Deliberative decision-making processes (e.g., consensus building, deliberative polling)

Launched in 2022, the Murphy High School Farm-to-Table Program in Mobile is an initiative aimed at addressing urban food deserts and promoting community health through education and sustainable farming practices [Ref 1; Ref 4]. Funded by Spire as part of its “Connected Through Cooking” initiative, the program transforms 28 acres of school grounds into a teaching farm where students learn to grow and cook nutritious food [Ref 1; Ref 6].
The project integrates science, math, and culinary arts into hands-on learning, engaging students in planning, planting, and harvesting crops, as well as developing healthy recipes [Ref 1; Ref 4]. Activities include constructing greenhouses, building raised beds, and installing irrigation systems—33 raised beds and an 800 sq. ft. greenhouse were completed in the first year [Ref 1; Ref 2]. The program also supports nearby food-insecure neighbourhoods by distributing produce and recipe tips, helping address poor access to fresh food in Mobile [Ref 3; Ref 4]. Younger students from local schools are included through farm-based learning, broadening the program’s educational reach [Ref 1; Ref 5].
Key actors include Murphy educators, Spire staff, and community partners such as Jones Valley Teaching Farm and Auburn University [Ref 4]. Outcomes include improved STEM education, increased food literacy, and stronger community ties through urban agriculture [Ref 1; Ref 4].

The Mobile Tree Trail is a nature-based solutions (NBS) initiative aimed at preserving Mobile, Alabama’s urban forest while celebrating its cultural and ecological heritage (Ref 1, Ref 2). First established in the early 1990s by volunteers, the original trail featured 24 iconic trees, selected for their historical significance, environmental value, and beauty (Ref 1, Ref 2). Over the years, some trees were lost to development and storms, and the trail faded into obscurity (Ref 1, Ref 4).
From 2021, the Mobile Tree Commission, with support from The Nature Conservancy, is leading efforts to revive the trail (Ref 3, Ref 6). Activities include reviewing past entries, opening public nominations, and selecting new trees that best represent Mobile’s identity (Ref 3, Ref 4). The project emphasises inclusivity and public participation, welcoming volunteers and local input to shape a trail that evolves with the city (Ref 4, Ref 6).
Mobile faces environmental threats such as hurricanes, urban expansion, and loss of native tree cover (Ref 1, Ref 6). The revitalised trail helps address these challenges by promoting awareness, conserving old-growth specimens like the 300-year-old Duffie Oak, and maintaining vital green spaces (Ref 4, Ref 6).
The Mobile Tree Trail blends education, tourism, and conservation, enhancing urban resilience while telling the city’s story through its trees (Ref 3, Ref 6).

The Lower Perdido Islands – Bird, Robinson and Walker Islands – are located in the Perdido Pass, in Orange Beach. The area is a popular destination, attracting many visitors due to its blue-green water and diverse wildlife, which, however, leads to erosion from boat wakes and marine debris. Its popularity impacts these wildlife habitats, including the seagrasses, marsh and forests which provide habitat for nesting birds and nurseries for local fish. Therefore, the Nature Conservancy, the City of Orange Beach, Moffatt & Nichol, and Olsen Associates Inc. started working together in 2017 to create a conservation management plan for the Perdido Islands, as well as develop some restoration initiatives to support this critical habitat for the future [1,3]. This Lower Perdido Islands' restoration project is part of a larger Perdido Bay Watershed restoration plan [2]

The Liberties is one of the most recognizable urban areas in Dublin and Ireland, strongly associated with old Dublin, working-class communities, and the brewing and distilling industries. While rich in history, cultural significance, and local stories, The Liberties faces numerous placemaking and quality-of-life challenges. The area continues to experience significant dereliction, a fragmented urban fabric, and a shortage of high-quality green spaces. For instance, tree coverage in The Liberties is sparse, with good-quality street trees only found in a few small areas, such as Gray St. and Reginald St., along the South Quays, Cornmarket, and near the fountain on James St. The area has approximately 1,200 trees, amounting to less than 5% canopy coverage.
In response to these challenges, Dublin City Council enacted The Liberties Greening Strategy in 2015. Building on the Liberties' Local Area Plan, this strategy aims to develop a network of new urban parks, improve access to heritage green spaces, and refurbish existing parks and play areas. It addresses multiple goals, including ecological connectivity, water management, flood risk reduction, air quality improvement, social cohesion, environmental education, and public health. This strategy is an initiative of the Parks and Landscape Services Division of Dublin City Council, in collaboration with the South Central Area Office and with input from Áit Urbanism + Landscape and Mary Tubridy & Associates.
Since its implementation in 2015, the strategy has resulted in the development of two new community parks, enhancements to several green spaces, and the greening of public spaces. It has also introduced measures to support food production in community gardens and allotments, revitalize ecosystems, strengthen water management, improve air quality, boost carbon sequestration through tree planting, divert water from the local sewer network, prevent flooding, and regulate heat. (1, 2, 3)

HortaFCUL is a project created and managed by the Faculty of Sciences at the University of Lisbon to raise awareness and promote the practice of permaculture as a solution to the ecological, social, and economic problems the world is facing (1). This initiative began in 2009 on the University campus through a garden, which allowed HortaFCUL to start conducting some activities that could answer some socio-environmental challenges, such as food security and sovereignty, ecosystem degradation and climate change (13), by raising awareness, teaching, and practising many aspects involved in permaculture and urban agriculture (2). Its focus has been on regenerating soil in an urban environment and creating productive landscapes for people and other beings (12). They grow different types of plants (vegetables, shrubs, trees) in different ways (swales, raised beds, greenhouses) to increase plant diversity and foster ecosystems (13).
The project is managed by students and researchers, who hold educational activities, such as courses, workshops, and dissemination activities (events, discussions, fairs, and conferences) (2). The project is organised according to a non-hierarchical sociocratic model, in which all decisions are made as a group, and where all ideas, critiques, and suggestions are seen as added value and an opportunity to improve techniques and knowledge (3). Additionally, it is open to the community, allowing anyone interested to participate and volunteer (1).
HortaFCUL is also one of the pioneering permaculture projects in operation in the Lisbon region and is now recognized as a national reference centre for permaculture (2). Since its inception, HortaFCUL has sought to be a hub that attracts people, organizations, and other initiatives, and it is currently a point of contact between different projects and associations, such as local businesses, educational institutions, and networks (5).

For thousands of years the Rio Salado, also known as the Salt River, and its larger mainstem, the Gila River, served as an important perennial source of life and growth for indigenous people residing in central Arizona, including the Akimel and Piipaash (3). Today, the Salt River is an ephemeral river corridor connecting diverse urban communities across an expansive and growing Maricopa County (3). While the river is now typically defined by intermittent flow as a function of water conservation and distribution in an arid urban climate, it also has powerful flows during the Arizona monsoon season providing a diverse and unique ecosystem for the region (3). To foster the health of the River, a regional multi-decade project was initiated in 2018 called Rio Reimagined, which includes six cities and two tribal communities (1). Rio Reimagined is a planning initiative in a very early concept stage, centered around the mission to support and enhance this treasured river corridor (3). The goals of Rio Reimagined consist of connecting communities, Equitable & Sustainable Development, and Restoring and Revitalizing Healthy Rivers (3). As part of the Rio Reimagined, the City of Phoenix founded a collaborative project called Rio PHX that will help promote a 20-mile Rio Salado (Salt River) corridor as a local and regional destination that attracts positive investment for the benefit of existing/future businesses, residents, and tourists (1). The final aim with this project is to improve health outcomes for existing and future residents by address outstanding needs in the area and create opportunities for housing, employment, recreation, art, and ecological restoration (1). From May 2024 to May 2025 Rio PHX will engage in creating a community profile, an existing conditions assessment, community engagement & visioning, developing implementation strategies and drafting the master plan (1). Public hearings and final plan adoption are set to take place in fall 2025 (1).

The former Kulturpark Plänterwald, once the only permanent amusement park in the GDR, closed in 2001 due to declining visitor numbers. Over time, the 23-hectare site became a ‘lost place,’ falling into disrepair. In 2014, the state of Berlin reacquired the area, and two years later, Grün Berlin initiated its redevelopment with a sustainable development concept that places significant emphasis on rainwater management.
The project’s goal is to avoid discharging rainwater into the sewer system and instead manage all precipitation on-site. This approach addresses both heavy rainfall events and extreme drought conditions, creating a sustainable rainwater management system. A central element of this concept is the historic but dried-up water basin located near the iconic Ferris wheel. Plans include redesigning and reactivating the basin, incorporating terraces and a shallow water zone, transforming it into a key part of the rainwater cycle while providing an attractive recreational and adventure area. (Ref. 1; Ref. 2)
In the future, the water basin will no longer be purely decorative but will serve as a critical artificial water reservoir. To support this function, it will be equipped with a natural horizontal filter system featuring reeds for rainwater purification. Pre-treated water will flow into the newly designed 3,000-square-metre basin near the Ferris wheel. Rainwater collected in the basin, along with water stored in cisterns throughout the park, will irrigate the site’s vegetation. This innovative approach ensures sustainable water use and contributes to the ecological revitalization of the park. (Ref. 1; Ref. 3)
By integrating sustainable rainwater management into its redevelopment, the former Kulturpark Plänterwald is being transformed into a resilient and environmentally conscious space, combining historical preservation with modern ecological practices.

Medal of Honour Park, located in West Mobile, is the city's second-largest park (Ref 3, video). A City-County partnership is planning to implement significant changes to the park and its amenities (Ref 3). These changes include crowning and sodding the field, surrounded by large oaks, making it an oasis in the middle of the city (Ref 1, Ref 5). The project will focus on upgrading recreational and sports facilities, such as improvements to the golf area (Ref 1), tennis courts, and softball fields (Ref 1, 4). Additionally, the playground will be entirely rebuilt, featuring RSA Tower slides, new drinking fountains, new fencing, and rubber play surfaces for added safety (Ref 3). Cultural and social enhancements are also part of the plan, including upgrades to the amphitheatre (Ref 1). Visitors will enjoy a walking trail that allows them to experience nature while exploring the park. Other amenities receiving upgrades include lighting, wayfinding signage (Ref 1), as well as improvements to the concession stands and restrooms (Ref 4). Traffic circulation within the park will also see enhancements, particularly at the street intersection and surrounding landscaping (Ref 1).
This park is a popular destination, attracting kids and families from all over the region (Ref 3, video). Importantly, it meets the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) standards, ensuring accessibility for everyone (Ref 5).

Mapinguari National Park, located in the Amazon region of Brazil, is a protected area distinguished by its rich biodiversity and vast expanse of untouched tropical rainforest (2). It was officially created on June 5, 2008, by decree, covering an area of 1,776,914.18 hectares (2). The Chico Mendes Institute for Biodiversity Conservation (ICMBio) manages the park. It is linked to a management plan encompassing several nearby conservation units and their areas of influence (2, 3). Its main goal is to preserve the valuable natural ecosystems and scenic landscapes of the Purus-Madeira interfluvial region, which includes savanna enclaves (2, 3). The ecoregion where it is located has a high priority for botanical conservation due to parameters such as species richness and endemism (3). Additionally, the area presents great environmental heterogeneity, with several isolated and unique ecosystems, aspects that have been considered for fostering scientific research and public visitation, with programs for environmental education, recreation in contact with nature, and ecotourism (3). On March 8, 2013, an advisory council for the park was established to involve various stakeholders in decision-making and the effective conservation of the park (2), and in 2018 a Management Master Plan was established, seeking to develop an integrated approach for the protection and proper management of the region, especially considering the socio-environmental impacts of the construction of the BR-319 highway and the deforestation caused by fires, the expansion of soybean cultivation, land appropriation (7) and cattle ranching from the neighbouring state (3, 10). It was established as a Natural Park in 2008, but over the years it has undergone changes in land regulations, adding or decreasing its size as certain mining activities have been allowed in the buffer zone (2)

Martinique is a biodiversity hotspot, home to over 1,500 endemic plants, 70% of which are under threat from human activities. In response to these pressures, the Péyi Vert [Green Country] initiative was launched to plant endemic trees and strengthen the island's biodiversity. Beyond simply preserving species, these trees are crucial in maintaining healthy ecosystems, as they provide essential services such as carbon sequestration, shade, food for human consumption, soil decontamination, pollination, and protection against coastline erosion.
Launched in June 2020 by Entreprises et Environnement (EE), a not-for-profit business association representing 80 Martinican companies, the Péyi Vert initiative aims to plant 1 million native trees (either Martinican or Caribbean) over five years. It can be seen as a Martinique-wide strategy to adapt to and mitigate climate change. Péyi Vert facilitates connections between people who want to plant trees and Martinican companies that serve as financial sponsors. The initiative emphasizes conserving natural heritage by planting endangered species, as well as promoting native species that, while not necessarily threatened, provide valuable ecosystem services or contribute to biodiversity restoration.
Between 2020 and 2023, EE reported planting 50,000 trees (Refs 1, 4, 6, 7). Although individuals can make donations, Péyi Vert primarily seeks funding from companies looking to offset their carbon emissions or enhance their Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR). To achieve its goals, the initiative mainly collaborates with municipalities, companies, and farmers (Ref 3).