Water management (SDG 6)

The Fechenheimer Mainbogen is the largest undeveloped floodplain area in Frankfurt am Main and a special recreational area in the Frankfurt Green Belt Internal link. Today, the Main Arch is mainly used for agriculture, but still contains numerous relics of a typical floodplain landscape, such as smaller floodplain trees, meadows and wet bank areas. Since 2015, the curve of the Main has been transformed back into a near-natural meadow landscape with water, alluvial forests and meadows in several steps. Animals and plants are given new valuable habitats and places of retreat, and people are given attractive recreational spaces in nature (10).

Platenstrasse in the Ginnheim district of Frankfurt was laid out as a four-lane feeder in the 1960s. It leads through the settlement of the same name, which was formerly the housing area of ​​the US armed forces. After their withdrawal in 1994, the settlement came into municipal ownership. Many large families, often with a migration background, moved in. Wild parking lots and storage spaces were created without any quality of stay. In 2000, discussion about the redesign of the Plattenstrasse started and in 2015 it was completely transformed into a green corridor. The street space was rearranged and the paved areas were reduced to the necessary extent. Sensitive planning and respect for the established structures helped to preserve the character of the district while significantly increasing the green area with recreational facilities. (1)

"This disctrict of "Plateau de Haye" is part of the EcoQuartier approach, is one of the most ambitious urban renewal projects. In line with the development of the New Urban Renewal Program, work was carried out this year [2012] on the challenges of opening up territory to its urban and forestry environment in order to confirm the "Forest City" approach initiated by the architect-town planner Alexandre Chemetoff" (Ref. 1). It received the EcoQuartier National Grand Prize (Ref. 2). A forest, community gardens and a green corridor are being developed with a rainwater recovery system (Ref. 2). Work is set to continue until 2024 (Ref. 10). "It will first allow work to be done on the functionalities of the district : development of spaces freed up by the demolition of the Blanc Sycamore and the Purple Beech, reconversion of the Tamaris and Ombelles into housing, shops and spaces dedicated to companies, creation of green spaces , shared gardens and parking" (Ref. 10).

The South Pennine Moors is a conservation area in the Natura 2000 network. This site is crucial for active blanket bog and is part of two Special Protection Areas in the Birds Directive, including golden plover, dunlin, short-eared owl and merlin, dependent on the blanket bog for breeding and feeding. The conservation status of the site is threatened due to sulphate and nitrate pollution, causing severe depletion of crucial sphagnum moss cover. Fire damage has led to more extreme erosion than if the moorlands had remained sphagnum-rich. The restoration of favourable conditions thereby depends on re-establishing a sphagnum-rich bog. (3)
The project included three Natura 2000 sites, the Peak District Moors (South Pennine Moors Phase 1), South Pennine Moors Phase 2 and South Pennine Moors (3).

The district will initially incorporate 516 new low carbon homes alongside manufacturing, leisure, offices and climate-resilient public realm. (2) The overall approach to landscaping, amenity space and public realm in the scheme is to make use of sustainable drainage techniques, enhance the biodiversity value of the River Aire corridor, provide an appropriate level of landscaped publicly accessible open space, and contribute positively to the overall distinctive sense of place at the site. (12)

"The desire to integrate trees in the heart of Nancy constitutes a long-standing commitment. The first Charter for Trees of Nancy was signed in 1996. Plant diversity was strengthened and the protection of trees accentuated, in particular thanks to the requirements of the Local Urban Planning. In 2013, the new version of the Charter will make it possible to engage all the actors of urban policy to increase protection of the tree, to be vital to biodiversity and to the quality of the living environment" (Ref. 1). "New legal, urban, ecological and social issues have emerged. The old charter now requires improvements in the face of certain evolutions. It was decided to renew it. This new document is in line with the previous one and faces the new issues of the trees in the city" (Ref. 1, p 9).

Persistently low water levels on the Moson-Danube since 2002, caused by the sinking of and loss of supportive effect from the Danube, caused severe ecological, agricultural and water flow problems (Reference 12). The project, funded by the EU through the Széchenyi Development Plan, was aimed at improving water management and rehabilitating the degraded ecosystem of the area (Reference 1).
The project consists of two phases: the reconstruction and regeneration of the river in the entire Moson-Danube area, and the creation flood gate at the delta. The first phase was completed in 2015, the second phase started in 2017 and is planned to finish in 2021 (Reference 12 and 13).

This intervention aimed to address low water levels and low water quality in the Sandall Beat Wood and Cantley Park. The problems have been identified by the council and this project was planned to improve the water levels as well as the water quality. This also helped in improving the gross water flow of the regions and protected the wetland habitats. In addition to the above-mentioned benefits, the project successfully engaged local communities. (Ref 2).

The city of Napoli has implemented a comprehensive plan of urban regeneration of the Bagnoli coastal area. The national agency Invitalia has been in charge by the government to develop a plan of regeneration. In particular, the main points of the project related to NBS concern the development of a waterfront, namely the regeneration of the coast including the main park, the beach, and the experimentation of botanical species to reduce the environmental impact of the area. This plan is finalized for the requalification and restoration of the green area, as well as to help with the mitigation of urban pollution (Ref.1).
The project is in its planning stage (2020), according to the national agency that coordinates the project. On the official website of the project it is mentioned that in January 2020, 20 candidates have been selected in order to present their ideas. In July 2020 the agency met with the local community for discussions. At the moment the state agency initiated a PRELIMINARY MARKET CONSULTATION (Ref.1).

The center of the project is the lake Patria, which is the subject of a regeneration process with the creation of an archaeological and environmental park, providing several ecosystem services with the creation of green and blue corridors. There are a few challenges to this project, such as lack of financial support, urban and social fragmentation, and possible privatization of public spaces (Ref.3).
The project is still in its planning phase, 11 years after the feasibility study was published. In the local media, it is mentioned that in 2019 the authorities awaited the green light by the Region which will have to issue the impact assessment certificate. Once the certificate has been obtained, they will proceed with the approval of the executive project in order to then be able to call the tender (Ref. 4).