Solutions to support urban nature - Guide and inspiration
About this good practice
We live in times of serious environmental and climatic disturbances that are the result of human activity and unconscious human behavior. Never before have climate changes occurred so quickly and violently as now, and at the same time they have not posed a threat to such a large population of people. Of the 7.8 billion inhabitants of the Earth, 56% already live in cities (over 60% in Poland), and in 2050 this percentage is expected to increase to 75%. Currently, cities generate 80% of global GDP, but it is estimated that as much as 44% of urban GDP is at risk of disruption due to the loss of natural resources. In 2017, the City of Poznań started the implementation of a five-year international project "Connecting Nature". The topic of the project financed by the EU Horizon 2020 program was the use of the so-called nature-based solutions.
The aim of "Guide" is to present already implemented NBS solutions and to inspire their implementation and improvement. Examples are presented that, due to their scale, can be implemented by large institutions, but also NbS that can be easily implemented by residents in their immediate surroundings. Promoting the catalog created as part of the program is an excellent tool to increase community awareness of NBS in the region.
The guide was prepared by a team of practitioners - members of the "Connecting Nature" project team and representatives of cooperating municipal units and non-governmental organizations from Poznań (Wielkopolskie Region)
Resources needed
The cost of developing the NBS catalogue is approximately EUR 97 248.60. This estimate takes into account the costs of consultation, design, research and publication of the catalogue. It was prepared as part of the Connection Nature project, which the whole value was 11,4 mln EUR.
Evidence of success
The result of the project is the catalog presenting NBS solutions in Poznań area which aims to increase the citizens' awareness on Natural Based Solutions occuring in their region/
Potential for learning or transfer
The publication summarizes the activities and explains in an accessible, professional way what NBS is all about.
The catalog contains 17 cards showing, among others: examples of activities carried out by our team as part of the "Connecting Nature" project, such as natural playgrounds in kindergartens in Poznań, educational installations for kindergartens called eco-demonstrators, floating gardens and issues related to opening public spaces in kindergartens and family allotment gardens. In cooperation with representatives of many municipal units, it was possible to identify NbS implemented in other municipal projects. Solutions from other cities are also presented to encourage the authorities to introduce them in Poznań.
We consider it as a Good Practice due to the fact that it a great tool on increasing citizens awareness.