Last updated: November 2024
Across Detroit, neglected properties and vacant lots are a common sight (1). Nearly three-quarters of Detroit residents report that there is currently deterioration—defined in the survey as a building or property visibly declining due to long-term neglect—in their neighborhoods (1). One organization, Rescue MI Nature Now, a Michigan nonprofit, is dedicated to transforming these neglected areas into beautiful, functional spaces that benefit both people and wildlife (2). In 2022, the organization purchased property from the Detroit Land Bank that was marked for demolition (3). Following extensive renovations, the building—now named the Innovative Youth Studio—has become a hub for multiple community initiatives. These include a community garden across the street, a culinary studio that teaches young people how to prepare nutritious meals, a pollinator studio that educates on the critical role pollinators play in the food chain, and a hydroponic studio where plants are grown using nutrient-rich water instead of soil (3). The pollinator project, developed in partnership with the U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service, supports small bee colonies by planting areas with trees, flowers, and native plants (2). To further enhance biodiversity and support butterflies, bees, and birds, Rescue MI Nature Now partnered with Bowling Green State University to gain insights into pollinator biodiversity and habitat potential (2). Through this initiative, the organization aims to raise awareness about pollinators, highlight their positive impact, offer guidance on creating pollinator-friendly spaces at home and enhance the quality of life for local residents and communities (2). Additionally, the organization runs a Sustainable Youth Stewardship Program, where young people learn to garden, grow trees, identify various plants and invasive species, and practice conservation skills such as creating pollinator habitats and managing community gardens (3).
Pollinators project
https://www.pollinator.org/nappc/pollinator-communications/rmnn
Overview
Nature-based solution
- Community gardens and allotments
- Community gardens
- Other
Key challenges
- Green space, habitats and biodiversity (SDG 15)
- Green space creation and/or management
- Habitat and biodiversity restoration
- Inclusive and effective governance (SDG 16)
- Effective management
- Social justice, cohesion and equity (SDG 10)
- Social interaction
- Environmental education
- Sense of community and community engagement
- Sustainable consumption and production (SDG 12)
- Sustainable production
Principal problems in Functional Urban Area (FUA)
- Environmental Degradation
- Biodiversity loss
- Land use and Socio-economic change
- Displacement
- Unequal availability and access to public green spaces
- Health, Well-being and Social cohesion
- Poor community engagement
Key priorities
Biodiversity (conservation and/or restoration), Social Justice and community
Focus
Creation of new green areas, Creation of areas for food production (community gardens, allotments), Creation of any other green urban spaces, Protection of natural ecosystems, Habitat restoration, Transformation of previously derelict areas, Transformation of vacant land into green spaces, Knowledge creation and awareness raising, Educational and awareness raising programs, Monitoring and maintenance of habitats and/or biodiversity, Clearing out invasive alien species and allow natural regeneration maintaining the functionality the ecosystem, Other
Project objectives
To transform unused land into green spaces filled with trees, flowers, and native plants.
To design green spaces that include areas for small bee colonies, community gardens, and gathering spaces.
To offer nature-based educational programs and job skills, connecting people with nature and restoring faith in the community.
To turn neglected areas into beautiful, functional spaces, highlighting their potential for community benefit. This goal aims to create spaces that are not only visually appealing but also beneficial for both people and local wildlife, including pollinators.
To teach children and others how to manage invasive plant species and provide opportunities for interaction
To restore vacant lots as native pollinator habitats that the community can use, learn from, and enjoy.
To grow food in areas where pollinators are already thriving.
To involve the local community in management practices
To educate the community on environmental issues and work to mitigate concerns, such as the urban heat island effect. (2)
Implementation activities
To achieve the goals of the pollinator project, Rescue MI Nature Now engaged in a variety of activities including:
1. Taking part in the Sweet on Detroit program through Keep Growing Detroit to learn about beekeeping, the importance of pollinators and their importance to humans (2).
2. Purchased a house from the Detroit Land Bank slated for demolition and renovated it into the Innovative Youth Studio, implementing a culinary studio, a community garden across the street, a pollinator studio and a hydroponic studio (3).
3. Partnered with Bowling Green State University to see how many different types of pollinators there are and what the diversity of habitat is on their farm (2).
4. Partnered with U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service to restore what were once vacant lot to a native pollinator habitat that will be open and available for the community to use, learn from, and enjoy (2).
Communities vulnerable to environmental hazards or climate change impacts
Yes
Specification of climate or environmentally vulnerable communities
Urban heat islands
Biodiversity conservation or restoration-focused activities
Biodiversity restoration:
- Restore species (native, endangered, or unspecified)
- Restore native species
- Restore valued species
- Restore endangered species
- Clear and control invasive alien species
- Public engagement
Main beneficiaries
- Citizens or community groups
- Young people and children
Governance
Management set-up
- Co-governance with government and non-government actors
Type of initiating organisation
- Non-government organisation/civil society
- Citizens or community group
Participatory approaches/ community involvement
- Co-planning (e.g. stakeholder workshops, focus groups, participatory mapping)
- Joint implementation (e.g. tree planting)
- Citizen monitoring and review
Details on the roles of the organisations involved in the project
The pollinator habitat program is managed by the non-profit organization Rescue MI Nature Now, which works to restore neglected properties, organize community events, host a community garden, and run various educational programs. This initiative brings together support from multiple sectors.
The U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service has partnered with Rescue MI Nature Now to convert previously vacant lots into native pollinator habitats, creating spaces for the community to enjoy, learn from, and benefit. Additionally, Bowling Green State University has contributed expertise by helping analyze the types of pollinators and the biodiversity of habitats within the community garden.
The organization was founded in 2019 by Zenaida Flores and her longtime partner, Tharmond Ligon Jr. Local youth play a critical role in sustaining the organization, volunteering for projects and helping maintain the garden and other community efforts. (2-3)
Project implemented in response to ...
... an EU policy or strategy?
Unknown
... a national policy or strategy?
Unknown
... a local policy or strategy?
Unknown
Type of enablers
Capacity-building projects, NGOs/Community groups driving the implementation
Financing
Total cost
Unknown
Source(s) of funding
- Public national budget
- Funds provided by non-governmental organization (NGO)
Type of funding
- Direct funding (grants, subsidies, or self-financed projects by private entities)
Non-financial contribution
Type of non-financial contribution
- Provision of labour
Who provided the non-financial contribution?
- Citizens (e.g. volunteering)
Impacts and Monitoring
Environmental impacts
- Green space and habitat
- Increased conservation or restoration of ecosystems
- Achieved increased conservation or restoration of ecosystems
- Increased conversion of degraded land or soil
- Achieved increased conversion of degraded land or soil
- Improved prevention or control of invasive alien species
- Achieved improved prevention or control of invasive alien species
- Enhanced support of pollination
- Achieved enhanced support of pollination
- Increased spread of native/heirloom/open-pollinated seed
- Achieved increased spread of native/heirloom/open-pollinated seed
Economic impacts
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
- Achieved increased opportunities for social interaction
- Increased involvement of locals in the management of green spaces
- Achieved increased involvement of locals in the management of green spaces
- Increased access to healthy/affordable food
- Achieved increased access to healthy/affordable food
- Cultural heritage and sense of place
- Improvement in people’s connection to nature
- Achieved improvement in people’s connection to nature
- Education
- Increased knowledge of locals about local nature
- Achieved increased knowledge of locals about local nature
Type of reported impacts
Presence of formal monitoring system
Yes
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
Potential risks of implementation and trade-offs
Unknown
References
1.
University of Michigan (2020). Issue Brief: Blight in Detroit. [Source link];
2.
North American Pollinator Protection Campaign (n.d.). Rescue MI Nature Now. [Source link];
3.
Lovy, Jennifer (2024). Rescue MI Nature Now is Turning Blight to Beauty. [Source link];
4.
Data USA (n.d.). Highland Park, MI. [Source link];
Pollinators project
https://www.pollinator.org/nappc/pollinator-communications/rmnn
Information about this nature-based solution was collected as part of the Naturescapes project funded by the European Union under Grant Agreement No 101084341.