Benacantil vegetation restoration project
The action proposed by the Municipal Technical Service of Parks and Gardens at the Department of the Environment, aims at the regeneration of the forest with the repopulation of pines of different ages, to imitate a mountain in a natural state with the plantation of the Cartagena Cypress and Tetraclinex articulata, which has a good adaptation to the environment. Several plots (Plots 3, 5, 6, 8 and 12 of the project) have been repopulated with shrubs and trees such as cypress, esparto, rosemary, tomillos, lentiscos, tetraclinex and palmito, in the solana area, deciduous and riparian species, and to other silvicultural treatments, which increases the variety of existing vegetation. (Ref. 1) In addition, the project contemplates the construction of two viewpoints (Ref 1, 3). A new irrigation system is put in place for the re-use of water for sustainable use and water savings. (Ref. 7)
Wilderness corners
Recognizing that wilderness areas in cities are getting scarcer and neglected, the Biological Station Bonn Rhein-Erft conducted a city-wide project, in cooperation with the municipality of Bonn, funded by the Regional Rhineland Association, whose goal was to assess, map, evaluate and redevelop wilderness patches in Bonn. These contain roadside meadows, flower strips, hedges and small green patches growing on concrete walls or fences and pavement cracks. 10 of these "Wild corners" were designated as micro-wilderness areas, information signs were installed and an informative city walk conceptualized (1,4,10).
Revitalization of Sava river banks
The recreational and educational centre (RIC) area along the Sava river stretches from Tomačevo to Sneberje and totals 144,618 sqm. The area is intended for children, people with disabilities and other residents of the region, visitors and tourists. The intervention made this once degraded, illegal dumping area attractive for those seeking recreation, visitors and tourists, also in the evening as street lighting was installed along the path powered by photovoltaics. A large children's playground offers free socializing and children can develop their basic motor skills, which is exceptionally important in life's early years. (1)
Villewälder: LIFE+ Project for Kottenforst and Ville
The Ville Forests covering the hills between Bonn and Cologne are an example of a rare and highly endangered forest habitat type in Europe giving a home for many threatened animal species (1). The protection and conservation of these 'oak-hornbeam forests on hydromorphic soils and the forest-dwelling species was the main objective of the Villewälder: LIFE+ Project for Kottenforst and Ville project which includes four Natura 2000 areas with 4.378 hectares of forest. The conservation measures of the project focused on water balance restoration, habitat improvement and preservation, and the extension and connection of protected areas (1,2).
Ljubljanica Connects
The aim of Ljubljanica Connects funded by Life+ is to improve connectivity between Natura 2000 sites. Started in 2012, the project aims to remove barriers to fish migration, enhance and restore habitats, improve water management infrastructures, and put in place a water monitoring system. This will restore the river Ljubljanica's function as a corridor, improve water management and so provide better links between Natura 2000 sites. The fish species in question are Danube Roach, Danube Salmon and Striped Chub (2).
Green Roof of an underground parking
This underground garage in Alicante, Spain, received a green roof makeover according to Alicante's climatological conditions (Ref. 2). Urbanarbolismo, a Spanish firm with a strong focus on vegetation, designed and installed this succulent garden in the courtyard of the garage. The garden is very low-maintenance and doesn't require any irrigation whatsoever. Further, with every passing year, it will grow more and more beautiful as the plants grow larger and take root. The Urbanarbolismo Benisaudet IVVSA parking garage was created by this Spanish design firm with the purpose of "keep[ing] the underground lot cooler, as well as improv[ing] its air quality." (Ref. 1)
A Green River for Milan
With the "Green River" for Milan, the design team coordinated by Stefano Boeri has proposed an urban reforestation project that aims to realise on 90% of the seven abandoned railways a continuous system of parks, woods, oases, orchards and gardens for public use, linked between them by green corridors and bicycles made on the railroad tracks. (1, 3 and 4).
Ecological zone in Ljubljana city centre
The first " ecological zone" in Ljubljana was established in 2007 in the old city centre. This led to the closure of a 100,000 m² area to motor vehicles, and the renovation of the main traffic axis to make it attractive for pedestrians and cyclists. The new transport regime in this area reduced black carbon levels by 58%. Additionally, the city administration has planted 63 ash trees. Biking and sustainable mobility have been promoted, in line with providing new green areas for social and sporting activities in formerly degraded areas. The "renaissance“ is not focused only on the city center and the implementation of the car-free zone, but it is expanded throughout Ljubljana and covers different fields, such as the revival of degraded areas, the establishment of green public spaces, playgrounds for children, eco-renovation of schools and kindergartens, cultural and sports facilities, etc. Finally, the river Ljubljanica has been the focus of an ecological restoration project. This was done with the aim of reducing pollution and returning the city centre to the citizens, by incentivizing pedestrian and bicycle commute. The "ecological zone" project has been completed. After the completion of the project, further initiatives were taken which is directly related to the project itself. Some of them focusing on converting the city to a sustainable one is still going on. (1, 3, 4 and 8).
New Urban Woods in the Parco Nord
This is a tree-planting initiative for the creation of a new forested area in the Parco Nord of Bologna. During the project lifetime (originally planned from2016-2018), a total of 4.000 new trees will be planted. The trees will be 2-2,5 meters high to give the appearance of a forested area inside the city (1).
As of 2019, the implementation of the forest is on hold and it depends on the construction of the so-called "Passante di Bologna", namely a highway with 3 high-speed routes. If the highway is approved (and there is enough funding) then the forest can also be implemented (6).
As of 2019, the implementation of the forest is on hold and it depends on the construction of the so-called "Passante di Bologna", namely a highway with 3 high-speed routes. If the highway is approved (and there is enough funding) then the forest can also be implemented (6).
LIFE Seagrass Restoration
The project LIFE SeResto (LIFE12 NAT/IT/000331) aimed to trigger a process of aquatic recolonisation in “Northern Lagoon of Venice”, mainly through the transplantation of "Zostera marina" and "Zostera noltei" to small sites distributed throughout the area. The proposed intervention technique involved transplanting a small number of plants, with advantages in terms of lower costs and impact on the donor sites (1).

