Soil degradation and loss

The World Health Organization estimates that 80% of the population in developing countries use medicinal plants for health prevention and care, primarily in rural areas (3). These plant species have therapeutic potential in treating various diseases, and they are considered safe and effective medications with fewer side effects and affordable prices (3). In Peru, medicinal plants have historically been used to treat respiratory, gastrointestinal, and digestive ailments. To this day, they continue to be used by both native and urban communities (3).
To promote, develop, and encourage research, innovation, and technologies related to the use, preservation, conservation, and employment of medicinal and food plants, the National Center for Social and Intercultural Research in Health (CENSI) of the National Institute of Health (INS) has inaugurated its medicinal and food plant nursery located in one of its facilities (Chorrillos) in Lima (1, 3). The primary objective of this project is to adapt various species from the coast, mountains, and jungle of the country and initiate a plant production program that contributes to improving public health, environmental quality and the revitalization of the ancestral knowledge of indigenous, Amazonian, Andean, and Afro-Peruvian communities (1). Additionally, it aims to contribute to mitigating the effects of climate change by creating green areas, reducing atmospheric carbon dioxide levels through plant photosynthesis, improving soil quality, and promoting the responsible use of water resources, among others (3).
For the development of this project, the INS is working in collaboration with the International Organization for Migration to benefit not only the health and well-being of the Peruvian community but also promote the integration and care of the migrant population in the country (2).

The PARK(ing) project, completed in April 2022, is an urban private intervention in Core City neighborhood in Detroit, that re-imagines a vacant 24,000-square-foot lot into a dual-purpose public park and a 28-car parking lot. Designed by Julie Bargmann of D.I.R.T. Studio, in collaboration with Prince Concepts and in-house landscape designer Andrew Schwartz, this innovative green space harmonizes urban infrastructure with natural elements. The site is punctuated with 78 newly planted trees, including sumac, maple, and evergreen species, creating an environment rich in vegetation that seamlessly integrates with its urban surroundings.
The design incorporates permeable pavers and sloped berms, which effectively manage storm-water by absorbing and channeling rainwater, mitigating the risk of flooding—an often-overlooked challenge in traditional parking lots. This approach reflects sensitivity to the local environment and a commitment to sustainable urban design.
By day, the park discreetly functions as a parking facility, with cars nestled among dense greenery, while by evening, it transforms into a public garden, extending the communal space of Core City Park. This dual functionality addresses the needs of a car-dependent community while promoting walkability and enhancing the neighborhood's ecological footprint.
PARK(ing) exemplifies a shift in Detroit's urban planning, moving away from the car-centric developments of the past toward a more balanced relationship between people, nature, and infrastructure. The project stands as a testament to the evolving identity of American cities, particularly those like Detroit, historically shaped by the automobile. It offers a vision of urban spaces that prioritize community well-being and environmental stewardship while acknowledging the realities of modern urban life. (Ref. 1, 2)

“El Chamizal is a site of significant sociocultural importance and a key part of the identity of the people of Juarez. It is frequently visited by over 200,000 people seeking a space for recreation and enjoyment.” Located along the Rio Bravo/Grande river, El Chamizal is a park and a riparian area (Ref 2). Despite its popularity, the park has been suffering three decades of irregular management by the Municipal Government of Juárez and is facing issues such as accelerated desertification, soil degradation, and biodiversity loss. (Ref.2)

To counteract some of these challenges, in February 2024, the Secretariat of Environment and Natural Resources (Semarnat) and the National Commission of Protected Natural Areas (Conanp) designated El Chamizal Park, spanning 327 hectares, as a Zone of Ecological Restoration (ZER) (Ref 1).

The restoration plan involves dividing the park into four distinct zones, each with specific recovery actions (Ref 1; 2). Zone A, covering 107.3 hectares, is designated as a conservation area where reforestation with native species must commence. Zone B, which spans 47.8 hectares, also requires reforestation with native plants. Zone C, encompassing 12.7 hectares, consists of flooded or floodable plains that must remain in their current state. However, the surrounding ecosystem in this zone needs restoration with native aquatic plants to aid in stormwater purification. Zone D, at 159.8 hectares, contains existing infrastructure—such as buildings, installations, and communications—that must remain unchanged (Ref 3, p. 96). The project proposal is still awaiting implementation.

Cagliari's waterfront is currently characterized by extensive soil sealing, which has rendered the soil impermeable, leading to a loss of biodiversity and contributing to the urban heat island effect. Additionally, the waterfront is disconnected from the city due to heavy traffic. In 2023, the Municipality of Cagliari launched the "Green Promenade for Cagliari’s Seafront" project, aimed at revitalizing the waterfront and reconnecting the city with its coastal heritage. Led by Stefano Boeri Architetti, the project seeks to transform the area into a continuous green space that integrates pedestrian pathways with shaded public areas, functioning as a "green lung" to mitigate urban heat and enhance biodiversity.
The initiative will introduce over 200 new trees and 5,700 square meters of green space, creating a park that beautifies the area, improves air quality, and lowers local temperatures. A key focus of the project is fostering cultural and social inclusion by developing new community hubs that encourage diverse activities and strengthen social cohesion. Additional features include recreational areas, sports fields, and outdoor seating. (Ref. 1, 2,3)
The project also aims to enhance social inclusion, environmental sustainability, and urban connectivity, ultimately transforming the waterfront into a vibrant public space that reflects Cagliari’s identity.
However, the lengthy construction process has disrupted local businesses and reduced foot traffic, making the area less attractive during the redevelopment phase. (Refs. 10, 11, 12 & 13).

The Floating University was initiated in 2018 at the rainwater retention basin of the former Tempelhof airport in Berlin. Though not an official university, it serves as a space for transdisciplinary, communal learning, transforming an abandoned urban site into a vibrant community resource. The project reclaims the basin, hosting workshops and events that range from ecological lectures to cultural and art programs, fostering collaboration between diverse disciplines and communities.
The architecture collective raumlaborberlin originally envisioned the project as a six-month initiative. Artists, universities, and seminar groups contributed to designing the space and organizing workshops. However, due to its success, an NGO, Floating e.V., was established to sustain the project. Today, the NGO manages the site and continues its mission of engaging communities with urban and ecological themes.
After Tempelhof airport closed in 2008, the basin was infrequently cleaned, leading to contamination and sediment accumulation. Over time, a wetland ecosystem emerged, attracting plants, insects, birds, mammals, and amphibians. This natural development complements the Floating University’s infrastructure, which consists of open timber structures like a kitchen, art installations, communal spaces, vertical gardens, gardening beds, and an auditorium. These structures integrate seamlessly with the basin’s existing technical framework and wetland environment.
Floating e.V. aims to make the basin accessible to Berlin’s urban population while sparking discussions about urban climate, resource management, and water cycles through diverse and artistic programs. Smaller initiatives focus on specific ecological themes, such as plant diversity and soil health, through projects like a seed archive and soil lab.
The Floating University exemplifies how abandoned urban spaces can be revitalized into hubs for learning, creativity, and ecological awareness. (1-3, 8, 9)

Ireland’s native trees have developed over thousands of years, forming a vibrant ecosystem alongside surrounding plants, animals, fungi, and microbes. These trees provide critical habitats for plants and wildlife, offering essential food and shelter while producing oxygen vital to animals and humans alike. Historically, native trees supplied early Irish communities with fuel, food, shelter, and building materials. Today, they play a modern role in filtering dust, reducing pollution, and enriching urban spaces.
To highlight these benefits in Dublin, the Native Tree Trail in St. Anne's Park was created by DCC Parks and Landscape Services in 2008. This trail, featuring 15 different types of native trees, invites visitors to explore and appreciate the natural and cultural heritage of Ireland's native trees, underscoring the value of green spaces for both biodiversity and community well-being.
Strategic tree placement contributes to Dublin’s sustainability by reducing soil erosion, sequestering carbon, and mitigating urban heat. A green city is a healthy city, and preserving open spaces enhances its appeal as a place to live, work, and visit. The trail also plays an essential role in environmental education and community engagement. Over the years, St. Anne's Park has hosted multiple tree-planting events, including a 2019 collaboration with local schools for National Tree Week and National Tree Day, in partnership with the Tree Council of Ireland. The NGO has also offered family-friendly guided walks along the trail, helping to instill an appreciation for nature in visitors of all ages (1, 2, 3, 4, 5, p.93).

Del Nervi Park is a project co-led by the Port System Authority of the Sardinian Sea and the Municipality of Cagliari. Completed in 2021, it transformed a long-abandoned and degraded area on the Cagliari waterfront into a vibrant green space. The two-hectare site surrounds a 1950s industrial building and underwent extensive redevelopment to enhance its structural integrity and convert it into a public park. With a budget exceeding 5 million euros, the project prioritized green investments by creating new pedestrian and cycling paths, along with green spaces featuring local plants, flower beds, grass, and lawns.

Nervi Park is set to become a key destination for leisure, sports, and cultural activities, while also providing the Cagliari community with greater access to green spaces. The environmental and urban renewal efforts aimed to beautify and modernize the area, with future development plans focusing on long-term management and the introduction of commercial activities to further enhance the space
The project faced significant barriers, including prolonged disruptions due to the COVID-19 pandemic, which halted work for about eight months. (Refs. 1, 2, 3 & 4).

Giulia's Farm is the first project launched by the Italian NGO Terre Colte in Sardinia, focused on transforming unused agricultural plots into a productive community garden. Initiated in 2014, the project covers approximately 3,000 square meters (out of 18,000 sqm owned by the NGO). The garden leases 50-square-meter plots to local residents, known as "ortisti," who cultivate the land using organic and natural farming methods. This approach not only revitalizes neglected land but also strengthens community bonds and promotes sustainable agriculture (Refs. 1 & 2).
The project operates on a cooperative model, ensuring that the land remains accessible and productive while fostering a connection between people and the environment. Participants share resources and knowledge, creating a network of mutual support that enhances both social and environmental resilience.
Beyond its agricultural impact, Giulia's Farm aims to preserve Sardinia's agricultural heritage and combat land speculation. By involving the community in farming, the initiative helps protect these plots from being sold for non-agricultural purposes, ensuring they remain dedicated to food production. The project also demonstrates the potential for reclaiming abandoned land, fostering local food production, and building a more sustainable and resilient food system.
Giulia's Farm has gained attention as a replicable model for other regions facing similar challenges of land abandonment and environmental degradation (Refs. 2, 3 & 4).

The Mobile Bay National Estuary Program is one of 28 National Estuary Programs established by the United States Environmental Protection Agency, focused on safeguarding and restoring the water quality and ecological health of nationally significant estuaries (Ref 2). One of the four main areas of work of the project (Ref 2) is focused on Ecosystem Restoration and Protection (ERP), aiming at restoring and protecting ecosystem function and services (Ref 4). One of the projects implemented in 2023-2024 in the ERP category is the Deer River Coastal Marsh Stabilization and Restoration project, aiming at restoring and protecting the saltwater marshes of the area (Ref 8).
The issues faced in the Deer River Shoreline are shoreline recession, marsh deterioration, and loss of natural function from erosion, apparently caused by heavy storms, tidal impacts, and wakes from cargo ships entering or exiting the Theodore Ship Channel (Ref 8). Indeed, the saltwater marshes of this area have started to erode at a rapid rate, up to 12 feet per year (Ref 7).
The project aims to enhance the natural function of ecosystem services to improve the area's resilience. It will restore the eroded marsh by creating offshore structures to protect the shoreline and attenuate the waves. The project also aims to restore the water quality of the Deer River by dredging it out, thus improving the water flow. The material dredged out will be used to nourish the marsh (Ref 9).

Lima is grappling with significant challenges driven by climate change, and one of the pressing issues is the shortage of green spaces. According to the PLAM 2035 report, Lima offers only 3.1 square meters of green area per inhabitant, well below the World Health Organization's recommendations (2). Moreover, food insecurity is on the rise, with Peru leading the region in this crisis (4). Compounding these issues is the lack of coordination among state actors tasked with addressing the country's food crisis (2).
In response to these challenges, the Energy Network of Peru (ISA REP) has been running the "Huertos en Línea" project since 2004 in the districts of Villa María del Triunfo and San Juan de Miraflores as part of its corporate social responsibility initiatives (2, 3, 6). This project aims to establish community gardens that promote environmental awareness, reduce pollution in these affected areas (1, 2), provide food for vulnerable populations, and create income-generating opportunities through the sale of surplus produce (1, 6). The gardens are strategically located in power grid easement strips, which are often plagued by encroachment, burning, and waste accumulation—issues exacerbated by poverty, extreme poverty, and weak social organization in these areas (5, 6).
Originally planned with an annual development and growth strategy up to 2011, the project has been extended year by year and has now been active for nearly two decades. Beneficiaries continue to receive technical and material support, and the number of community gardens has grown. In 2019, the initiative expanded to include two bio-gardens in the Trujillo districts of La Esperanza and El Porvenir (7, 9). The project has contributed to improving soil quality, recycling and transforming waste, enhancing landscape aesthetics, reducing burning and waste accumulation, and implementing drip irrigation systems.