Increased perception of safety

The rehabilitation of the Klang River or Selangor Maritime Gateway (SMG) is a project that was put into effect in 2018 by the Selangor State Government. The project aimed to transform the Klang River, considered the most polluted river in Malaysia, into a beautiful and clean river which can be a new source of economic growth in the state of Selangor, Malaysia. The river has been polluted with trash, plastic bottles, and sewage, which harmed the vegetation and the aquatic ecosystem (1). The project proved to be highly complex as it included rehabilitation of the river through several green solutions such as the creation of a community park, the conservation of various species of mangroves, and the implementation of riverfront greens as a measure of slope protection. The intervention is set to be developed on an area of 56 Km along the Klang River corridor. It is expected to promote and support the integrated management of river basins with particular emphasis on ensuring that biodiversity and wetland conservation and community considerations are incorporated into river basin management that includes the development of eco-city (3,5,6). Furthermore, the project intends to conduct an awareness campaign about river cleaning and rehabilitation activities to educate the public on the importance of rivers and the environment in our lives while consequently highlighting the critical state of pollution faced by the River (1).

In 2018, the Bulat Utemuratov’s Foundation began reconstruction works at the main Botanical Garden in Almaty at the request of the Institute of Botany and Phytointroduction and with the support of the governor of Almaty city [1, 5, 6]. The goal of the project was the restoration of the botanic garden with preservation of its original green character and the modernization of its infrastructure [2, 5]. Taking into account the special status of the Botanical Garden and the high public interest in the reconstruction project, the Foundation ensured full transparency to the public. Taking public recommendations into considerations, the schematic design of the reconstruction was approved in the autumn of 2018 [6]. The project also aimed to do no harm to the existing flora and fauna of botanical gardens, and apply new technology to provide long service life to the garden [1, 4].

To achieve the project's goals, the water supply system was restored, drip and auto irrigation systems were created. Around 174.3 thousand plants were planted, including more than 1300 trees. Additionally, 50 thousand sq.m of roads and paths were repaired, lighting systems and video surveillance systems were installed, and the garden furniture was renovated [1]. The project also resulted in the development of three new entrance pavilions with an electronic ticketing system. A mobile application with a garden map and a description of the green areas has been developed [5]. Special attention was paid to the accessibility of all zones of the Botanical Garden for low-mobility groups. [1, 4, 5, 6].

Confirming the success of the project, within three months after the reconstruction was completed, over 210 thousand persons visited the Almaty Botanic Garden [6].

The Rajakori lake rejuvenation project aimed at reviving an existing lake using a natural and sustainable treatment system, the "Scientific Wetland with Active Biodigester (SWAB)". SWAB technology uses a two-step process involving (i) a sedimentation tank equipped with a biodigester and (ii) a constructed wetland system. The untreated sewage waste is passed through this two-step process that uses microbes and plants to reduce pollutant levels. The project also involved redeveloping the public space around the lake for community use (Ref 1,2). Before 2017, the lake was overfilled with sewage and waste from nearby neighbourhoods due to a lack of proper sewage management. Initiated by the Delhi Government, the project aimed at using low-cost natural methods rather than conventional techniques involving concretized bases and chemicals to treat water (Ref 1, 4). Due to its success and cost-effectiveness, this project now serves as an excellent example for other projects within Delhi (Ref 5).

The United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) and its partners collaborated in 2018 to develop an ecosystem restoration project in the Rohingya Camps of Ukhiya, near Cox's Bazar. The main objective of this project was to mitigate the increased risk of landslides, slope instability, and flooding caused by flash floods and the vicinity of the Bakkhali River. The intervention included the planting of quickly growing native trees, shrubs, and grass species. Additionally, the project encompassed other measures such as vegetable cultivation on stream beds, biological soil stabilization methods, and plant-based wastewater treatments. To ensure the sustainability of the project, a network of future practitioners from the Bangladeshi and Rohingya communities was created. Moreover, environmental education and awareness activities were undertaken to complement the efforts of the project, with a particular focus on engaging young people from both the host and refugee communities to maximize its impact. The area where the project was implemented has been significantly affected by land and forest degradation over the last few decades, which has been exacerbated since the arrival of Rohingya refugees in 2017. Therefore, the project also involved other stakeholders such as the International Center for Conservation of Nature (IUCN), the Danish Refugee Council, the World Food Programme, the International Organization for Migration, and the Bangladesh government, each contributing in various capacities to achieve the project's objectives. (1,2,3,4)

Jamburi Park (also spelled as Jamboree park) is an urban park located in the Agrabad area (downtown commercial and financial area) of Chittagong. The area of the park has been for a long time an abandoned land used by locals to grow vegetables, illegally erect constructed makeshift shops, or to engage in illegal activities. (1, 3)

In 2015, the Public Works Department (PWD), a unit under the Ministry of Housing and Public Works, a pioneer in the construction arena of Bangladesh, decided to take back the land and transform it into a park with the purpose of capitalizing open spaces as well as creating a functional green area (1). Since there aren't many open places in Chittagong, PWD wanted to give the residents a place to get some fresh air (1).

Standing at 8.55 acres, the park was designed with trees belonging to 65 species as well as a 50,000 square-foot pool-like water feature (a lake) in the middle, 8,000 meters of walkways, two public restrooms, and two maintenance and electrical blocks. The lake's shore is bordered by a pathway that is ideal for walking and fitness. The green elements are displayed on both shores of the lake and they consist of various fruit, forest, and flower trees as well as grass. (3, 5, 6)

The remodelling project for the sidewalk of Mandalay East Moat is led by the Thingaha Foundation, a joint organization between the Eden Group, MAB Bank and Denko Trading. The Thingaha Foundation passed the project to the Mandalay City Development Council (MCDC) in April 2019 (1). The sidewalk between the east moat and 66th Street, which is one of the four public recreation zones located near the Mandalay Palace, was remodelled by replacing old trees with new trees to widen the sidewalk platform area and to be accessible to disabled people. The implementation activities also included planting new street trees, flower boxes and green bushes along the sidewalk (2, 3). An architect from Thailand drew the design, and besides new green infrastructure, it also included installing new benches and exercise equipment (3). Public advice was collected regarding the sidewalk designs, and city dwellers participated in choosing the final design (4). The residents of Mandalay use the sidewalk area for several physical activities and social gatherings, and different kinds of social events like book festivals to improve social interaction and social cohesion. The sidewalk has become one of the most visited attractions in Mandalay, both for the residents and visitors. (2, 3)

The project focuses on creating communal vegetable gardens in different barangays (small territorial and administrative districts forming the most local level of government) in Iloilo City. As part of the Plant Plant Plant Program of the Department of Agriculture, the project was initially implemented in 12 districts in the city, to provide jobs, and nutritious food and increase public awareness about food production and security amidst the Covid-19 pandemic in 2020. Since then, the project has expanded to 44 more districts, and the city has also issued a regulation to institutionalize urban gardening activities in the city. The communal gardens are expected not only to serve as a source of food but also as a source of livelihood to combat the threat of hunger and poverty. Apart from vegetable gardens, the city also looks into introducing integrated farming in which districts can also plant fruit-bearing trees and raise chickens and tilapia and also provides a series of seminars to empower district residents to produce and sell their food. Currently, around 300 hectares in the city are planted with rice and vegetables [1,2,3]

Rapid urbanization and a steep increase in population determined a loss of open spaces in Dhaka, the capital and the largest city of Bangladesh. To counteract these issues, Dhaka North City Corporation (DNCC) (one of the two municipal corporations in Dhaka, a governmental unit responsible for administering and providing basic infrastructure to the city) has implemented the Green Dhaka Campaign. One of the initiatives under the Green Dhaka Campaign is the renovation of Justice Shahabuddin Park, located in a dense area of Dhaka. (1, 6)
The intervention was initiated in 2017 and consisted of revamping the park by revitalizing the existing pond, planting new trees, and providing amenities for the people living in the neighbourhood where the park is located. The design decisions were taken by prioritising the opinions of different user groups and in consultation with naturalists. The idea of the 9-acre park was to create a safe, "inclusive and accessible public space for all inhabitants, free of crime and violence". (2)
The renovation also consisted in retaining the majority of trees present in the park, as they offered a variety of species such as medicinal trees, fruit trees, and floral trees. This helped with preserving the biodiversity of the space as well as a healthy environment, lauded by the majority of visitors, making the park a favourite of the locals. Three distinct lanes are also made available in the park for jogging, walking, and cycling. (1,2,3,4)

In 2016 the Dhaka South City Corporation (DSCC), one of the municipal local government authorities of Dhaka initiated a plan to revitalise 19 of the city’s parks and 12 playgrounds. One of them is Rasulbag Shishu Park, previously a derelict area surrounded by residential tower blocks, tiny shops and street market stalls. Besides reconditioning a derelict area, DSCC considered it of utmost importance to address some environmental and planning aspects. One of them is the fact that Dhaka is located in a region severely exposed to flooding during the rainy seasons. Poor planning of the city, with narrow alleyways, which have no proper drainage, contributes greatly to transforming streets into rivers. As such, in 2018 DSCC started redesigning the area, counting on a participatory approach throughout the community. No trees were taken down throughout the entire process; all other already-existing trees in the park were included in the design. Most of the native shrubs and trees make up the rows of orchards that line the park's perimeter, disguising its crumbling walls and softly merging them into its surroundings. To establish an environmentally friendly and aesthetically beautiful boundary, various plants, including flowers and fruit trees, have been planted around the park's furthest edges. It was expected that the intervention would revitalize a sense of community in an already failed public space. (Ref 1, 2, 6)

The Adopt-a-Park project is an urban re-greening and renewal program. The Metro Manila Development Authority (MMDA), working together with the 17 Metro Manila local government units (LGUs), has launched the initiative to address rapid urbanization and urban decay by creating new green areas and renovating existing but underutilized or derelict neighbourhood spaces [4]. The project is part of the "I ♡ Metro Manila" advocacy program of the MMDA, which was launched to "uplift the spirits of the residents recovering from the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic as well as to strengthen initiatives on urban renewal that aims to transform the metropolis to be a more livable, greener, and resilient region"[1].