards for the self-consumption of legumes and vegetables (Ref 5)
Maintenance of the noria (water raising mechanisms) and water works used for the orchards in the park (ref 5)

citizen involvement:
The process of planning and petitioning was led by the Pro-Parque Miraflores Committee but it also involved over 80 other citizen groups in the area (signature collecting, tree planting, terrain clean-up). (7)

historical traditions:
The creation of the park drew from the historic use of the area as farm territory and the petitioning employed tactics such as crowd-sourcing that have been employed elsewhere. (2)
The park structure features its archaeological elements and highlights its historical features, and the orchards fit into the regional tradition of community orchards. (7)
Type of reported impacts
Achieved impacts
Indicators
Green space area [m2] (ref 6); Number of people reached in educational activities (ref 6); Number of people reached in intervention (ref 6); Number of plots (ref 6)
Environmental, social and economic impacts
Water management (SDG 6)
Green space, habitats and biodiversity (SDG 15)
Environmental quality
Regeneration, land-use and urban development
Cultural heritage and cultural diversity
Sustainable consumption and production (SDG 12)
Analysis of specific impact categories
Job creation: The NBS created ...
other
Voluntary work opportunities
Environmental justice: The implementation of the NBS project resulted in ...
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?
Yes
Please specify the negative impacts
There is an eternal struggle in this park and the surrounding neighborhoods on the subject of burying the high voltage lines (ref 7)

At the main entrance of the Miraflores Norte park there is a problem of accumulation of waste, debris and garbage that affect not only visually, but also end up contaminating the riverbank area (ref 7)
COVID-19 pandemic
Park is open from 26 April 2020, so that 'so that minors can make these passes to take air and play, after six weeks locked up at home for the coronavirus... However, the City Council has agreed to reinforce the marking of all children's play areas and dog recreation areas that remain closed, unlike parks and gardens.' (Ref 9)
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
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
Other
Please specify other modes of citizen involvement in evaluation/assessment
The Pro-Parque Miraflores Committee is the citizen-organization leading planning and potentially monitoring. (ref 8)
Citizens involvement in the analysis of the assessment/evaluation
Unknown
Follow-up to the evaluation / assessment
Unknown
References
Web links relevant to the intervention
Ref. 3 Impulso a los huertos urbanos del parque Miraflores con actividades peda…
Ref. 4 EcoMuseo parque Miraflores
Ref. 5 Parque de Miraflores, una iniciativa popular, Sevilla
Ref. 6 Parque de Miraflores. Sevilla. Análisis descriptivo
Ref. 7 Jardines sin Fronteras
Ref. 8 AGRICULTURA URBANA: ALGUNAS REFLEXIONES SOBRE SU ORIGEN E IMPORTANCIA AC…
Ref. 9 Qué parques están abiertos desde hoy en cada distrito de Sevilla
List of references
1. Ayuntamiento de Sevilla. (2016). Ayuntamiento y Comité Pro Parque Educativo de Miraflores colaborarán en el nuevo plan municipal de dinamización de los huertos y en nuevas líneas de actividad ambientales y educativas. [Not available in 2020].

2. Ayuntamiento de Sevilla. (n.d.). Parque de Miraflores. [Not available in 2020].

3. Diario de Sevilla. (2016). Impulso a los huertos urbanos del parque Miraflores con actividades pedagógicas. Available at: http://www.diariodesevilla.es/sevilla/Impulso-urbanos-Miraflores-actividades-pedagogicas_0_1056794321.html [Accessed: 25 September 2020].

4. Parque Cultural Miraflores. (2012). Resumen del programa ecomuseo. Available at: https://www.slideshare.net/ecomuseomiraflores/resumen-del-programa-ecomuseo [Accessed: 25 September 2020].

5. Echenagusía, J. (n.d.). Parque de Miraflores, una iniciativa popular, Sevilla (España). Available at: http://habitat.aq.upm.es/bpes/ceh2/bpes37.html [Accessed: 25 September 2020].

6. Perez Sanchez, F. J. (2015). Parque de Miraflores. Sevilla. Análisis descriptivo. Available at: http://jardineriaypaisajismo.es/2015/10/18/parque-de-miraflores-sevilla-analisis-descriptivo-fjps-2015-2016/ [Accessed: 25 September 2020].

7. Bonnells, Jose Elias. (2016). Parque de Miraflores. Available at: https://jardinessinfronteras.wordpress.com/2016/10/23/parque-de-miraflores/ [Accessed: 25 September 2020].

8. Zaar, M.-H. (2011). Agricultura urbana: algunas reflexiones sobre su origen e importancia actual. REVISTA BIBLIOGRÁFICA DE GEOGRAFÍA Y CIENCIAS SOCIALES, 16(944), 742–98. Available at: http://www.ub.edu/geocrit/b3w-944.htm [Accessed: 30 September 2020].
Comments and notes
Comments
2020 comments:
An entry in the references list was left unnumbered in previous review (2017). There was also a repeated (but unnumbered) reference, which was removed. Current numbering reflects what is on the questionnaire.
Additional insights
The Park has faced several challenges in its upkeep. Currently the school educational programs connected to the orchards are no longer running (Ref 5) and the terrain of the park has been split into two, as it is divided by one of the city's main traffic arteries (Ref 2).
Pictures of the NBS
/sites/default/files/nbs/images/parque-miraflores-paso-se-30.jpg
Public Images
Miraflores Park 1
Source: Ref. 7
Miraflores Park 2
Source: Ref. 6
Miraflores Park 3
Source: Ref. 6
Miraflores Park 4
Source: Ref. 6
Miraflores Park 5
Source: Ref. 7
Miraflores Park 6
Source: Ref. 7