Achieved increased appreciation for natural spaces

Public spaces in Colombo are disappearing due to rising land prices, causing infrastructure issues that harm citizens' health, especially in low-income areas (3). One proposed solution to address the problems caused by rapid urbanization is the creation of community gardens, which can at least improve low-income residents' diets and immune systems and address malnutrition (3).
Considering the limited urban space for both citizens and other living beings, the organization Eco-friendly Volunteers decided to create a community garden. The Metta Garden in Colombo (1, 2) aims to bring back urban biodiversity through organic home gardening, generating healthy food for people and creating living space for many other animals and plants (2). Following the Buddhist concept of Metta (loving-kindness to all beings), it promotes walking meditation paths and facilities to experience nature using all five sensory organs (1), in addition to being a place for experiencing loving-kindness for both human and non-human living beings, seen and unseen (4, 5).
It has become a training institute for many stakeholders seeking to grow organic food and earn a better income through the high demand for organic products (2). At the same time, it serves as a biodiversity spot, attracting butterflies, bees, and other forms of wildlife to an urban environment (2).
The area is located in the middle of a semi-urbanized area, on the outskirts of Boralesgamuwa (2, 3). Maintained by a group of volunteers, it features a greenhouse and a plot of land of around 5,000 sq feet, populated with vegetable patches, a butterfly garden, flowers and rare medicinal plants (3, 4). The garden was divided into four sections representing the Buddhist elements: water, heat, air, and solid. Each section features specific plants and designs, like a pond for water, a compost pit for heat, tall plants for air, and a rock garden for solid. The layout follows a mandala design based on permaculture principles (4).

Sri Lanka, particularly its low-lying coastal areas, faces recurring flooding challenges exacerbated by climate change, coastal erosion, and urbanization (1). Wetlands have emerged as crucial ecosystems in mitigating these risks, acting as natural sponges during heavy rainfall and releasing water gradually as flood levels subside (1). Beyond flood control, wetlands play a vital role in environmental quality. Their biodiversity helps filter pollutants and chemicals from the air and water, creating a healthier environment for both humans and wildlife (1). In 2018, Colombo was designated as a Global Wetland City under the Ramsar Convention, becoming the first and only capital city to receive this recognition (1). Recognizing the significance of wetlands as nature-based solutions, international institutions have prioritized their conservation through financing programs (1), and the city has developed projects to raise awareness and involve its citizens in their protection (1). These efforts have resulted in the creation of four wetland parks in the city, that comparing to a wetland, the wetland parks have more human intervention. Thus, they are focused on different topics and activities (2): Diyasaru Park, Beddagana Wetland Park (managed by the Urban Development Authority), Kotte Rampart Wetland Park (managed by the Urban Development Authority), and the Gothatuwa Wetland Park (managed by the Sri Lanka Land Development Corporation) (2). Gothatuwa Park is the newest wetland park and it is located in the flood-prone Gothatuwa neighbourhood (1). Inaugurated in 2024, It has a recreational focus, with trails for cyclists and hikers, and together with the other wetland complex, this park is designed to make the wetlands a cornerstone of local people's lives (1). Currently, environmental education activities are carried out in the park, focusing on managing aquatic invasive plants, tree planting and solid waste collection (3).

The Thalangama wetlands are part of a network of wetland ecosystems around Colombo city that spread over 20 km2 and provide critical life support to the city. These ecosystems keep people safe from floods, cool the air, filter polluted water, provide food and medicines, and fight climate change (10). These wetlands have become an environmental protection area and a biodiversity hotspot in a rapidly urbanising environment, as they host an array of plants and animals, including the endangered fishing cat and otter (5, 10). In 2007, Thalangama Lake and its surroundings were declared an Environmental Protection Area (EPA) under the National Environmental Act (4, 5). This protected area covers approximately 118 hectares (4) and includes two man-made reservoirs: Thalangama Tank (11 ha) and Averihena Tank (3.2 ha), located just 300 meters apart (5). The area hosts floating and rooted plants, scrublands, and trees that provide habitat to up to 100 species of migratory, resident, and endemic birds throughout the year. In addition, the area supports 30 species of dragonflies, 12 species of reptiles, 10 species of mammals, and 15 species of freshwater fish (1, 4). Since the lakes and their surroundings were declared an EPA, only limited uses are permitted, such as traditional fishing and rice cultivation (4, 5). The lakes are also important for floodwater retention and have high scenic and aesthetic value, attracting many visitors, and scientific and educational activities (5, 13).
However, due to the area's rapid urbanisation, land values have increased significantly, leading to excessive landfilling and the reclamation of paddy lands for housing. This is compounded by the indiscriminate disposal of garbage and construction waste and the spread of invasive species (5). These challenges have also led to the engagement of surrounding communities in managing and maintaining it (11).

In 2022 an afforestation initiative was implemented near a landfill located in the Tutora commune (1 - 6). Organized by the City Hall of Tutora, the event brought together representatives from the regional government of Iasi County, the "Asociația de Dezvoltare Intercomunitară pentru Salubritate" (ADIS), and volunteers from SC Girexim SA, SC Salubris Iasi, and Edil Industri Iasi. Together, they planted 2,000 acacia saplings, donated by the Forestry Directorate of Iasi (6). The afforestation action took place under the umbrella of the regional environmental campaign "Iasi Mai Verde" (Iasi More Green), led by the County Council of Iasi. This campaign promotes a range of eco-friendly activities, including educational programs in schools, waste cleanup events, and afforestation initiatives in partnership with ADIS, while actively encouraging the support and participation of local municipalities from across the region (1, 3, & 7).
"Iasi Mai Verde" aligns with national environmental strategies such as the Ministry of the Environment's "Curățăm România" (Let's Clean Romania) and the annual Planting Forest Month (3 & 6).
On the same day, as part of the Iasi Mai Verde initiative, students from a local school in Tutora were given a practical education workshop on how waste management operates at the regional level. The students were also invited to witness the afforestation action and participate, fostering a deeper understanding of environmental stewardship (1- 5).
The newly planted trees are acting as a natural barrier, and help improve air quality by filtering dust, pollution, and waste particles originating from the nearby Tutora landfill. In turn, this contributes to better living conditions for the residents in close proximity to the landfill, enhancing both their health and overall quality of life (5).

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.

Bring Nature Home project, partly financed by and implemented under the New European Bauhaus programme by the organisation "UrbanizeHub", is an initiative focused on encouraging and helping the city of Iasi to become more green while strengthening urban communities (1 & 3). More concretely the project sought to transform an unused space in a residential area of a neighborhood in Iasi through a "biophilic design", with the involvement of the local community (1 - 5). The space was then transformed into a green area that would help the residents reconnect with nature (1 & 4). The implementation later helped develop a handbook that could be used to reproduce the methods of the initiative in other urban settings (4 & 5).
Involving the local community, including children from the nearby daycare, the project conducted five workshops. These workshops focused on educational activities, improving the connection with urban nature, and ultimately creating an urban garden which included perennial plants, and insect and bird houses (5, pp. 53 to 58).
Beyond community engagement and inter-generational dialogue, the project highlighted the importance of natural elements and biodiversity in urban settings. It also facilitated knowledge exchange among public institutions, NGOs, and private companies. With additional funding from IULIUS and municipal approval, the initiative successfully transformed the unused space into a thriving green area (4 & 5, p. 67 & 71).

In 2015, The Greening of Detroit and the Joy-Southfield Community Development Corporation collaboratively installed a bioswale in Stein Park, Detroit, as part of a broader effort to mitigate flooding in the Cody Rouge neighborhood. The area, particularly affected by heavy rains and flooding due to its proximity to the Rouge River, suffered significantly during the 2014 Great Flood, highlighting the need for improved stormwater management. The bioswale, a Green Stormwater Infrastructure (GSI) feature, was designed to capture and infiltrate up to 6,000 gallons of stormwater, diverting it from the city’s aging combined sewer system. By reducing the risk of sewer overflows, this installation also decreases the flow of untreated water into local waterways.

Funded by an $83,000 Kresge Foundation grant, the bioswale incorporates a mixture of native plants, prairie wildflowers, and ornamental grasses to filter sediment and pollutants. In addition to stormwater management, the project aims to enhance community engagement and economic revitalization. Students from Cody DIT High School's Green Team participated in the planting and design process, learning valuable skills in landscape architecture and green infrastructure. The project also ties into the Joy-Southfield CDC's vision of establishing a "green zone" to promote community safety, economic growth, and environmental stewardship.

Future plans include further green infrastructure development, such as additional bioswales and a parking lot with pervious pavers, contributing to Cody Rouge’s transformation into a model neighborhood for green development. This project not only addresses urgent environmental concerns but also fosters community pride, safety, and economic opportunities, positioning the neighborhood as a leader in Detroit’s green infrastructure movement.
(Ref.1-4)

In 2001, the local municipality of La Paz, in collaboration with the International Union of Architects (UIA), launched a design contest to create a central park within a protected natural area (3). The park's aim was to develop urban infrastructure while connecting nature with the city (3). The winning architectural design envisioned an infrastructure that would harmonize with the existing natural surroundings and minimize interference with the environment (4).
The park's implementation included pedestrian and bike pathways, numerous panoramic viewpoints, facilities for exercise and cultural events, buildings dedicated to science, historically significant monuments, playgrounds, and the rehabilitation and creation of multiple green spaces (1 & 4 to 6).
While most of the project was completed by 2009, the area's exposure to recurrent landslides, droughts, and illegal waste disposal, combined with ongoing degradation, has necessitated afforestation efforts and maintenance actions from the municipality to ensure the protection of the natural area and enhance its benefits (7 & 8). Recently, the park has been part of a national citizen monitoring program for species, which has improved the categorization of wildlife in the area (11 & 12). Additionally, 2,000 trees were planted in the park in 2023 as part of a reforestation campaign, and cleaning and watering maintenance work has been carried out to support their growth (7 & 13). This initiative is part of a larger project to revitalize the park (10 & 13).
Overall, the park aims to protect local wildlife and plant species while acting as a "green lung" for the city, regulating the climate, providing recreational spaces, and improving livability (14).

The 28th of October Street (28ης Οκτωβρίου) was one of the most neglected streets on the eastern side of Thessaloniki, completely devoid of trees despite its central importance. Additionally, the street suffered from severe flooding during heavy rainfall. In 2011, the Municipality of Thessaloniki, in collaboration with Konstantinos Zervas, the Deputy Mayor for the Environment, Quality of Life, and Free Space, proposed a redevelopment project aimed at transforming the street through the planting of trees and the installation of flower beds that would function as rain gardens (Refs 3, 5). This initiative was part of the "Integrated Green Cities" action, which falls under the European territorial cooperation program Greece-Bulgaria 2007-2013 (Refs 1, 2, 3, 6).

To achieve the dual goals of sustainable rainwater management and urban beautification, decorative trees were planted in specially constructed bioretention tree stands. These stands, along with the flower beds, were designed to collect rainwater, which would then be used to irrigate the trees along the road and the plants forming the rain gardens. Rainwater was gathered from the road surface, pavements, and the gutters of apartment buildings through these bioretention systems (Refs 1, 2). This sustainable water management solution significantly reduced rainwater runoff, improved water quality, and enhanced the area’s aesthetic appeal (Refs 2, 6, 7).

The Horpaz-Ezareni Park is an initiative driven by civil society, requesting the municipality of Miroslava to construct a natural park adjacent to Lake Ezareni. The aim is to protect its green spaces and aquatic bird species while addressing waste management in the area. The petition also called for more green spaces in line with European standards and sought to tackle the challenges of rapid urbanization in peri-urban areas. It collected hundreds of signatures and targeted an area of 20 hectares.
In response, the municipality agreed to the petition and initially proposed creating a park covering 4 hectares in 2022. This first plan was released to the public for consultation. However, the project has since evolved to encompass the original 20 hectares, plus an additional 2 hectares, with an estimated project cost of 11,000,000 euros and a timeline of 3 years for implementation.
The park's design includes various facilities and amenities aimed at enhancing opportunities for recreation, exercise, and relaxation. Accessible paths for pedestrians and cyclists, as well as a parking lot, are also part of the plan. Additionally, two buildings are proposed for sanitary and administrative purposes, which would manage the projected installations of a lighting system, Wi-Fi, and surveillance cameras.
Environmentally, the project includes plans for managing the lake's banks to remove hydrophilic vegetation that could create an unhealthy environment, along with the construction of two bridges. The wilderness areas will be managed, and dendrological plants will be introduced to improve the ecosystem's quality. Overall, the project aims to increase and regenerate green spaces in the commune, enhancing the quality of life for residents and improving the area's aesthetic appeal. (1-8)