Public Services

The World Health Organization estimates that 80% of the population in developing countries use medicinal plants for health prevention and care, primarily in rural areas (3). These plant species have therapeutic potential in treating various diseases, and they are considered safe and effective medications with fewer side effects and affordable prices (3). In Peru, medicinal plants have historically been used to treat respiratory, gastrointestinal, and digestive ailments. To this day, they continue to be used by both native and urban communities (3).
To promote, develop, and encourage research, innovation, and technologies related to the use, preservation, conservation, and employment of medicinal and food plants, the National Center for Social and Intercultural Research in Health (CENSI) of the National Institute of Health (INS) has inaugurated its medicinal and food plant nursery located in one of its facilities (Chorrillos) in Lima (1, 3). The primary objective of this project is to adapt various species from the coast, mountains, and jungle of the country and initiate a plant production program that contributes to improving public health, environmental quality and the revitalization of the ancestral knowledge of indigenous, Amazonian, Andean, and Afro-Peruvian communities (1). Additionally, it aims to contribute to mitigating the effects of climate change by creating green areas, reducing atmospheric carbon dioxide levels through plant photosynthesis, improving soil quality, and promoting the responsible use of water resources, among others (3).
For the development of this project, the INS is working in collaboration with the International Organization for Migration to benefit not only the health and well-being of the Peruvian community but also promote the integration and care of the migrant population in the country (2).

The Lower Salt River Restoration Project (LSRRP) is a riparian restoration initiative located along the Lower Salt River within the Mesa Ranger District of the Tonto National Forest. This collaborative project seeks to restore a section of the Lower Salt River Recreation Area that was severely impacted by the 2017 Cactus Fire. The Cactus Fire was a significant wildfire that caused extensive damage to vegetation and habitat in the area, highlighting the need for targeted restoration efforts to rebuild the ecosystem and mitigate future fire risks.
The LSRRP’s primary activities focus on removing invasive tamarisk trees, which are highly flammable and contribute to the intensity of wildfires, and planting native seedlings to reestablish local flora. By removing tamarisk trees, the project aims to create a landscape that is more resistant to fire, reducing the wildfire risk for the region. Additionally, the project supports the abundance and diversity of native plant species by removing invasive plants and planting thousands of native riparian tree species.
The restoration efforts also aim to enhance the riparian habitat by expanding two critical vegetation communities—the mesquite bosque and the cottonwood-willow gallery forest. These communities support rich biodiversity and offer essential habitats for local wildlife.
Beyond ecological restoration, the project emphasizes community involvement and awareness. It provides opportunities for the local community to participate in the project through environmental education events for K-12 students and ongoing volunteer involvement in monitoring and maintaining restored areas.
Overall, the Lower Salt River Restoration Project is a proactive effort to protect and revitalize the Lower Salt River Recreation Area, enhancing its ecological resilience and engaging the community in long-term conservation. (2-4, 6, 8, 11)

The Chaowan Nursery Garden Base Project (潮玩苗圃基地), located along the Dianchi Greenway in Kunming, was established by the Kunming Gardens Virescence Bureau (昆明市园林绿化局) in 2022 as part of the city's efforts to transform into a "city of parks" (Ref 2, 3). Covering 639 mu (42.6 hectares), the Chaowan Nursery Garden has introduced over 1.4 million plants, including trees, flowers, and grasses, greatly expanding the city's green spaces (Ref 3). It serves as a key resource for the Kunming Greening Service Center (昆明市绿化服务中心), providing seedlings for major greening projects along roads like Guangfu Road, Airport Road, Beijing Road, and the Second Ring Elevated Road (Ref 4).
Innovatively designed, the nursery also functions as a park, offering an "immersive" experience with various themed areas such as rainwater gardens, rural gardens, Chinese gardens, and scenic balconies. These spaces allow visitors to stroll through and enjoy the beauty of various flowers and natural surroundings (Ref 4). The project also collaborates with local universities on seedling research, capacity building, and resource sharing, further enhancing its multifaceted role (Ref 3).
Since opening to the public in 2023, the Chaowan Nursery Garden has become a popular destination for families, young people, and children, offering both recreational and educational experiences (Ref 5, 6, 7, 8).

The "Line Park" project in Belgrade aims to create a continuous green belt spanning 4.6 kilometres and covering over 48 hectares. As such, the project will revitalize the former railway corridor from "Beton Hala", just below the Belgrade Fortress, to the Pancevac Bridge. Inspired by notable urban parks like New York's "High Line", Moscow's "Zagrađe," and Toronto's "Rail Corridor," it will become a major recreational destination and also help to alleviate the pressures from the city's heavy air pollution and summer heat (Ref. 5, 6).
The park will be divided into ten thematic sections dedicated to aromatic plant and flower gardens, urban gardening and beekeeping, sports facilities, a newly built university campus and more. Additionally, there will be an amphitheatre and facilities for outdoor education. To further integrate green infrastructure, new buildings will have green roofs and walls (Ref. 2,5). Ultimately, the park integrates a number of amenities into the entire city.
The development of the park also introduced innovative co-creation mechanisms in terms of governance and planning. Since Belgrade is part of the multinational CLEVER Cities Initiative, the city's Secretariat for Environmental Protection suggested the use of the site as a pilot test for introducing nature-based solutions in urban planning and with diverse stakeholders' input. Several workshops, focus groups, and consultations took place between 2019 and 2021, which facilitated the diversity of ideas that have been adopted into the official construction plan (Ref. 1, 2). Despite these successes, civil society groups raise concerns over the extraordinary cost of 70 million euros, displacement of Roma communities and the interest of real estate developers that may undermine the project's original cause (Ref. 3, 8).

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)

Thessaloniki has a dense urban structure with limited open and green spaces. As a coastal city severely impacted by climate change, it faces multiple interconnected challenges, including extreme weather events, flooding, and peri-urban forest fires. These issues are further compounded by the city's aging infrastructure and deteriorating buildings, increasing its vulnerability (Ref 1).
Kipos 3, a community garden, is part of the "Green Neighborhoods" project proposed in the Thessaloniki 2030 municipal resilience strategy (ibid.). Established in 2015 on a 600-square-meter plot donated by the municipality, the garden is now managed by 30 local families under the continued stewardship of the Municipality (Ref 2, 3). The garden's creation was supported by a team of architects, landscape architects, and agriculturists, and features a variety of herbs and edible plants grown using permaculture methods (Ref 3).
The garden hosts a greenhouse along a range of environmental, recreational, and educational activities, providing an opportunity to foster a more cohesive, inclusive, and resilient community. It also serves as a space for synergies and discussions about the future of the city (Ref 3, 4). Recognized as a good practice, the intervention has been showcased in national, European, and international networks (Ref 2, 4).

The "Parque Espíritu del Manglar" in Cartagena is a multi-zone public space designed to promote recreation, environmental awareness, and cultural identity. The park, which has undergone a significant reconstruction, offers a wide array of recreational equipment and spaces for contemplation in a natural setting. It is divided into six thematic zones: Entrance Zone; Sports Area, Open-Air Theatre, the Tertulia Island, offering scenic views, public restrooms, and statues such as the iconic "Macondo" tree, a tribute donated by Gabriel García Márquez’s family; Children’s Central Zone, featuring a pirate-themed mangrove ship and an Environmental Observation Deck. (ref 1).
With the reopening of the park, EPA Cartagena introduced an ecological trail on Tertulia Island, where a mangrove restoration process has been carried out, focusing on plant health and climate resilience. This area also hosts wildlife such as macaws, sloths, turtles, raccoons, and green herons—species that cannot be reintroduced into their natural habitats. (ref 2)
The park now serves as an active site for environmental education, particularly for children, with programs addressing solid waste separation, climate change, and the protection of natural resources. Its reopening has also been recognized as a key step in strengthening family-oriented tourism and promoting sustainable urban development in Cartagena. (ref 2)

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.

The Detroit RiverWalk is an urban development project along the Detroit River, designed to reconnect residents with their waterfront and revitalize a historically industrial area. Once characterized by abandoned buildings and industrial debris, the riverfront between the MacArthur and Ambassador Bridges had long been inaccessible to the public. To address this, the Detroit Riverfront Conservancy was established in 2003 to lead the redevelopment of this space.
The RiverWalk currently stretches along a 3.5-mile section, with plans to expand to 5.5 miles, integrating ecological restoration, public access, and recreational opportunities. The esplanade features native landscaping, artistic elements, and amenities, including four pavilions, a custom carousel, and areas for fishing, walking, biking, and inline skating.
Environmental remediation has been a crucial part of the project. In collaboration with the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s Great Lakes National Program Office, the Detroit Riverfront Conservancy successfully cleaned up 13,000 cubic yards of contaminated sediment, significantly reducing pollution and contributing to the removal of the Detroit River from the list of the most polluted sites in the Great Lakes. Furthermore, the project also includes greenways, park creation and revitalization.
The RiverWalk is not just a public space; it symbolizes Detroit’s transformation from a Rust Belt city to a sustainable urban environment. It exemplifies the power of public-private partnerships in revitalizing urban areas. The RiverWalk continues to expand, with plans to connect various parks and extend to the Ambassador Bridge, further enhancing the city’s waterfront. Its success was recognized in 2021 when it was named the Best Riverwalk in America by USA Today, cementing its status as a model for urban renewal and community engagement. (Ref. 1, 2, 3, 4)

Dudley, a historic market town in England and part of Birmingham's metro area, is reported to have some of the lowest rates of public access to nature in the country, ranking in the bottom 10% of governmental statistics for available greenspace relative to population density (Ref 1). To address this issue, the Dudley's Path to Nature Recovery project was launched in 2024 by the Birmingham and Black Country Wildlife Trust (BBCWT). The initiative aims to reduce inequalities in access to nature and create a greener future for local residents (ibid.).
Funded by the West Midlands Combined Authority, the project seeks to reconnect local communities with nature through five key activities: conservation work, community engagement, citizen science, partnership development, and the creation of new walking routes (Ref 1, 2, 3).
Among the project's activities, conservation efforts will include community engagement and focus on woodland improvement, heathland creation, and more. Additionally, the project will bring together key partners and community groups to explore collaboration models and identify potential sites for joint projects. Lastly, new walking routes will be created across the project’s landscape (Ref 1).