Last updated: June 2024
The Wuqing District of Tianjin is a rapidly developing suburban district, northwest of the city core, containing 4 larger 5 smaller rivers, 5 water reservoirs, Wetland area that partially protected by the DaHuangPu Nature Reserve, the Jinbei Forest Park, several public parks, greenery near buildings, green roofs and vegetation along roads. A spike in population growth going from 130.000 in 2000 to 1.2 million in 2018 brought the need for wide urban development where the district focused on implementing blue and green infrastructures (1). "The urbanized area of the district is reported to meet the requirements of the national ‘Garden City’ standard with over 36% green coverage, currently aiming to achieve 45% on the long run, and was selected as a pilot national ecological demonstration area for green urban development in 2014. Since 2014, over 500 million EUR was invested into blue and green infrastructure projects (1 p26). The three flagship projects evaluated here are 1) the South Lake (Nanhu) Area that combines business, recreational, residential, and ecological development around in a waterside area, 2) the North Canal Suburban Park which is a recreational, entertainment and wetland area on 2.53 km2 where over 72.000 trees were planted in recent years, 3) and the 400 meter wide, multi-functional green corridor running along the Cuiheng Road (1).
Source: http://www.tjuda.com/english/areaoverview/aboutwq/
Overview
Nature-based solution
- Blue infrastructure
- Lakes/ponds
- Rivers/streams/canals/estuaries
- In-land wetlands, peatlands, swamps, and moors
- Community gardens and allotments
- Community gardens
- Grey infrastructure featuring greens
- Alley or street trees and other street vegetation
- Riverbank/Lakeside greens
- Parks and urban forests
- Large urban parks or forests
- Green corridors and green belts
Key challenges
- Environmental quality
- Air quality improvement
- Green space, habitats and biodiversity (SDG 15)
- Habitat and biodiversity conservation
- Green space creation and/or management
- 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
- Economic development and employment (SDG 8)
- Economic development: industry
- Economic development: service sectors
Focus
Creation of new green areas, Creation of semi-natural blue areas, Management and improved protection of rivers and other blue areas, Transformation of previously derelict areas
Project objectives
General objectives of the green and blue infrastructure application in Wuging District:
- Increase green space per capita
- reduce air pollution
- provide space for recreation
- Create green suburban area that supports high-end manufacturing (1)
1) South Lake (Nanhu) Area
- Creation of an area that combine landscape functions, living areas and high end business (1)
2) North Canall Suburban Park
- Transform an unused and low productivity saline-alkaline land into a public green space reflecting an ecological park concept
- Integrate greenery, recreation, entertainment culture sports and commerce functions (1)
3) 400-meter-wide green belt
- Connecting existing green areas and parks into a green corridor (1)
Implementation activities
1) South Lake (Nanhu) Area
- Creation of recreational areas
- Creation of 2 artificial islands in the wetland area
- Creation of 1,7 km2 water surface and 0,7 km2 green area
2) North Canal Suburban Park
- Building of a children's park,
- Plantation of fruit orchards and 400,000 m2 aquatic plants
- Installation of 50-80 meter wide green belt along the Longfeng River that has a confluence to the North Canal
3) 400-meter-wide green belt
- Creation of 196 km2 green area to connect already existing green parks along the Cuiheng Road (1)
Biodiversity conservation or restoration-focused activities
Biodiversity conservation:
- Protect and enhance urban habitats
- Preserve and strengthen existing habitats and ecosystems
- Means for conservation governance
- Manage biological resources for conservation and sustainable use
Main beneficiaries
- Local government/Municipality
- 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
- Unknown
Details on the roles of the organisations involved in the project
All the green and blue infrastructure development in the Wuqing District has been initiated by the local government with support from the Ministry of Housing and Urban-Rural Development and the involvement of external landscape companies and institutions as contractors (1).
Project implemented in response to ...
... an EU policy or strategy?
No
... a national policy or strategy?
Yes
(In case of urban development projects, local policies and projects has to be in line with the national plan in order to acquire the necessary permissions and financial support. Accordingly, "Wuqing adopted a multi-level governance approach for green infrastructure development. On a national level (...) the 13th (2016-2020) Five-Year Plan provides a guiding framework, which is based on national political goals, such as the construction of an ecological civilization. The national agenda is translated into urban policy and programs by relevant Ministries, and into local Five-Year Plans by municipalities, district municipalities, and district municipal bureaus in a hierarchical governance structure. All projects adopted in the district conform with these plans and guidelines (1).)
... a local policy or strategy?
Unknown
Financing
Total cost
More than €4,000,000
Source(s) of funding
- Public local authority budget
- Public national budget
- Corporate investment
Type of funding
- Earmarked public budget
- Direct funding (grants, subsidies, or self-financed projects by private entities)
- Loan
Non-financial contribution
No
Impacts and Monitoring
Environmental impacts
- Environmental quality
- Improved air quality
- Green space and habitat
- Promotion of naturalistic styles of landscape design for urban development
- Increased green space area
- Increased conversion of degraded land or soil
Economic impacts
- Increased property prices
Socio-cultural impacts
- Social justice and cohesion
- Improved liveability
- Improved access to urban green space
- Health and wellbeing
- Gain in activities for recreation and exercise
Type of reported impacts
Expected impacts, Achieved impacts
Presence of formal monitoring system
Unknown
Presence of indicators used in reporting
Yes
Presence of monitoring/ evaluation reports
No evidence in public records
Availability of a web-based monitoring tool
No evidence in public records
References
1) Katona, A. 2018. NATURVATION - Working Paper: Tianjin, China.
Source: http://www.tjuda.com/english/areaoverview/aboutwq/
Source: http://www.tjuda.com/english/areaoverview/aboutwq/
Source: http://www.tjuda.com/english/areaoverview/aboutwq/