Resource Scarcity and Competition

According to data from the National Institute for Space Research (Inpe), Rondônia ranks fourth nationally among the states with the highest number of detected fire outbreaks (2). In response to this issue and to restore devastated areas in the Amazon, Terra Cura was established in 2016 by resident Luana Lopes, promoting the planting of more than a thousand trees in the Porto Velho region (1). The areas benefiting from this initiative were those degraded by deforestation, causing erosion along the riverbanks (1).
This reforestation effort took place in the scenographic city of Jerusalem of the Amazon, from 2016 to 2022, a cultural and touristic complex in Porto Velho, where erosion caused by deforestation was observed along the riverbanks next to it (2). It was developed as a collaboration with the club and the founders of the Associação Clube Teatral Êxodo, who gave the space so that we could recover the land (3).
The project focused on developing an agricultural strategy known as syntropic farming, by implementing an agroforestry system. This approach seeks to reorganize and restore the natural environment, creating better conditions for planting and allowing trees to thrive. In the reforestation process, volunteers and experienced technicians worked together Additionally, the project included a nursery used for donating seedlings and for offering forestry and agro-construction courses to the community, held in the reforestation area (2).
The Terra Cura project, in addition to working on reforestation and recovery of degraded areas, promoted environmental and cultural integration at the site, promoting sustainable fairs and bazaars, training courses in ancestral practices such as soil cultivation and bioconstruction, and thematic events, bringing together artists and local communities (3). Although they were evicted from the area surrounding the scenic city of Jerusalem (5, 6), they are still active in the area.

This initiative focused on creating a management plan for the Uricani forest, a protected area located near Iasi. Designated as both a nature reserve and a Natura 2000 site, the forest is crucial for its "Dacia oak & hornbeam forests" habitat and the presence of the stag beetle, the largest beetle in Romania and Europe.
Despite existing nature protection designations, the environmental NGO "Asociația Ecoturistică Prietenii Pădurii Bălțătești" recognized the need for an updated management plan. With European funding, the NGO developed a model plan for protected areas in Neamt and Iasi counties, including Uricani forest.
The NGO conducted monitoring activities in cooperation with forestry directorates to assess habitat conditions and stag beetle populations. The goal was to identify risks and requirements for species conservation and design appropriate management actions. Additionally, the organization aimed to promote the area's tourism potential and conduct awareness-raising activities with local communities and schools.
The completed management plan, developed through public consultation and approved by the Romanian environmental ministry, included measures for natural habitat regeneration, ensuring suitable conditions for the stag beetle, addressing illegal logging, pasturing, and waste disposal, and establishing information points and educational activities for the community. (1-7)

In Phoenix, over half a million people are facing hunger, including schoolchildren, working parents, seniors on fixed incomes, and other marginalized groups. Factors such as limited food access and poor food quality—commonly referred to as 'food deserts'—worsen the problem. Food deserts are areas where residents have little to no access to fresh, healthy, and affordable food. Of the 55 food deserts in Maricopa County, 43 are located in Phoenix, affecting nearly half of the city's population
Agave Environmental Contracting, an NGO, is working to address food scarcity through education. The organization founded the Urban Farming Education (UFE) program to teach people how to grow their own food as a solution to food insecurity and to promote agricultural opportunities throughout the Valley. The goal of UFE is to educate individuals on creating their own gardens for sustenance, ecotherapy, social impact, and even urban farming for profit.
The program specifically targets schools, domestic violence shelters, homeless shelters, foster care prevention centers, and communities with disabled or elderly residents. In 2024, UFE partnered with the Valencia Newcomer School to install raised garden beds filled with roses and fruit trees. This project provided hands-on STEM learning during the installation, fostered networking opportunities through industry experts and community members, and helped promote the UFE program. It also highlighted how the initiative contributes to urban farming education and empowers local communities. (1-5, 7)

The rate of deforestation in the Brazilian Legal Amazon in 2023 was consolidated at 9,064 km2. Initiatives that promote forest restoration in this biome are emerging to overcome this scenario. One such initiative is Floresta Productiva which aims to reforest more than 200 hectares of degraded land in the southwest of the Brazilian Amazon, known as the ‘arc of deforestation’ (1). Led by the Instituto Socioambiental in partnership with the NGO Rioterra, it focuses on creating and disseminating native forest restoration models that combine ecosystem recovery with income generation for rural producers in Porto Velho (2). By fully integrating local communities, the project promotes traditional agroforestry practices (muvuca) and trains communities to maintain the planted land. This not only restores the forest but also provides economic benefits through the cultivation of timber, fruit trees and other species (2), strengthening sustainable agriculture, breaking the cycle of deforestation and restoring deforested areas through various native species grown in nurseries (1). The project is being developed in the cultivation area of the Amazon Bioeconomy Centre (CBCA), from 2023 to 2025, where it will directly benefit the rural community of Vila Nova de Teotônio (3).
The project started in 2019 and has impacted other communities in the area, such as the communities in Nova Mutum Paraná and Ji-Paraná (1). During these years, more than 123,000 trees have been planted in agroforestry on about 110 hectares of land, and edible forests have been created. Since 2022, a new planting phase has been underway, to plant more than 100,000 trees of 87 native species on 40 hectares of degraded forest (4). In conclusion, this project focuses on the development of agroforestry in the face of widespread monospecific soybean fields and intensive cattle ranching (3); the creation of edible forests (3); and the restoration of forest cover to ensure the long-term resilience of the forest (3).

In Sjöhåla, west of Kungälv, an abandoned pasture on a wet meadow by the coast was restored by reintroducing grazing, clearing bushes and reeds, digging ponds and renovating stone walls. The aim was to increase biodiversity in the area and to promote the production of local organic meat. Additionally, the project made it easier for visitors to pass through the area for recreational purposes. The project was carried out by the municipality of Kungälv and the non-profit organisation Omställning Kungälv, and involved other local associations, farmers and citizens. It was funded through the "Local nature conservation investment" by the Swedish Environmental Protection Agency. As a result of the project, the area is more accessible, and many species of plants, insects, and birds have been found. [Ref. 1-3]

To protect the Lomas de Primavera from urban pressure and other threats, the Lomas de Primavera Ecological Association has implemented strategies for its conservation. One of the strategies this organisation has promoted is reforestation activities. Working together with the Municipality of Lima and other interested actors, they have sought to expand Lima's green spaces, improve air quality, enhance flora, and promote tourism, among other benefits (1). Lima's Municipality has supported the project by donating 20,000 trees for reforestation and to prevent land encroachment (1), social organisations and environmental activists have joint efforts to plant more than 250 trees to support the conservation efforts (2, 7).
The Lomas de Primavera Ecological Association leads the project, organizing community management efforts to conserve the Lomas de Primavera sector. This association is based in the Agrupación Familiar Primavera Lomas de Carabayllo community (2). The association's conservation activities involve collaboration with various stakeholders at different levels. Locally, it works with community leaders and organizations. At the district level, it coordinates with the Carabayllo municipality and the NGO CIDAP to improve urban conditions. The metropolitan-level collaboration includes the Municipality of Lima and the ACR 'Sistema de Lomas de Lima' for ecosystem protection and valorization. Nationally, it partners with MINAM, SERNANP, MINAGRI, UNDP, UCV, and the Network of Peruvian Lomas to enhance ecosystem services, restore degraded areas, and conduct research on the Lomas (2).
The preservation and reforestation of these ecosystems is essential, as they have social, cultural and environmental value, including the following ecosystem services: provision of genetic resources, soil formation, pollination, aesthetic services, ecotourism, food, education, and archaeological and historical services (3)

Ballymun is a suburban area on the north side of Dublin, Ireland. Originally developed in the 1960s, Ballymun was built to address Dublin’s post-war housing shortages, with iconic high-rise towers and flat complexes. However, over the years, the area faced social and economic challenges, leading to a reputation for issues such as poverty, unemployment, and lack of services.
In response, the Irish government launched the Ballymun Regeneration Project in the late 1990s. As part of the Ballymun Regeneration, Poppintree Park has been transformed into a 45-acre public space at the heart of Ireland’s celebrated urban renewal project in Ballymun Town Centre. This redevelopment followed an extensive public consultation process, incorporating input from local residents, sports clubs, community groups, and youth organizations.
Poppintree Park now offers a range of upgraded amenities, including a Tree Trail featuring 15 native tree species, enhanced biodiversity, extensive wetlands, sustainable drainage systems, and spaces for passive and active recreation. The park also features a 1.25-acre playground for children aged 0-12, an amphitheater with a permanent pond, and a fully accessible pathway network with abundant seating and viewing areas. Over 50,000 plants have been added to enhance the park’s natural beauty.
The park’s transformation, led by Ballymun Regeneration Ltd., involved significant engineering and landscaping efforts. Mitchell + Associates provided the detailed landscape design, construction drawings, and supervised the landscape works.
Completed in 2010, Phase 1 of Poppintree Park’s redevelopment represents an investment exceeding €6 million. The project includes substantial earthworks, drainage systems, gabion walls, three limestone-paved entrance plazas, structural retaining walls, a cantilevered pond walkway, diverse path surfaces, and high-quality playground construction. (1-7, 10)

In an architecturally important area of Berlin, situated between the Landwehr Canal, the Kulturforum (the Berliner Philharmonie and the Berlin State Library) and the new construction on Potsdamer Platz, a combination of green and grey infrastructure has been realised to minimise the burden on Berlin’s existing water infrastructure.
Green and non-green roofs harvest annual rain, which flows through the site’s buildings and is used for toilet flushing, irrigation, and fire systems. The roofs retain and then release water to the large on-site buffer pond, which has five underground storage tanks. Next to the roofs, a series of urban ponds and connecting canals have been implemented, with a combined area of approximately 1.2 hectares. They are filled with rainwater, creating an oasis for urban life. Vegetated biotopes are integrated into the overland landscape and serve to filter and circulate the water that runs along streets and walkways. The lake’s water quality is excellent, forming a natural habitat for animals and cooling the surroundings, while fresh water usage in the buildings has been reduced. (Ref. 1; Ref. 2; Ref. 3; Ref. 6)
The project was implemented in the 1990s as part of the development of Potsdamer Platz in the wake of the reunification of Germany. Several architects collaborated on the implementation that was completely privately funded. Beyond its ecological and technical features, the site is a blue natural site in the heavily built city centre of Berlin and allows people to linger and enjoy natural features. The drainage system won several sustainability prices and is considered a successful integration of nature and technology-based mechanisms to foster climate change adaptation. As the rainwater system stores rainwater in underground tanks and ponds, the urban sewage system is relieved during heavy rain, and water can evaporate. Therefore, the small water circle is closed, and the microclimate is cooled. (Ref. 2; Ref. 6)

Seaweeds are of immense value to marine ecosystems, and Kelp, the largest of them all, forms spectacular underwater forests that provide habitat for fish, clean the water, and sequester carbon. Unfortunately, large swathes of these subaquatic forests have disappeared from the coasts of many European countries, including Portugal (Ref. 2).
The "Sea Forester" project in Cascais aims to restore local kelp forests, which are essential for marine biodiversity and carbon sequestration. In collaboration with the Câmara Municipal de Cascais and Mossy Earth (social enterprise), the project assesses the historical and current state of seaweed populations and identifies environmental stressors. It employs innovative techniques like the "green gravel" method to restore kelp ecosystems. This project supports the region’s blue economy and resilience to climate change through carbon offsetting and enhanced ecosystem services (Ref 1; 6; 7). Supported by the EEA Innovation Grant, it combines scientific research and community engagement, positioning Cascais as a leader in marine conservation efforts (Ref 6).

Tirana's urban development has set a new record in 2022, when more than 1.8 million square meters of new buildings were constructed (Ref. 5). This rapid development increased the need for accessible urban green areas. At the Tulla Urban Farm, a wide audience is trained to create those green areas in their yards, balconies and roofs with the added benefit of growing produce for their own needs (Ref. 1,2,5). This practice of food autonomy is deeply rooted in Albanian culture but has been lost in urban settings where concrete has taken over the city (Ref. 1). Tulla Urban Farm addresses this issue by providing an inclusive space for people of diverse backgrounds to come together and experience urban gardening first hand under the guidance of professionals from the Agricultural University of Tirana (Ref. 2,3). In these "urban agricultural schools", workshops, seminars and discussions are held to re-cultivate traditional agro-cultural practices and knowledge that will benefit the participants, many of which are from marginalised backgrounds (Ref. 1, 4). All these activities are facilitated through the rooftop greenhouse of the Tulla Cultural Center, which harbours over 300 plants (Ref.1). As such, Tulla Urban Farm not only provides a space for experiencing and learning about plants but also for social interaction and building a community that also addresses more serious issues such as mental health in a society that faces high rates of unemployment (Ref. 1).
The project had received inital funding from the German GIZ in 2022 and won the Cultures of Resistance Award through which it financed the first two years of its programme and enabled free participation at the urban agricultural school for all participants (Ref. 2,4).