Karlsruhe, Germany
City population: 287412
Duration: 2011 – 2015
Implementation status: Completed
Scale: Meso-scale: Regional, metropolitan and urban level, Sub-microscale: Street scale (including buildings)
Project area: 208600 m2
Type of area: Agricultural area or farmland
Last updated: October 2021

As part of the “Landscape Park Rhine”, a key project of the Karlsruhe Master Plan 2015, the city of Karlsruhe implemented the “Park Maxau” project module, which is the most important element of the larger landscape project. (Ref. 3) The “Park Maxau” is a park within an agricultural area which with its new leaseholders, has mostly been converted into ecological agricultural fields and grazing areas. (Ref. 3) Major goals were linking green corridors with the Pamina Rhine park, creating a connected recreational area and enhancing ecological diversity. The “Rhine Promenade” pedestrian route, Rhine terraces and a children’s playground were created, a visitor guidance system was introduced, and an estate was revived as a restaurant. During the 17-month development process, citizens were given the opportunity to offer their ideas and suggestions about the project through internet surveys, interviews and a citizens' conference. (Ref. 6) The area has become a hotspot for ecological agriculture, environmental education and recreation (Ref. 10).

Rhine terrace at the Landscape Park
Rhine terrace at the Landscape Park
Reference 2

Overview

Nature-based solution

  • Grey infrastructure featuring greens
  • Green playgrounds and school grounds
  • Blue infrastructure
  • Riverbank/Lakeside greens
  • Parks and urban forests
  • Large urban parks or forests
  • Green corridors and green belts
  • Rivers/streams/canals/estuaries

Key challenges

  • Green space, habitats and biodiversity (SDG 15)
  • Habitat and biodiversity conservation
  • Green space creation and/or management
  • Regeneration, land-use and urban development
  • Regulation of built environment
  • Social justice, cohesion and equity (SDG 10)
  • Environmental education
  • Health and well-being (SDG 3)
  • Creation of opportunities for recreation
  • Cultural heritage and cultural diversity
  • Preservation of natural heritage
  • Sustainable consumption and production (SDG 12)
  • Sustainable production

Focus

Creation of new green areas

Project objectives

-Environmentally and ecologically sound development of the recreation area between the Rhine and the Knielinger lake to increase biodiversity. (Ref. 3) -Introducing recreational areas and activities for city residents around the estate Maxau (Ref. 3) -Developing a strategic visitor guidance concept with the objective to release pressure from ecologically fragile stretches (Ref. 3) -Improvement of the landscape ecosystem by changing from intensive agriculture to organic agriculture and grazing areas (Ref. 3) -Reviving cultural heritage by making use of domestic crop varieties in agriculture (Ref. 3). -Introduction of environmental education concepts in collaboration with the "Birkenhof" and the nature conservation centre. (Ref. 3)

Implementation activities

The revival of the old estate Maxau and the surrounding area by appointing new leaseholders (an agriculturist and a biologist) who in addition to the restaurant are responsible for ecologically sound agricultural farming and animal husbandry. They offer guided tours for visiting families and school groups to provide insights into modern agriculture (Ref. 2). Information boards on the different stations in the park explaining the unique nature, biodiversity and economic value of the area were set up. (Ref. 2). The Rhine promenade which was created on top of the dike to connect bicycle and walking routes with the Pamina national park attract city residents to the riverbanks of the Rhine (Ref. 2). The “Rhine terrace”, consisting of 26 stairs which invite visitors to sit down and watch the river and ships were implemented and a playground was created. (Ref. 3 and 5).

Biodiversity conservation or restoration-focused activities

Biodiversity conservation:

  • Protect and enhance urban habitats
  • Preserve and strengthen existing habitats and ecosystems
  • Promote environmentally-sound development in and around protected areas
  • Means for conservation governance
  • Raise public awareness
  • Public engagement

Main beneficiaries

  • Private sector/Corporate/Company
  • Citizens or community groups

Governance

Management set-up

  • Government-led

Type of initiating organisation

  • Local government/municipality

Participatory approaches/ community involvement

  • Dissemination of information and education

Details on the roles of the organisations involved in the project

The project was initiated and led by the local government, who appointed new leaseholders (an agriculturist and a biologist) who in addition to the restaurant are responsible for ecologically sound agricultural farming and animal husbandry. (Ref. 2).

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 "landscape park Rhine" formed part of the "Masterplan Karlsruhe 2015" which consisted of 12 action fields, one of which was environment, more specifically the creation of green, ecological corridors by connecting urban green patches and islands (Ref. 6). Different measures inside and outside the city were implemented to fulfill this goal (Ref. 7). The concept landscape park Rhine, which consists of several building blocks, is a result of the open space development plan 2015 issued by the city of Karlsruhe (Ref. 3).)

Financing

Total cost

More than €4,000,000

Source(s) of funding

  • Public local authority budget

Type of funding

  • Earmarked public budget

Non-financial contribution

Unknown

Impacts and Monitoring

Environmental impacts

  • Green space and habitat
  • Increased green space area

Economic impacts

  • Unknown

Socio-cultural impacts

  • Social justice and cohesion
  • Increased sustainability of agriculture practices
  • Health and wellbeing
  • Gain in activities for recreation and exercise
  • Cultural heritage and sense of place
  • Protection of natural heritage
  • Education
  • Increased support for education and scientific research
  • Increased knowledge of locals about local nature

Type of reported impacts

Achieved 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

References

1. NABU Gruppe Karlsruhe (no date) Rheinpark mit Hofgut Maxau. Available at: Source link 27 Oct. 2020].

2. Hartleb, P. (2017) Hofgut Maxau. Available at: Source link 27 Oct. 2020].

3. Henz, T., Henz, A., Müller, H.-V., Schäfter, C. and Bellm, K. (2010) Landschaftspark Rhein - Park Maxau - Projektbeschreibung für den Antrag auf die naturschutzrechtliche Genehmigung des Vorhabens. Karlsruhe. Available at: Source link 27 Oct. 2020].

4. Bildungsverein Region Karlsruhe e.V. (2012) Landschaftspark Rhein, Stadtwiki Karlsruhe. Available at: Source link 27 Oct. 2020].

5. Source link (2012) ‘Raus an den Rhein: Dammterrassen und Spielplatz beim Hofgut Maxau eröffnet’, Source link. Available at: Source link [Accessed: 27 Oct. 2020].

6. Stadt Karlsruhe (2011) Der Masterplan 2015 – Eine Perspektive für das Karlsruhe von morgen. Available at: Source link 27 Oct. 2020].

7. Stadt Karlsruhe (2013) Grünsystem der Stadt Karlsruhe. Available at: Source link 27 Oct. 2020].

8. Fulda, C. and Miles, S. (2012) Karlsruhe 2020 : Integriertes Stadtentwicklungskonzept. Karlsruhe. Available at: Source link 27 Oct. 2020].

9. Stammmschröer, K. (2014) ‘Landschaftspark ist auf der Source link, Badische Neueste Nachrichten, 26 September. [Weblink unavailable in 2020].

10. n.a. (2015) ‘Landschaftspark Rhein: Karlsruhe zieht es an den Rhein’, Karlsruher Stadtzeitung. Available at: Source link. [Accessed: 27 Oct. 2020].
Grazing area
Grazing area
Reference 10