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EVENT

Rethinking local policies

Bringing back nature to the city

On 31 May and 1 June 2023, join us in Ghent to meet with peers and policymakers and discuss bringing back nature to the city.

What will it be about?

In 2022, the EU proposed the Nature Restoration Law to restore damaged EU ecosystems from wetlands, rivers, and forests, to urban environments and to bring nature back across Europe.

The aim

is to cover at least 20% of the EU's land and sea areas by 2030. With nature restoration measures and to scale up existing experiences of nature restoration measures such as rewilding, returning trees, and greening cities.

This should help reverse the decline of pollinator populations, achieve no net loss of green urban spaces and a minimum of 10% tree canopy cover in every European city, town, and suburb.

This should also help achieve a net gain of green space integrated into buildings and infrastructure, as well as an overall increase in biodiversity and a positive trend for forest ecosystems.

What you can expect

Our thematic experts Astrid Severin and Magda Michalikova be your guides to discovering the topic of bringing back nature to cities. 

Within the urban context of the City of Ghent and in line with the European aspirations for nature restoration, you will learn during this two-day event how to:

  • Restore urban nature
  • Increase urban biodiversity
  • Uncover urban rivers

To learn more about the topic, explore the agenda. 

Relevant materials

Policy brief
Tecoma Stans flowering in greenery
Green

Preserving and restoring biodiversity

Explore this policy brief to discover what role do public authorities across Europe play in the development of a sustainable and low-carbon economy, and what transformations are needed in every sector and area of public life.
| By Platform
Policy brief
blue sea with boats and hills in the background
Green

Natural and cultural heritage in coastal regions

Explore this policy brief to learn about EU initiatives that local and regional authorities can refer to for improving their management of cultural and natural heritage on coasts, in compliance with the EU Directives.
| By Platform
Policy brief
River in nature
Green

Rivers and wetlands: drivers of sustainable regional development

Read this policy brief and get an overview of how the current EU policy framework may guide and support local and regional authorities in the implementation of river and wetland restoration measures.
| By Platform
Workshop
Group of people on a study visit
Green
Social

Natural and cultural heritage in coastal regions

Explore the workshop follow-up brief on Natural and cultural heritage in coastal regions, held in Cagnes-sur-Mer, France on 27 October.
| By Platform
Story
City view from the sky at night
Green

Turn the lights off: mitigating the impact of artificial light

Light pollution is a global issue that negatively impacts humans and animals alike. Read our article to learn how to protect bats and other species from the impact of light pollution!
| By Platform
Story
Sunset at Lake
Green

The return of wild salmon

Read our latest story about the wild salmon rebuilding project and the impact it has made.
| By Platform
Story
River flowing along greenery
Green

Lobzy Park: nature based solutions for river restoration

In this article you can read about how restoration contributes to rivers' natural capacity to retain water and the example of Lobzy Park.
| By Platform
Story
Green

Greener and better prepared: cities and regions in the new EU Climate Adaptation Strategy

Read our article on the EU Strategy on Adaptation to Climate Change and discover highly replicable good practices can that inspire the Strategy's implementation
| By Platform
News
Sheep in greeny pasture RUT COPR
Green

EU joins Global Biodiversity Framework

In this article learn about the Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework and how it will help accelerate ambitious policies around the world and mobilise financing for biodiversity.
| By Platform
News
Lush green field with in the background the view of a clear water blue sea
Green

Bringing back nature across Europe

On 22 June 2022, the European Commission adopted the proposal for a Nature Restoration Law, the first-ever legislation that targets the restoration of Europe’s nature. Read our article and find out more about this long-awaited proposal!
| By Platform

Study visit: Captain Zeppos park

Participants to the 'Bringing back nature to city' workshop will benefit from a study visit to Captain Zeppos park.

Check the study visits