Green Corridor Südpanke

, Berlin (FUA), Germany

City population: 4186143

Duration: 2010 – 2021

Implementation status: Completed

Scale: Micro-scale: District/neighbourhood level

Project area: 23070 m²

Type of area: Public Greenspace Area

Last updated: November 2024

The Green Corridor Südpanke is a transformative restoration project that unveiled 700 meters of the river Südpanke, connecting Invalidenpark and Südpankepark in the heart of Berlin. This initiative, part of Berlin's broader mission to restore the Panke River, was spearheaded by the state of Berlin with a focus on ecological restoration, biodiversity enhancement, microclimate cooling, and creating recreational spaces to improve the quality of life for residents (Ref. 2; Ref. 3). Historically, the river in this area was channeled underground. The project brought the Südpanke back to the surface, integrating ecological principles and landscape planning into the design. The restored section of the river now flows openly in a natural watercourse bed, making it accessible to the public (Ref. 5). The restoration was completed in 2021, transforming the area with features such as playgrounds, lawns, benches, and a continuous biking and walking path that weaves through the green spaces. Work on the project began in 2010 but was interrupted by the construction of the neighboring headquarters of the Federal Intelligence Service. As a result, parts of the green corridor were opened to the public in 2012, with the full restoration completed nearly a decade later, in 2021 (Ref. 3; Ref. 6). The project established a seamless connection for cyclists and pedestrians from Invalidenpark in the south to Südpankepark in the north. The new open water section cools the microclimate in Berlin's densely built-up center while providing a critical habitat for plants and animals. Embankments and meadows near the Federal Intelligence Service's property support wild bees and other pollinators, fostering biodiversity. The Green Corridor Südpanke is a vibrant example of how urban ecological restoration can contribute to sustainability, quality of life, and resilience in a growing city. (Ref. 2)

Walking path along the Südplanke

Eckhard Garbe GmbH

Overview

Nature-based solution

Blue infrastructure
Rivers/streams/canals/estuaries
Riverbank/Lakeside greens
Parks and urban forests
Green corridors and green belts

Key challenges

Climate action for adaptation, resilience and mitigation (SDG 13)
Climate change adaptation
Green space, habitats and biodiversity (SDG 15)
Green space creation and/or management
Habitat and biodiversity restoration
Regeneration, land-use and urban development
Promote natural styles of landscape design for urban development
Health and well-being (SDG 3)
Creation of opportunities for recreation
Enabling opportunities for physical activity

Principal problems in Functional Urban Area (FUA)

Climate-Related Hazards
Heat stress & Extreme temperatures
Environmental Degradation
Biodiversity loss
Land use and Socio-economic change
Rapid urbanization
Health, Well-being and Social cohesion
Inadequate access to recreational opportunities

Key priorities

Climate action (adaptation and/or mitigation), Biodiversity (conservation and/or restoration)

Focus

Creation of new green areas, Creation of green corridors (including connectivity between urban and rural ecosystems), Management and improved protection of rivers and other blue areas, River rehabilitation/ restoration, Restoration of riparian vegetation, Ecological restoration of ecosystems, Restoration and protection of ecosystems (including water ecosystems), Protection of natural ecosystems, Habitat restoration

Project objectives

To restore the river ecosystem of the Südpanke To restore riverside habitats and enhance biodiversity To create a continuous green corridor connecting existing urban parks and green spaces To improve quality of life by creating recreational green spaces To expand urban blue ecosystems as a means to mitigate the urban heat island effect To enhance urban mobility and recreational opportunities through integrated green and blue infrastructure. (Ref. 2; Ref. 3; Ref. 11).

Implementation activities

To restore the Südpanke River and its surrounding habitats, 700 meters of the previously underground river were uncovered and transformed into an open watercourse. Its banks were revitalized with the planting of native plants and wildflowers, creating embankments that support biodiversity (Ref. 2; Ref. 3; Ref. 9). While some pre-existing trees were removed during construction to open the space, accessible meadows and lawns were created, offering inviting areas for rest and relaxation (Ref. 4). A continuous pathway was designed for cyclists and pedestrians, connecting Invalidenpark in the south to Südpankepark in the north, promoting urban mobility and recreation (Ref. 3). The project’s development began with a public competition for the landscape design in 2007, won by the landscape architecture office bbzl böhm benfer zahiri. The first phase of construction occurred from 2010 to 2012. Following the dismantling of construction fences around the Federal Intelligence Service headquarters, planning and tendering for the second phase resumed in 2016. Construction began in 2018, and by 2021, the green corridor was inaugurated, completing the vision for the space (Ref. 1; Ref. 3). Future plans aim to extend the green link along the Südpanke to its mouth at Schiffbauerdamm. This includes creating additional connections to nearby streets, further integrating the corridor into Berlin’s urban fabric and enhancing accessibility for residents and visitors (Ref. 10).

Climate-focused activities

Climate change adaptation:

Increase urban vegetation cover to reduce urban heat island effect

Biodiversity conservation or restoration-focused activities

Biodiversity restoration:

Rehabilitate and restore damaged or destroyed ecosystems
Restore species (native, endangered, or unspecified)
Restore native species

Main beneficiaries

Citizens or community groups

Governance

Management set-up

Co-governance with government and non-government actors

Type of initiating organisation

Regional government
Private sector/corporate actor/company

Participatory approaches/ community involvement

Co-planning (e.g. stakeholder workshops, focus groups, participatory mapping)
Taskforce groups
Joint implementation (e.g. tree planting)

Details on the roles of the organisations involved in the project

Private actors in charge of design and realization: The project for the green corridor was designed by the landscape architecture office bbzl böhm benfer zahiri. They were also involved in overseeing its implementation. During this process, they worked alongside the Grigoleit office from Berlin, which provided expertise in engineering and hydraulic structures. Other specialized companies were also involved in the project. Governmental actors in charge of oversight and engineering work: Grün Berlin GmbH, a state-owned company represented the Senate Department for Urban Development, and were responsible for overseeing the project from the perspective of urban planning. A department of the Senate for Environment provided hydraulic engineering (Ref. 1,2,3,8,9)

Project implemented in response to ...

... an EU policy or strategy? Yes (1. The green corridor along the Südpanke is part of the overarching green corridor along the Panke. In accordance with and on the basis of the European Water Framework Directive (WFD), the aim of the development is to connect the Panke with the surrounding area from an aquatic ecology and landscape planning perspective. (Ref. 11; Ref. 12) 2. Charter for Berlin's urban greenery (Ref. 11))

... a national policy or strategy? Yes (The "Ordinance on the prevention and compensation of interventions in nature and landscape in the area of responsibility of the Federal Administration" (Federal Compensation Ordinance) (Ref. 13), requires the German state to avoid interference with nature or landscapes and to compensate it if, due to public infrastructure projects (e.g. building highways, ministries, government buildings), nature and landscapes get destroyed. The ordinance serves to standardise the application of the impact regulation (following the Federal Nature Conservation Act) for federal projects, while at the same time maintaining high nature conservation standards. Implementing the green corridor at the Südplanke was financially supported by such compensation for destroyed green space during the construction of the headquarters for the Federal Intelligence Service. The site of the new buildings was formerly a sports ground and accessible to the public as an unmanaged green space. (Ref. 2))

... a local policy or strategy? Unknown

Type of enablers

Governance innovations (such as public private partnerships), Funds, subsidies or investment for GI/NBS in the city (available for the city or provided by the city)

Financing

Total cost

More than €4,000,000

Source(s) of funding

Public national budget
Public regional budget

Type of funding

Earmarked public budget

Non-financial contribution

Type of non-financial contribution

Provision of land

Who provided the non-financial contribution?

Public authorities (e.g. land, utility services)

Impacts and Monitoring

Environmental impacts

Climate change
Lowered local temperature
Achieved lowered local temperature
Green space and habitat
Increased green space area
Achieved increased green space area
Increase in protected green space areas
Achieved increase in protected green space areas
Increased conservation or restoration of ecosystems
Achieved increased conservation or restoration of ecosystems
Increased number of species present
Achieved increased number of species present

Economic impacts

Unknown

Socio-cultural impacts

Social justice and cohesion
Improved liveability
Achieved improved liveability
Improved access to urban green space
Achieved improved access to urban green space
Health and wellbeing
Gain in activities for recreation and exercise
Achieved gain in activities for recreation and exercise
Enhanced cognitive restoration, relaxation and stress relief
Achieved enhanced cognitive restoration, relaxation and stress relief

Type of reported impacts

Presence of formal monitoring system

Unknown

Presence of indicators used in reporting

No evidence in public records

Presence of monitoring/ evaluation reports

No evidence in public records

Availability of a web-based monitoring tool

No evidence in public records

Potential risks of implementation and trade-offs

Social justice and conflicts, Lack of social acceptance, Offsetting, Biodiversity offsetting *

References

bbzl (n.d.). Berlin Green Corridor Südpanke. Accessed on August 22, 2024, [Source link];

Berliner Abendblatt (2021). Berlin-Mitte: Neuer Grünzug an der Panke eröffnet. Accessed on August 22, 2024, [Source link];

Ballhorn, D. (2021). Neuer Erholungsraum für die Hauptstadt Nach drei Jahren Bauzeit: Südpankepark in Berlin Mitte eingeweiht. Accessed on August 22, 2024, [Source link];

Käpplinger, C. (n.d.). Ein Wasserweg mit zwei Seiten Grünzug Südpanke, Berlin-Mitte. Accessed on August 22, 2024, [Source link];

Eckhard Garbe GmbH (n.d.). Neues Parkareal für Berlin Grünzug Südpanke, 10115 Berlin. Accessed on August 22, 2024, [Source link];

Jericho, D. (2018). Hinter der neuen Geheimdienstzentrale plätschert die Südpanke. Accessed on August 22, 2024, [Source link];

Kiefert, U. (2021). Grünzug an der Südpanke zwischen Chaussee- und Habersaathstraße ist fertig: Viel Grün und Wasser. Accessed on August 22, 2024, [Source link];

Otto, S. (2021). Neuer Grünzug an der Südpanke eröffnet – Panke verläuft wieder oberirdisch. Accessed on August 22, 2024, [Source link];

von Hagen, J. (2021). Berlin Südpanke offengelegt. Accessed on August 22, 2024, [Source link];

10.

Grün Berlin (n.d.). Grünzug an der Südpanke Planung & Entwicklung. Accessed on August 22, 2024, [Source link];

11.

Grün Berlin (n.d.). Urbane Freiräume Grünzug an der Panke. Accessed on August 22, 2024, [Source link];

12.

Senate Department for Mobility, Transport, Climate Protection and Environment (n.d.). Panke: Ausbau in Mitte und Pankow, Phase II. Accessed on August 22, 2024, [Source link];

13.

Open configuration optionsFederal Ministry of Justice & Federal Office of Justice (2020). Verordnung über die Vermeidung und die Kompensation von Eingriffen in Natur und Landschaft im Zuständigkeitsbereich der Bundesverwaltung (Bundeskompensationsverordnung - BKompV). Accessed on August 22, 2024, [Source link];

14.

District Office Mitte (n.d.). Einwohner*innen im Bezirk Mitte. Accessed on August 22, 2024, [Source link];

15.

District Office Mitte (n.d.). Demografische und sozioökonomische Daten. Accessed on August 22, 2024, [Source link];

Paths along the Südplanke, next to the Federal Intelligence Service buildings

Constructed paths along the Südplanke

Holger Koppatsch