1. General information
Location and description of the intervention
City or FUA
Wuppertal
Region
Europe
Native title of the NBS intervention
Ökologische Umgestaltung der Wupper
Short description of the intervention
From 2006 onwards, the urban stream Wupper and its riverbanks were redeveloped and ecologically improved via several water management and planning measures across the city of Wuppertal. Initiated by the city administration and the public sector company Wupper, they aimed at improving the environmental- and water quality or the area and enhancing biodiversity in and around the Wupper. These efforts were accompanied by additional citizens' initiatives with the same goal. (Ref. 1, 2, 3, 9). According to the EU Water Framework Directive, 27 percent of the Wupper and its tributaries are now in good condition, which is well above the German average of 8 percent. The complete renaturalization is planned to be completed by 2025. (Ref. 12)
Address

Wuppertal
Germany

Location
The NBS is a city-wide initiative, the GIS point marks the centre of the city
Type of area before implementation of the NBS
Other
Please specify “other type of area” before implementation of the NBS
river / riverbank area (Ref. 1, 2, 3, 9)
Website of the intervention
https://www.wuppertal.de/rathaus-buergerservice/umweltschutz/wasser/10237010000…
Timeline of intervention
Start date of the intervention (planning process)
unknown
Start date of intervention (implementation process)
2006
End date of the intervention
2025
Present stage of the intervention
Ongoing
Goals of the intervention
Transforming the Wupper into a liveable stream. (Ref. 1)
Recreating natural habitats for animals and different species (Ref. 1)
Improving the environmental quality of the stream and its riverbeds and enhancing their recreational potential (Ref. 1)
Reducing the water flow speed, initiating different streams to increase oxygen in the water, creating better living conditions for fish and creating retreats for the fish population (Ref. 3 and 9)
Reduce littering, improve water quality and create a more natural environment (Ref. 9)
Enhancing structural diversity of the river and its surroundings, improving the existing structure and creating new structures to give back the natural dynamics of the water body (Ref. 3)
Quantitative targets
Redeveloping and recultivating the Wupper on a stretch of 15 km until 2025 (Ref. 9)

Monitoring indicators defined
Water quality of the stream Wupper; water flow velocity; following the guidelines for monitoring of the EU Water Framework Directive, surface waters are tested chemically and biologically, groundwater is tested chemically and in terms of its quantity; km of redeveloping and recultivating on the Wupper (Ref. 9 and 11)
Sustainability challenge(s) addressed
Water management (SDG 6)
Improvements to water quality
Green space, habitats and biodiversity (SDG 15)
Habitat and biodiversity restoration
Habitat and biodiversity conservation
Green space creation and/or management
Environmental quality
Waste management
Regeneration, land-use and urban development
Regulation of built environment
Social justice, cohesion and equity (SDG 10)
Environmental and climate justice
Health and well-being (SDG 3)
Enabling opportunities for physical activity
Creation of opportunities for recreation
Cultural heritage and cultural diversity
Preservation of natural heritage
Habitats and biodiversity conservation: What types of conservation goals are / were defined for the NBS intervention?
Species-focused
Ecosystem-focused
Habitats and biodiversity conservation: What activities are implemented to realize the conservation goals and targets?
Protect and enhance urban habitats
Preserve and strengthen existing habitats and ecosystems
Create new habitats
Preserve and strengthen habitat connectivity
Reduce negative impacts and avoid the alteration/damage of ecosystem
Protect species
Undertake specific measures to protect species
Undertake specific measures to protect valued species
Please specify "other Habitats and biodiversity restoration activity"
Reducing the water flow speed, initiating different streams to increase oxygen in the water, creating better living conditions for fish and creating retreats for the fish population (Ref. 3 and 9) Reduce littering, improve water quality and create a more natural environment for species.(Ref. 9) Enhancing structural diversity of the river and its surroundings, improving the existing structure and creating new structures to give back the natural dynamics of the water body (Ref. 3)
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)
Restore valued species
Other
Implementation activities
The works on the urban stream Wupper started in 2006 at the old market under the umbrella and funding of the "Regionale 2006" and are still in progress in different sections. (projected termination in 2025 / implementation of the Wuppertal 2025 strategy). Until 2016, 8km of the urban stream Wupper across the city were redeveloped and ecologically improved. In 2017, a 900m section was created and an extended riverbed was created in the Laaken district of Wuppertal. In 2019, a 500m section was renaturalized.
Several water management measures were implemented: constrictions by walls, buildings and channeling were removed, slopes flattened, secondary tributaries, natural islands with trees, dead wood, gravel banks were created, riverbanks expanded to change the stream and alders planted at the riverbanks for erosion protection.
Also, accessibility to the Wupper was improved with the construction of balconies and by transforming riverbanks into recreational spaces. In addition to the renaturalization measures taken by the city administration, citizens were active in the regeneration by painting river railings or constructing hatcheries (Ref. 1, 3 and 9).
Type of NBS project
Ecological restoration of ecosystems
Protection of natural ecosystems
Monitoring and maintenance of habitats and/or biodiversity
Management and improved protection of rivers and other blue areas
NBS domain and interventions
Ecological domain(s) where the NBS intervention(s) is/are implemented
Grey infrastructure featuring greens
Riverbank/Lakeside greens
Parks and urban forests
Green corridors and green belts
Blue infrastructure
Rivers/streams/canals/estuaries
Vegetation Type
Trees
Other
Please specify how many trees were planted
'natural islands with trees' (Ref. 1, 3 and 9).
Please specify other amenities offered by the NBS
balconies; regeneration by painting river railings or constructing hatcheries (Ref. 1, 3 and 9).
Amenities offered by the NBS
Sports areas and equipment
Other
Services
Expected ecosystem services delivered
Provisioning services
Water (surface and ground water for drinking and non-drinking purposes)
Regulating services
Flood regulation
Water purification / filtration
Habitat and supporting services
Habitats for species
Maintenance of genetic diversity
Cultural services
Recreation
Scale
Spatial scale
Meso-scale: Regional, metropolitan and urban level
Beneficiaries
Primary Beneficiaries
Local government/Municipality
Citizens or community groups
Other
Please specify "other primary beneficiary"
fish (Ref 3 and 9)
Governance
Governance arrangements
Government-led
Please specify the roles of the specific government and non-government actor groups involved in the initiative
Although the renaturalization project was commissioned by city of Wuppertal and implemented by the public sector company Wupper ("Wupperverband"), there are many more parties involved in this intervention, such as the regional government as a funding partner, planning bureaus, the fisheries sector, water, landscape and environmental authorities, landowners, the municipal utilities Wuppertal, civil society organizations and citizens. All of them are/were contributing their ideas to the project. (Ref. 1). Responsible for the operation of the monitoring is the regional government department for nature, environment and consumer protection of NRW (Ref. 10 and 11).
Key actors - initiating organization
Local government/municipality
Public sector institution
Land owners
Public space owned by the city
Key actors - Other stakeholders involved (besides initiating actors)
Regional government
Local government/municipality
Public sector institution
Non-government organisation/civil society
Private sector/corporate actor/company
Citizens or community group
Land owners
No information found
Participatory methods/forms of community involvement used
Dissemination of information and education
Consultation (e.g. workshop, surveys, community meetings, town halls)
Policy drivers
NBS intervention implemented in response to an Regional Directive/Strategy
Yes
Please specify the "Regional Directive/Strategy"
Water Framework Directive (Ref. 11)
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"
In 2006, the city of Wuppertal initiated an open space programme with the goal to complete and improve existing open space in the valley as well as in the heights of the city. The redevelopment of the fomer industrial urban stream Wupper as an integral part of the city landscape via the construction of balconies, promenades and beaches along the stream formed one of its focal measures, laid down in the "guidance plan Wupper - turning 90 degress towards the Wupper" as one of its seven building block projects; it is also a model project of the "Regionale 2006" (Ref. 4 and 5)
Mandatory or voluntary intervention
Mandatory (based on policy)
Intervention is mandatory
Spatial planning guidance
Environmental regulation
Enablers
Presence of specific city-level GI/NBS vision/strategy/plan - mentioned in connection to the project
Yes
Please specify
In 2006, the city of Wuppertal initiated an open space programme allocating funds of 12.15 million EUR with the goal to complete and improve existing open space in the valley as well as in the heights of the city. The focal measures included (1) the regeneration of the stream Wupper and its riverbanks, (2) the redevelopment of historic parks in Wuppertal heights with new features to enhance their attractiveness for citizens based on competitions with citizens' and civil society associations' ideation and involvement, and (3) creating connections between the two via pathways that offer new spaces of recreation (Ref. 5).
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
There is a strategy Wuppertal 2025 which, with its 13 key projects which had been suggested by citizens picks up on several existing initiatives and outlines measures in the future to improve quality of life in Wuppertal. The renaturalization of the Wupper and accompanying initiatives on its river banks are describe in it termed "perspective change Wupper" (Ref. 7).
If there is a relevant strategy or plan, please specify the theme / type of the plan.
City specific green space strategy or plan
Water regulation strategy
Urban redevelopment plan
Please specify other vegetation type
liveable stream. (Ref. 1)
natural habitats for animals and different species (Ref. 1)
" constrictions by walls, buildings and channeling were removed, slopes flattened, secondary tributaries, natural islands with trees, dead wood, gravel banks were created, riverbanks expanded to change the stream and alders planted at the riverbanks for erosion protection." (Ref. 1, 3 and 9).
Presence of city network or regional partnerships focused on NBS - mentioned in connection to the project
Yes
Please specify
A civic society association called "Neue Ufer Wuppertal" formed in 2014. Consisting of citizens, businesses and supported by the city administration (and its programme Wuppertal 2025), this association actively works towards improving the quality, accessibility and usability of the river banks of the Wupper and strives for driving forward respective initiatives (Ref. 7). It has triggered several projects, that happen in addition to the renaturalization.
Presence of GI / NBS research project - mentioned in connection to the project
Unknown
Subsidies/investment for GI / NBS in the city - mentioned in connection to the project
Yes
Please specify
In 2006, the city of Wuppertal initiated an open space programme allocating funds of 12.15 Mio EUR with the goal to complete and improve existing open space in the valley as well as in the heights of the city; one of the recipients of funding was the redevelopment of the Wupper stream (Ref. 5).
Furthermore, funding seems to have been provided by the city of Wuppertal under the umbrella of the Wuppertal 2025 strategy in addition to its support of the civic society association mentioned above (Ref. 7). Additional funding for the renaturalization of the Wupper is also provided by the regional government (Ref. 1).
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
€10,000 - €50,000
What is/was the Cost/Budget (EUR) of the NBS or green infrastructure elements?
40,000+ (Ref 3)
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)
According to a newspaper article from 2016, 40,000 EUR were invested in the redevelopment of the Wupper so far (Ref. 9). 80 percent of the costs are borne by regional funds, 20 percent are invested by the local government (Ref. 3).
Source(s) of funding
Public regional budget
Public local authority budget
Type of fund(s) used
Earmarked public budget
Direct funding (grants, subsidies, or self-financed projects by private entities)
Non-financial contribution
Unknown
Please specify other Business model
ecological improvement of streams in Wuppertal (Ref. 1, 2, 3, 9).
Business models
None of these
Other
Which of the involved actors was motivated by this model?
Public actor (e.g. municipality)
Type of innovation
Social
Governance innovation
Please specify social innovation
The intervention can best be seen as a governance innovation, since the renaturalization managed by the city administration sparked several citizens' initiatives and civic society movements that carry the initial idea even further and support the transformation of the river banks area to achieve the goal of improving the environmental and recreational quality of the river and its surroundings (Ref. 1, 7, and 9).
Novelty level of the innovation
Unknown
Please specify novelty level of the innovation
Unknown
Replicability/Transferability
Unknown
Please specify Replicability/Transferability
Unknown
Impacts, benefits
Environmental impacts
Water management and blue areas
Improved water quality
Enhanced protection and restoration of freshwater ecosystems
Green space and habitat
Increased conservation or restoration of ecosystems
Reduced biodiversity loss
Increased number of species present
Increased ecological connectivity across regeneration sites and scales
Description of environmental benefits
Biodiversity / environmental quality: Based on investigations in already transformed stretches of the Wupper, a rise in the local fish population and ecological improvement could be assessed (Ref. 3). “We can already see that the water ecology improved significantly.” More juvenile fish in the Wupper have been reported and new species that are native to the area have reappeared. (Ref. 12) According to the guidelines by the EU Water Framework Directive it can further be expected that the water quality of the Wupper will increase (Ref. 10 and 11). 27 percent of the Wupper and its tributaries are in good condition according to the EU Water Framework Directive. The river is thus well above the national average of 8 percent with bodies of water in good condition. (Ref. 12)
Economic impacts
Unknown
Please specify other socio-cultural impact
governance: The intervention can best be seen as a governance innovation, since the renaturalization managed by the city administration sparked several citizens' initiatives and civic society movements that carry the initial idea even further and support the transformation of the river banks area to achieve the goal of improving the environmental and recreational quality of the river and its surroundings (Ref. 1, 7, and 9).
Description of economic benefits
Unknown
Social and cultural impacts
Social justice and cohesion
Increased opportunities for social interaction
Increased involvement of locals in the management of green spaces
Health and wellbeing
Gain in activities for recreation and exercise
Other
Please specify other environmental justice issue
Based on investigations in already transformed stretches of the Wupper, a rise in the local fish population and ecological improvement could be assessed (Ref. 3). “We can already see that the water ecology improved significantly.” More juvenile fish in the Wupper have been reported and new species that are native to the area have reappeared. (Ref. 12)
Description of social and cultural benefits
Health and well-being: With the redevelopment and extension of river banks as recreational spaces, they are increasingly used by citizens for relaxation and social activities (Ref. 9).

governance: The intervention can best be seen as a governance innovation, since the renaturalization managed by the city administration sparked several citizens' initiatives and civic society movements that carry the initial idea even further and support the transformation of the river banks area to achieve the goal of improving the environmental and recreational quality of the river and its surroundings (Ref. 1, 7, and 9).
Type of reported impacts
Achieved impacts
Indicators
The guidelines for the EU Water Framework Directive: According to the guidelines by the EU Water Framework Directive, the water quality and ecological condition improved it can further be expected that this will continue improving. (Ref. 10 and 11).
Environmental, social and economic impacts
Environmental quality
Green space, habitats and biodiversity (SDG 15)
Health and well-being (SDG 3)
Analysis of specific impact categories
Job creation: The NBS created ...
No information available
Environmental justice: The implementation of the NBS project resulted in ...
Other
Negative impacts: Did the project cause any problems or concerns?
No information was found regarding negative impacts of the project
COVID-19 pandemic
Unknown (6 September 2020)
Methods of impact monitoring
Process of recording NBS impacts
Collection of monitoring data continuously throughout the project to aid evaluation
Methods used to evaluate the impacts of NBS
Measurements of biophysical aspects of the NBS (e.g. temperature, water flow)
Where can this data be accessed? Please include a link to a report or web-page.
https://www.flussgebiete.nrw.de/gewaesserueberwachung-monitoring-610
Evidence for use of assessment
Presence of an assessment, evaluation and/or monitoring process
Yes
Presence of indicators used in reporting
Yes
Presence of monitoring/evaluation reports
No evidence in public records
Availability of a web-based monitoring tool
Yes
Link to a web-based monitoring tool
https://www.elwasweb.nrw.de/elwas-web/map-index.jsf
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
Unknown
Citizens involvement in the analysis of the assessment/evaluation
Unknown
Follow-up to the evaluation / assessment
Unknown
References
Web links relevant to the intervention
Major project website
More information about the renaturalization
More information about the renaturalization
Reference 12: Wupper: Renaturierung soll bis 2025 abgeschlossen sein
Documents relevant to the intervention
Attachment Size
overview_of_renaturalization_measures.pdf (75.99 KB) 75.99 KB
impression_from_the_riverbed_after_renaturalization.pdf (83.05 KB) 83.05 KB
List of references
1. Stadt Wuppertal (no date a) Ökologische Umgestaltung der Wupper. Available at: https://www.wuppertal.de/rathaus-buergerservice/umweltschutz/wasser/102370100000165771.php [Accessed: 07 Sept. 2020]
2. Stadt Wuppertal (no date b) Stand der Umgestaltung. Available at: https://www.wuppertal.de/rathaus-buergerservice/umweltschutz/wasser/102370100000672164.php [Accessed: 07 Sept. 2020]
3. Stadt Wuppertal (no date c) Wupperufer mit Schwüngen und Bögen vom Zoo bis Rutenbeck. Available at: https://www.wuppertal.de/rathaus-buergerservice/umweltschutz/wasser/102370100000797362.php [Accessed: 07 Sept. 2020]
4. Architektenkammer Nordrhein-Westfalen and Ingenieurkammer-Bau Nordrhein-Westfalen (no date) baukunst nrw - Führer zu Architektur und Ingenieurbaukunst in NRW. Available at: http://www.baukunst-nrw.de/objekte/Leitlinie-Wupper-90-der-Wupper-zuwenden--1223.htm [Accessed: 07 Sept. 2020]
5. Regionale 2006 Agentur GmbH (2006) Dreiecksgeschichten. Eine Region in Bewegung. Regionale 2006. Remscheid. [Weblink unavailable in 2020]
6. Wupperverband für Wasser / Mensch und Umwelt (2017) Wasserwirtschaft im Wuppergebiet. Available at: http://www.wupperverband.de/internet/web.nsf/id/pa_startseite.html [Accessed: 07 Sept. 2020]
7. Neue Ufer Wuppertal e.V. (2014) neue ufer wuppertal e.V. Available at: http://neue-ufer-wuppertal.de/de/der-verein.html [Accessed: 07 Sept. 2020]
8. Stadt Wuppertal (2015) Strategie für Wuppertal. Wuppertal 2025. Wuppertal. Available at: https://www.wuppertal.de/microsite/wuppertal2025/medien/bindata/2025_Sachstandsbericht_2015_final.pdf [Accessed: 07 Sept. 2020]
9. n.a. (2016) ‘Der Fluss wird immer naturnaher. Die Wupper wieder zurückerobern’, Wuppertaler Rundschau, 12 May. Available at: http://www.wuppertaler-rundschau.de/lokales/die-wupper-wieder-zurueckerobern-aid-1.5972041 [Accessed: 07 Sept. 2020]
10. Stadt Wuppertal and Gierse, R. (2017) Lebensader Wupper. Entwicklung und Perspektive eines Stadtflusses. Wuppertal. Available at: https://www.wupperverband.de/internet/mediendb.nsf/gfx/3A4BE70DD7844C15C1257CF6003B673C/$file/06_17Symp_Gebietsforum_Gierse_StadtWptal.pdf [Accessed: 07 Sept. 2020]
11. Ministerium für Klimaschutz / Umwelt / Landwirtschaft / Natur- und Verbraucherschutz des Landes Nordrhein-Westfalen (no date) Lebendigewässer in Nordrhein-Westfalen. Gewässerüberwachung (Monitoring). Available at: https://www.flussgebiete.nrw.de/gewaesserueberwachung-monitoring-610 [Accessed: 07 Sept. 2020]
12. Westdeitsche Zeitung. (2018). Wupper: Renaturierung soll bis 2025 abgeschlossen sein. [online]. Available at: https://www.wz.de/nrw/wuppertal/wupper-renaturierung-soll-bis-2025-abgeschlossen-sein_aid-25341155 [Accessed: 07 Sept. 2020].
Comments and notes
Additional insights
2020 comment:
In a presentation I found online the impact assessment of the Wupper renaturation is stated as a task for the future, therefore it is assumed that it has not been conducted yet. However it will follow the guidelines of the EU Water Framework Directive for assessing the quality of water bodies. Responsible for the operation of the monitoring is the regional government department for nature, environment and consumer protection of NRW (Ref. 10 and 11).
Public Images
Renaturalization of the Wupper stream in Wuppertal (2014)
Renaturalization of the Wupper stream in Wuppertal
City of Wuppertal (2014), retrieved 08/10/2018 from Reinhard Gierse
Renaturalization of the Wupper stream in Wuppertal (2016)
Renaturalization of the Wupper stream in Wuppertal
City of Wuppertal (2016), retrieved 08/10/2018 from Reinhard Gierse
Renaturalization of the Wupper stream in Wuppertal (2017)
Renaturalization of the Wupper stream in Wuppertal (2017)
City of Wuppertal (2017), retrieved 08/10/2018 from Reinhard Gierse