Improving mental health

The initiative involved the creation of three educational spaces in social service centers for children (Bucium, Ion Holban, Bogdanesti) in Iasi and its peri-urban area that included urban gardens, the development of green spaces, and facilities for sports activities. In the urban gardens, raised and arranged in a circular design, various orchards and food-producing plants were planted, along with bushes and perennial plants introduced in the new green spaces. Additionally, benches, workshop stations, a volleyball court, and a ping-pong table were constructed alongside the green areas.
The initiative was implemented by the NGO "Asociatia Outventure" and financed through the "In stare de Bine" program, funded by Kaufland Romania and managed by the Fundatia Pentru Dezvoltarea Societatii Civile (Foundation for the Development of Civil Society). The project also included training for permanent volunteers involved in the initiative and conducted 16 thematic workshops on healthy living and ecological behaviors.
The primary target group for the initiative was children and young people at risk of social exclusion, whose circumstances worsened after the COVID-19 pandemic. The objective was to provide them with "an alternative space to develop their personalities, as well as the necessary tools to adopt a healthy lifestyle in harmony with the surrounding environment." The project had a budget of 22,127 euros and was implemented over the span of six months. (1-5)

A small biodiversity park was established in Härlanda Park, an old prison complex which today houses a culture centre, a pre-school and office space. The area was previously used as a small lily garden, but this project implements more biodiversity-promoting features such as a bee hive, varied flowers and trees, different types of soil and insect hotels. The municipal real estate company Higab owns the park and partnered with Stadskupan, which works with urban beekeeping, biodiversity, and rewilding, to design and create the park. They also involved Vägen ut! (translates to "the way out"), a social enterprise that employs people who are far from the labour market due to substance abuse issues to help maintain the park in a socially inclusive way. The park has pedagogic features and events for local businesses and organisations as well as the public. The beehive was established in 2022, while the entire biodiversity park was established in 2023. The project will go on for three years and be evaluated yearly. [Ref. 1, 2, 3].

The Köprüköy Mosque in Adana, commonly named "green mosque", is one of a kind in Türkiye (Ref. 2,5). Its building and minaret are almost entirely covered by poison ivy and appear in vivid green colour from afar. Founded in 1929, it had to be remodelled in the early 60s as it couldn't sufficiently accommodate worshippers in the growing district. The mosque was then entirely built and rebuilt by the community, with its maintenance overseen by the mosque's protection association (Ref. 4). In the 70s, the ivy was planted and has since helped to protect the building from environmental stressors and keep visitors inside the garden and mosque cool during the summer heat (Ref. 4,5,6) Furthermore, the mosque’s well-maintained garden, home to around 280 species, is adored by local, national, and international visitors and tourists, as well as the media (Ref. 1,3,7). Frequent maintenance and rotation of the garden's flowers keep its appearance and function intact, one of which is the profound impact on visitors’ well-being, with many praising the unique atmosphere of the mosque that evokes peace, comfort, and spirituality (Ref. 1,3,4).
During COVID-19, the mosque could only host worshippers during praying hours, after which it quickly continued to bring people back together to garden, rest and socialize throughout the day (Ref. 1).

"The Neighborhood, Environment & Water Research Collaborations for Green Infrastructure (NEW-GI)" project in Warrendale, Detroit, aims to advance green stormwater infrastructure (GSI) knowledge and practice in legacy cities by integrating research on water quality, community well-being, governance, and ecological design. This collaborative effort, involving community members, government entities, and academic researchers, seeks to develop evidence-based strategies for sustainable stormwater management while enhancing urban landscapes and improving residents' quality of life.
In its first phase (2014-2015), the project created bioretention four bioretention gardens, each on two vacant residential properties in the Warrendale neighborhood. in Detroit's Warrendale neighborhood. These sites, constructed by the Detroit Water and Sewerage Department (DWSD) on vacant lots owned by the Detroit Land Bank Authority (DLBA), were monitored for water quality, and resident surveys were conducted to gauge the gardens' impact on neighborhood satisfaction and stormwater management.
The second phase (2016-2019) expanded the scope to refine GSI designs to reduce maintenance needs and further assess their effects on water management and community well-being. It also explored governance structures that impact GSI success, both in Detroit and other legacy cities, contributing to the development of guidance documents for GSI planning and decision-making.
Funded by the Fred A. and Barbara M. Erb Family Foundation, the NEW-GI project represents a transdisciplinary approach to urban ecological challenges, offering valuable insights into how GSI can deliver both environmental and social benefits in cities like Detroit.
(Ref.1,2)

In 2023, the municipality of Cagliari initiated a project to transform 50 school gardens into vibrant, multifunctional outdoor spaces that enhance education and recreation. Co-funded under an EU program, this initiative aims to create environments where students can learn and play outdoors, taking advantage of the city’s favorable climate. The gardens are being upgraded with new features, such as trees, educational vegetable plots, diverse plant species, playground equipment, and furniture, to provide versatile spaces for learning, sports, and play.
Automated irrigation systems are being installed in each garden, conserving water by adjusting based on soil humidity and detecting leaks. This technological upgrade ensures efficient maintenance of the green spaces.
Overall, the project seeks to enrich the educational experience by integrating nature into daily school life. It aims to promote students' physical and psychological well-being through more opportunities for outdoor learning and activities, fostering a connection with nature, and improving the overall quality of the school environment (Refs. 1, 2, 3, 4 & 5).

In Peru, there is a significant gap in the coverage of public spaces for social interaction, environmental awareness, and cultural expression in urban areas, reaching 23.10% (3). To address this issue and commemorate the 200th anniversary of Peru's independence, the national project "Proyecto Especial Bicentenario" (Special Bicentenary Project) was launched. As part of this project, 26 Cultural and Ecological Parks are being developed throughout the country (2, 5). This initiative aims to strengthen the role of municipalities in sustainable urban planning, prioritising the well-being of citizens and promoting citizen participation (1, 3).
These parks combine ecological elements with cultural infrastructure, fostering a connection between people and nature and their Peruvian identity (5). By offering recreational and educational spaces, the goal is to raise public awareness of the importance of local biodiversity and strengthen community ties (1, 5). To ensure that these spaces meet the needs of each community, a citizen participation campaign called "Ideas for My Bicentennial Cultural Park" was implemented, allowing citizens to propose ideas from various perspectives, such as design, culture, citizenship, and the environment (5).
The San Isidro Bicentennial Park, inaugurated in 2020, is an example of this initiative. With its 20,000 square meters of green areas, cultural activities, family recreation zones, and a neighbourhood gathering centre, this park has become a new green lung for the city and a meeting place for people of all ages, with a focus on inclusion for children and the elderly (2, 4, 5). Additionally, it features a municipal community garden of 250 m2 that promotes urban agriculture and offers workshops to teach citizens about sustainable farming practices (6).

The "Ruas Verdes+" (green streets) project, implemented in the parishes of Areeiro and Arroios in Lisbon, is part of a broader European initiative, Conexus, aimed at promoting green solutions in highly urbanized areas (Ref 3). The project primarily focuses on creating a tree-lined pedestrian corridor along Carlos Mardel and Francisco Sanches streets, establishing a continuous axis between the Casal Vistoso Urban Park and the Caracol da Penha Garden (Ref 1). This corridor is designed to mitigate urban heat island effects, enhance ecological connectivity, and improve residents' quality of life (Ref 5). The pilot phase includes planting 20 trees on Rua Carlos Mardel and removing a minimal number of parking spaces to balance urban greening with local needs (Ref 1). Additionally, planters are being introduced in the Bairro dos Actores area to test the community’s response to greening initiatives (Ref 1). The project also involves public participation through gardening workshops, encouraging residents to contribute to the greening effort by adding plants to their balconies (Ref 4). This initiative aims not only to enhance the urban environment but also to foster social inclusion and community engagement while addressing the challenges of climate change in Lisbon's densely populated areas (Ref 5).

The GLAS Garden in Ballymun was established in 2011 by the NGO Global Action Plan, serving as a community-driven initiative that offers a welcoming and accessible space where people of all ages and abilities can engage with nature, learn new skills, and build connections within their community. The garden is actively utilized on a weekly basis by various groups, including St. Michael’s House, Saol Clubhouse, the Central Remedial Clinic, Ballark Youth Training, and Young Ballymun. It features a polytunnel for year-round growing, a whimsical fairy garden, and numerous microhabitats, including a pond, composting systems, a grow dome, and an innovative rainwater harvesting system made from recycled plastic bottles.
As part of the social regeneration program for Ballymun, the Green Living and Sustainability (GLAS) community garden has been operated by Global Action Plan (GAP) since its inception. It is supported by Dublin City Council under the Social Regeneration Fund and serves as a hub for environmental education and social inclusion in the area.
GAP’s GLAS garden brings together individuals of all ages and abilities, providing a socially inclusive space for participatory learning and active exploration of sustainability. It plays a crucial role in helping individuals and groups reduce their carbon footprint, produce organic food, and enjoy nature, thus transforming the garden into a space for positive change. (1-5)

A community garden opened in 2023 on the Technological University (TU) Dublin Blanchardstown campus. This environmental education and social inclusion project is a collaborative effort involving Fingal County Council, Global Action Plan Ireland, TU Dublin, and the local community. It provides a space for local groups and schools to grow fresh produce, reconnect with nature, and foster a stronger sense of community.
Rooted in a successful template developed by Global Action Plan in Ballymun, this initiative promotes social and cultural inclusion alongside environmental education. The Green Living & Sustainability Community Garden (GLAS) aims to create an inclusive environment that welcomes individuals of all ages, abilities, and backgrounds. More than a site for cultivating plants, flowers, and vegetables, the garden serves as a hub for fostering social connections, enhancing well-being, and offering valuable educational opportunities.
The garden provides individuals with the chance to engage in social horticulture, exploring the connections between food, health, biodiversity, and global issues such as climate change. It operates on organic and regenerative principles, with all tasks and harvests shared by volunteers. Additionally, the garden will support youth gardening projects and public workshops on topics such as growing food, composting, water harvesting, and waste management. Beyond its environmental benefits, the garden helps people connect with one another, positively impacting social, physical, and mental well-being.

In 2021, the real estate company Inamstro, in collaboration with the Municipality of Iași, the civil organization "Glasul Vieții" (Voice of Life), and local citizens, initiated a tree-planting initiative that involved planting 250 trees near a residential area and a parking lot in the Frumoasa neighborhood of Iași. This neighborhood is smaller compared to other areas of the city and was developed during the communist systematization of the 1970s and 1980s. It consists of groups of four-story blocks arranged around common spaces, situated near the Frumoasa Monastery complex.
The main goals of the 2021 planting action were to enhance green space, lower air temperatures, reduce urban air pollutants—such as fine particulate matter—absorb CO2, and improve overall health and quality of life (1–5). Additionally, the implementing company concluded that the trees planted near residential areas can significantly reduce energy needs for air conditioning and heating, leading to an average cost decrease of 30% during summer and winter (1, 2).
Volunteers participating in the project received a "tree certificate," signifying their commitment to planting and adopting a tree (7). In this initiative, volunteers were also tasked with monitoring the growth of their adopted trees to ensure their health (1–6).