PROJECT DESCRIPTION
BACKGROUND
Green spaces play an important role in enhancing the biodiversity of urban areas and improving the environment for those who live there. Around two-thirds of people in Europe's cities do not have enough access to green space such as a park within 300 metres of where they live, as is recommended by the World Health Organization. At the same time, the natural wealth of Europe's cities faces many threats from environmental degradation, pollution, unchecked urban development and the impacts of climate change.
The European Union recognises the need for more green spaces in urban areas, and under its 2030 Biodiversity Strategy, encourages cities with over 20 000 residents to develop greening plans. The EU's New European Bauhaus (NEB) policy also aims to foster sustainable solutions for transforming the built and urban environment in ways that are inclusive and beautiful, while respecting the diversity of places, traditions and cultures in Europe and beyond.
Incorporating nature-based solutions (NbS) – such as urban forestry, green roofs and walls, tree-lined streets, meadows and hedges – into urban planning and architecture are seen as a key element in achieving the NEB policy. These solutions are a cost effective way of improving biodiversity and climate resilience while also delivering a number of societal and economic benefits.
The implementation of NbS contributes to the aims of the EU Green Deal and other related initiatives, such as the Zero Pollution Action Plan, the Fit for 55 plan and the Energy Efficiency Directive. Nonetheless, broad adoption and scaling of NbS in cities is hindered by multiple obstacles and a lack of knowledge. Overcoming these hurdles will require targeted research, capacity building and innovation, as well as the involvement of local residents.
OBJECTIVES
The LIFE SeedNEB project aims to show how using NbS along with the NEB policy can bring benefits to the urban environment of 3 municipalities: Lorquí, in Spain; Potenza, in Italy; and Dunaújváros, in Hungary. The project will demonstrate urban NbS strategies and onsite interventions such as green roofs and facades which enhance urban biodiversity, and improve environmental impacts and the wellbeing of people living in the area.
In particular, the project will:
- re-naturalise 3 buildings and their surroundings: the 'Enrique Tierno Galván' Cultural Centre in Lorquí, a private housing block of 40 dwellings in Dunaújváros, and the Leonardo Sinisgalli’ School in Potenza
- restore biodiversity in the urban environment while also protecting ecosystem services such as the reduction of air, water and noise pollution, and protection against floods and the impact of heat waves.
- provide technical and administrative support to boost the implementation of NbS in private buildings
- involve citizens in the beautification of their cities through a closer-to-nature approach
- develop local communication strategies to raise close-to-nature behaviour and increase the capacity of professionals to use techniques that promote urban biodiversity.
RESULTS
The expected result of LIFE SeedNEB are described below.
The 3 buildings in different European cities will be renovated to include green roofs and green facades covering an area of more than 1 000 square metres (m2). This will:
- Reduce pollution levels by 14.9 g/year of nitrogen oxide (NO2), 28.8 g/year of sulphur dioxide (SO2) and 121.1 g/year of PM10 particles.
- Store 266.7 kg of carbon per year.
- Save 0.34 GWh/year in energy use – a reduction of 31% – and save 328.69 tonnes of carbon dioxide equivalent (CO2e)/year.
- Enable annual water savings of 43-100%.
- Enhance acoustic insultation by up to 8 decibels (db).
A pilot area of 34 500 m2 of public space has been delimited for NbS, such as wildflower meadows, bee-pastures, community gardens, wire hiding, tree replacement, draining pavements, rainwater harvesting gardens, increasing of herbaceous and shrub strata in tree pits. This is expected to improve air quality, increase carbon storage and reduce the heat island effect.
Habitats for at 23 bird species, 20 bat species and diverse populations of domestic and wild bees, butterflies, hoverflies and Coleoptera beetles will be improved.
3 Technical Offices for Urban-Ecological Rehabilitation and Biodiversity Enhancement will be created in each city to implement 30 additional NbS in residential and commercial buildings in the same pilot areas (10 per city). The estimated surface of NbS in private buildings is between 150 and 500 m2 of additional green surface.
A group of at least 30 permanent local stakeholders (10 per city) in co-creation activities through an 'idea’s nursery' will be established.
Guidelines on normative and standards for urbanisation public works under sustainability and inclusion criteria in each country for each city will be created.
A 'Guide to beautify cities. A combination of NEB and Nature Based Solutions' will be produced.
