Last updated: November 2024
Tempelhofer Feld stands as an innovative green solution in the heart of Berlin, addressing several issues of environmental justice, biodiversity, and urban resilience. Within the S-Bahn ring, only one in 20 residents lives in areas well-served by green spaces, and districts like Neukölln, Kreuzberg, and Tempelhof would face even greater scarcity without this vast expanse. Many residents in these neighborhoods lack access to private green spaces such as gardens or balconies. Without nearby parks, people are compelled to travel to other districts, exacerbating the congestion of green spaces and increasing local traffic. Since its opening in 2010, Tempelhofer Feld has provided Berlin with over 300 hectares of open, green, leisure, and recreational space, making it one of the largest urban open spaces globally. Once the site of bustling air traffic, it is now a sanctuary for activities such as skating, strolling, gardening, picnicking, birdwatching, kiteboarding, and more. These wide-ranging uses showcase its transformation into an accessible, multifunctional green space that serves as a social equalizer, particularly for disadvantaged neighborhoods, a significance amplified during the Covid-19 pandemic. The field is not just a recreational haven but also a vital ecological refuge. With over two-thirds of its area designated as green space, it hosts diverse ecosystems, including extensive natural meadows, lawns, and protected habitats for birds and other species. Certain areas are closed to the public to preserve these sensitive environments, emphasizing the balance between human activity and ecological conservation. Since 2019, animal landscape keepers, including around 100 resident sheep, have contributed to sustainable land management practices, promoting biodiversity and ecological health (Ref. 2). Managed collaboratively by political, administrative, and societal actors, the site exemplifies integrated citizen participation in urban planning. (Ref. 3)
Tempelhofer Feld
Anne Wessner
Overview
Nature-based solution
- Community gardens and allotments
- Horticulture
- Parks and urban forests
- Pocket parks/neighbourhood green spaces
- Other
Key challenges
- Climate action for adaptation, resilience and mitigation (SDG 13)
- Climate change adaptation
- Climate change mitigation
- Environmental quality
- Air quality improvement
- Noise reduction
- Green space, habitats and biodiversity (SDG 15)
- Green space creation and/or management
- Habitat and biodiversity restoration
- Regeneration, land-use and urban development
- Regulation of built environment
- Promote natural styles of landscape design for urban development
- Cultural heritage and cultural diversity
- Protection of historic and cultural landscape/infrastructure
- Health and well-being (SDG 3)
- Creation of opportunities for recreation
- Enabling opportunities for physical activity
- Inclusive and effective governance (SDG 16)
- Inclusive governance
- Social justice, cohesion and equity (SDG 10)
- Social justice and equity
- Environmental education
Principal problems in Functional Urban Area (FUA)
- Climate-Related Hazards
- Urban flooding (stormwater)
- Heat stress & Extreme temperatures
- Degradation of carbon sinks
- Environmental Degradation
- Biodiversity loss
- Air pollution
- Land use and Socio-economic change
- Rapid urbanization
- Unequal availability and access to public green spaces
- Health, Well-being and Social cohesion
- Inadequate access to recreational opportunities
Key priorities
Climate action (adaptation and/or mitigation), Biodiversity (conservation and/or restoration), Social Justice and community
Focus
Creation of new green areas, Creation of large parks and urban and peri-urban forests, Maintenance and management of urban nature, Maintenance or upgrade of exisiting green spaces (e.g. parks), Ecological restoration of ecosystems, Ecological restoration of existing green spaces, Protection of natural ecosystems, Habitat restoration, Transformation of previously derelict areas, Post-industrial site regeneration, Transformation of vacant land into green spaces, Knowledge creation and awareness raising, Educational and awareness raising programs, Improved governance of green or blue areas, Establishment of inclusive governance mechanisms involving local communities
Project objectives
To improve access to green spaces in Berlin
To ensure public accessibility and participation in decision-making processes
To promote usage of the area for leisure, recreation, exercise and nature conservation ( sports, leisure, education, culture and creativity)- including environmental education tours
To offer a combination of various ecological services of biodiversity, climate and air quality improvement and noise reduction.
To transform a former airfield into a green space and encourage social encounters and democratic negotiations.
To increase the area resilience to climate change, particularly reversing the heat island effect and carbon sequestration
(Ref. 1-4)
Implementation activities
Initially used for military and passenger aviation since the 19th century, the airfield officially ceased operations in 2008. In 2010, it was opened to the public, inviting NGOs and civil society to establish nonprofit initiatives.
The long-term future of Tempelhofer Feld was decided through a 2014 referendum, where Berliners overwhelmingly supported the Tempelhofer Feld Act, a landmark decision enshrining its non-commercial use. The law prohibits permanent new buildings on the site, ensuring its preservation as an open landscape and historical airfield . A tree nature trail was created in the Oderstraße area of Tempelhofer Feld, showcasing 91 trees, including apple, cherry, and other fruit varieties.
Today, Tempelhofer Feld is a haven for biodiversity and sustainable land management. The introduction of sheep grazing serves as an innovative, species-friendly method to maintain green spaces and restore habitats . The field’s outer meadow ring acts as a vital ecological buffer, providing essential habitats for rare plants, including dry grassland and fresh meadow species, and for protected animals such as skylarks and kestrels. It offers diverse recreational opportunities, including a six-kilometer track for cycling, skating, and jogging, a two-and-a-half-hectare barbecue area, a four-hectare dog meadow, expansive picnic zones, and space for sports, kite flying. The open expanse accommodates unique events, concerts, and immersive nature experiences. (Ref. 2, 4, 5)
Climate-focused activities
Climate change adaptation:
- Increase urban vegetation cover to reduce urban heat island effect
Climate change mitigation:
- Increase the availability of green urban space for carbon storage (street tree cover)
Biodiversity conservation or restoration-focused activities
Biodiversity restoration:
- Rehabilitate and restore damaged or destroyed ecosystems
- Restore species (native, endangered, or unspecified)
Main beneficiaries
- Citizens or community groups
- Young people and children
- Marginalized groups: Socio-economically disadvantaged populations (e.g. low-income households, unemployed)
Governance
Management set-up
- Co-governance with government and non-government actors
Type of initiating organisation
- Regional government
- Citizens or community group
- Private sector/corporate actor/company
Participatory approaches/ community involvement
- Co-planning (e.g. stakeholder workshops, focus groups, participatory mapping)
- Deliberative decision-making processes (e.g., consensus building, deliberative polling)
- Dissemination of information and education
- Consultation (e.g. workshop, surveys, community meetings, town halls)
- Co-management/Joint management
Details on the roles of the organisations involved in the project
The state Berlin owns the space of the Tempelhofer Feld, while the Senate Department for Mobility, Transport, Climate Protection and Environment is the administrative entity that makes strategic decisions, plans the budget and funds the project. The state-owned company Grün Berlin GmbH manages the financial planning and is the recipient of funding. (Ref. 6) Grün Berlin employs various service providers to fulfil the various management tasks (Ref. 8). Citizens are involved throughout various stages of planning, evaluation and decision-making processes, which are deeply connected to the maintenance and development of the project. The Tempelhofer Feld hosts different initiatives and programmes that are run by NGOs and civil society. (Ref. 4)
Project implemented in response to ...
... an EU policy or strategy?
Unknown
... a national policy or strategy?
Unknown
... a local policy or strategy?
Yes
(The project was implemented in 2010 and later secured through the Tempelhofer Feld Act (Ref. 5), realised through a citizen's referendum in 2014. (Ref. 4))
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
Unknown
Source(s) of funding
- Public regional budget
Type of funding
- Earmarked public budget
- Direct funding (grants, subsidies, or self-financed projects by private entities)
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
- Expected lowered local temperature
- Enhanced carbon sequestration
- Expected enhanced carbon sequestration
- Environmental quality
- Improved air quality
- Expected improved air quality
- Reduced noise exposure
- Expected reduced noise exposure
- Green space and habitat
- Increased green space area
- Achieved increased green space area
- Increased number of species present
- Achieved increased number of species present
Economic impacts
- Other
Socio-cultural impacts
- Social justice and cohesion
- Improved access to urban green space
- Achieved improved access to urban green space
- Increased opportunities for social interaction
- Expected increased opportunities for social interaction
- Health and wellbeing
- Gain in activities for recreation and exercise
- Expected gain in activities for recreation and exercise
- Improved prevention of respiratory problems
- Expected improved prevention of respiratory problems
- Enhanced cognitive restoration, relaxation and stress relief
- Expected enhanced cognitive restoration, relaxation and stress relief
- Other
Type of reported impacts
Presence of formal monitoring system
Yes
Presence of indicators used in reporting
Yes
Presence of monitoring/ evaluation reports
Yes
Availability of a web-based monitoring tool
No evidence in public records
Potential risks of implementation and trade-offs
Unknown
References
1.
Grün Berlin (n.d.). Tempelhofer Feld. Accessed on August 23, 2024, [Source link];
2.
Tempelhofer Feld (n.d.). Urbane Landwirtschaft. Accessed on August 23, 2024, [Source link];
3.
Die Grünen Berlin (n.d.). Tempelhofer Feld erhalten. Accessed on August 23, 2024, [Source link];
4.
Brenck, M., Hansjürgens, B., Schröter-Schlaack, C., Tröger, U., Wessner, A., Wittmer, H. (2021). Gesellschaftliche Wertigkeit des Tempelhofer Feldes. Accessed on August 23, 2024, [Source link];
5.
Senate Department for Justice and Consumer Protection (ed.) (2014). Gesetz zum Erhalt des Tempelhofer Feldes. Accessed on August 23, 2024, [Source link];
6.
Senate Department for Mobility, Transport, Climate Protection and the Environment (n.d.). Beteiligungmodell Tempelhofer Feld. Accessed on August 23, 2024, [Source link];
7.
Berlin-Brandenburg Statistical Office (2024). Statistischer Bericht . Accessed on August 23, 2024, [Source link];
8.
Tempelhofer Feld (n.d.). Maintenance. Accessed on August 23, 2024, [Source link];
Recreational activities at Tempelhofer Feld
Konstantin Börner
Tempelhofer Feld
https://www.tempelhoferfeld.de/en/
Tempelhofer Feld
https://www.tempelhoferfeld.de/en/
Tempelhofer Feld
https://www.tempelhoferfeld.de/en/
Tempelhofer Feld
https://www.tempelhoferfeld.de/en/
Tempelhofer Feld
https://www.tempelhoferfeld.de/en/
Tempelhofer Feld
https://www.tempelhoferfeld.de/en/
Tempelhofer Feld
https://www.tempelhoferfeld.de/en/
Information about this nature-based solution was collected as part of the Naturescapes project funded by the European Union under Grant Agreement No 101084341.