Last updated: October 2021
The project is a close-to-nature maintenance concept that combines the diverse usage requirements in public green spaces and the promotion of biological diversity through near-natural care. (Reference 1) It aims to promote biodiversity in the area through the plantings of local trees, installation of deadwood stacks, dry stone walls and boulders, which will help in the increased interconnectedness of the green areas and provide for structured habitat for the local species. The initiative also involves development of ecological standards for the handling of green spaces in the country, such as natural care practices that will protect local biodiversity (e.g. adapted mowing regime for lawns, flower meadows). (Reference 1, 2) The "Urban green - species-rich and diverse" project is a cooperation project of the alliance "Municipalities for Biological Diversity eV" (Alliance) and the German Environmental Aid eV and with the participation of the five partner municipalities Frankfurt am Main, Hanover, Wernigerode, Kirchhain and Neu- Response. The project is funded in the Federal Biodiversity Program by the Federal Agency for Nature Conservation with funds from the Federal Ministry for the Environment, Nature Conservation, Building and Nuclear Safety. The experiences and results of the pilot project are further incorporated into the maintenance requirements for public green spaces in the urban area in other municipalities (Reference 1, 7).
Overview
Nature-based solution
- Grey infrastructure featuring greens
- Alley or street trees and other street vegetation
- Parks and urban forests
- Large urban parks or forests
Key challenges
- Water management (SDG 6)
- Flood protection
- Stormwater and rainfall management and storage
- Green space, habitats and biodiversity (SDG 15)
- Habitat and biodiversity conservation
- Green space creation and/or management
- Environmental quality
- Air quality improvement
- Health and well-being (SDG 3)
- Enabling opportunities for physical activity
- Improving mental health
- Improving physical health
- Creation of opportunities for recreation
Focus
Maintenance and management of urban nature, Protection of natural ecosystems, Knowledge creation and awareness raising, Monitoring and maintenance of habitats and/or biodiversity
Project objectives
Goals of the intervention:
1) Preservation and promotion of biodiversity in the green belt Roderbruch;
2) Increasing the quality of life and health in the city through naturally cultivated green areas;
3) Development of the natural areas, without restricting the existing areas for sport, leisure and recreation;
4) Promotion of the acceptance for a natural design of public green spaces;
5) Promotion of the structure and networking functions of the green migration;
6) Extensive cultivation of green areas; Establishing uniform ecological standards for the handling of green spaces in the country. (Reference 1,2)
Implementation activities
-Extensive cultivation of green areas, through the development and testing of an adapted mowing regime for lawns, flower meadows;
-Promotion of the structure and networking functions of the green migration, by the planting of local trees and the installation of deadwood stacks, dry stone walls and boulders
-Promoting acceptance for a natural design of public green spaces, through the involvement of municipal nursing staff and the public in the planning and implementation process
-Development of a training concept for employees of all municipal nursing homes; Implementation of monitoring accompanying the project, which examines and documents the effects of the care measures on the plant and animal world.
-Project-related monitoring is carried out, which examines and documents the effect of the care measures on the flora and fauna.
(Reference 1)
-The one-year pilot phase for the labelling of the 5 municipalities including Hannover ended in March 2018. 14 municipalities from all over Germany were awarded the "Stadtgrün naturnah" label in Bonn on September 2019 (Reference 1, 6)
Biodiversity conservation or restoration-focused activities
Biodiversity conservation:
- Protect and enhance urban habitats
- Preserve and strengthen existing habitats and ecosystems
- Preserve and strengthen habitat connectivity
- Protect species
- Undertake specific measures to protect species
- Undertake specific measures to protect endangered species
- Means for conservation governance
- Manage biological resources for conservation and sustainable use
- Raise public awareness
- Public engagement
- Create and use scientific knowledge for conservation
Main beneficiaries
- Local government/Municipality
- Citizens or community groups
Governance
Management set-up
- Co-governance with government and non-government actors
Type of initiating organisation
- National government
Participatory approaches/ community involvement
- Co-planning (e.g. stakeholder workshops, focus groups, participatory mapping)
- Dissemination of information and education
- Joint implementation (e.g. tree planting)
Details on the roles of the organisations involved in the project
The national government developed a pilot project and engaged three cities in its implementation. The local governments are implementing the project jointly with the citizens.(Reference 1)
In addition to local government, other actors such as local nature conservation associations or private landowners such as housing associations are also involved. As part of the project, the "Alliance of Municipalities for Biodiversity" and the Deutsche Umwelthilfe (DUH) are campaigning for more acceptance of urban green spaces close to nature. (Reference 4)
Project implemented in response to ...
... an EU policy or strategy?
Unknown
... a national policy or strategy?
Yes
(The National Strategy on Biological Diversity for more settlements by 2020, preserving the recreational and natural value of green areas and securing habitats for urban and endangered species. The "Stadtgrün - Artenreich und Vielfaltig" project motivates cities and municipalities in Germany to design and cultivate green spaces and open spaces naturally and it is combined with a nationwide campaign and a practice-oriented manual, the alliance "Municipalities for Biodiversity".(2)
)
... a local policy or strategy?
Unknown
Financing
Total cost
€2,000,000 - €4,000,000
Source(s) of funding
- Public national budget
Type of funding
- Earmarked public budget
Non-financial contribution
Unknown
Impacts and Monitoring
Environmental impacts
- Green space and habitat
- Increased green space area
- Increased conservation or restoration of ecosystems
- Reduced biodiversity loss
- Increased number of species present
- Increased protection of threatened species
- Increased ecological connectivity across regeneration sites and scales
Economic impacts
- Unknown
Socio-cultural impacts
- Cultural heritage and sense of place
- Increased awareness of flora and fauna as culturally and historically meaningful
- Increased appreciation for natural spaces
- Education
- Increased support for education and scientific research
- Increased knowledge of locals about local nature
- Increased awareness of NBS and their benefits
Type of reported impacts
Expected 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 evidence in public records
References
1. Source link. (2018). 'Green city - rich in species and diverse' ('Stadtgrün – Artenreich und Vielfältig'). Available at: Source link. (Accessed: 12 July 2020).
2. Bundesamt für Naturschutz (BfN). (no date). Urban green - rich in species and diverse' ('Stadtgrün – Artenreich und Vielfältig'). Available at: Source link. (Accessed: 12 July 2020).
3. Source link. (no date). '”More Nature in the City" continues' ('"Mehr Natur in der Stadt" wird fortgesetzt'). Available at: Source link. (Accessed: 12 July 2020).
4. Deutsche Umwelthilfe (DU). (2019). Urban green - rich in species and diverse (Stadtgrün – Artenreich und Vielfältig). Available at: Source link. (Accessed: 12 July 2020).
5. Municipalities for Biodiversity eV. (no date). ‘Your advantages’ (Ihre Vorteile). Available at: Source link. (Accessed: 12 July 2020).
6. Deutsche Umwelthilfe (DU). (2019). Pioneer for more urban nature: 14 municipalities receive the label "StadtGrün naturnah" (Vorreiter für mehr Stadtnatur: 14 Kommunen erhalten Label „StadtGrün naturnah“). Available at: Source link. (Accessed: 12 July 2020).
7. Sonnenseite. (2017). ‘“StadtGrün naturnah” is the name of the new label for cities and municipalities’ („StadtGrün naturnah“ heißt das neue Label für Städte und Gemeinden). Available at: Source link. (Accessed: 12 July 2020).
8. Naturstadt Kommunen schaffen Vielfalt. (no date). ‘Natural care in the Roderbruch green zone’ (Naturnahe Pflege im Grünzug Roderbruch). Available at: Source link. (Accessed: 12 July 2020).
2. Bundesamt für Naturschutz (BfN). (no date). Urban green - rich in species and diverse' ('Stadtgrün – Artenreich und Vielfältig'). Available at: Source link. (Accessed: 12 July 2020).
3. Source link. (no date). '”More Nature in the City" continues' ('"Mehr Natur in der Stadt" wird fortgesetzt'). Available at: Source link. (Accessed: 12 July 2020).
4. Deutsche Umwelthilfe (DU). (2019). Urban green - rich in species and diverse (Stadtgrün – Artenreich und Vielfältig). Available at: Source link. (Accessed: 12 July 2020).
5. Municipalities for Biodiversity eV. (no date). ‘Your advantages’ (Ihre Vorteile). Available at: Source link. (Accessed: 12 July 2020).
6. Deutsche Umwelthilfe (DU). (2019). Pioneer for more urban nature: 14 municipalities receive the label "StadtGrün naturnah" (Vorreiter für mehr Stadtnatur: 14 Kommunen erhalten Label „StadtGrün naturnah“). Available at: Source link. (Accessed: 12 July 2020).
7. Sonnenseite. (2017). ‘“StadtGrün naturnah” is the name of the new label for cities and municipalities’ („StadtGrün naturnah“ heißt das neue Label für Städte und Gemeinden). Available at: Source link. (Accessed: 12 July 2020).
8. Naturstadt Kommunen schaffen Vielfalt. (no date). ‘Natural care in the Roderbruch green zone’ (Naturnahe Pflege im Grünzug Roderbruch). Available at: Source link. (Accessed: 12 July 2020).