PROJECT DESCRIPTION
BACKGROUND
Many European cities struggle with the challenges of unsustainable land use and urbanisation, which in turn negatively impact biodiversity. Urban expansion degrades and fragments ecosystems, reducing biodiversity and ecosystem services.
OBJECTIVES
The Biodiverse City LIFE project aims to protect and restore valuable habitats in the Pannonian region, including salt steppes, salt marshes, grasslands, woods and alluvial forests of Black alder (Alnus glutinosa) and European ash (Fraxinus excelsior). By promoting sustainable land use practices and raising public awareness, the project seeks to harmonise biodiversity conservation with urban development in Budapest. Protected species and habitats will benefit from increased biodiversity and enhanced ecosystem services, including water retention and carbon storage.
The project’s specific objectives are to:
- restore and enhance natural and semi-natural grassland ecosystems in 3 peri-urban protected areas — Mocsáros, Tétényi Plateau and Kőérberek — using traditional grassland grazing and mowing practices to support the habitats of protected species and improve overall ecosystem health;
- stabilise and expand the territory of protected habitats, removing invasive species and halting unregulated land use;
- reduce negative human impacts on urban green spaces by tackling root causes such as trampling and littering;
- use the 3 project sites as demonstration areas for public engagement and education, community involvement and promoting sustainable interactions with nature;
- showcase nature-based solutions for improving ecosystem services and climate resilience;
- inspire similar initiatives in other European cities by demonstrating that improved urban resilience, air quality and ecosystem services contribute to a more sustainable and liveable future.
RESULTS
The project’s expected results are:
- restoration of 271 hectares of degraded grasslands, wetlands and small forest areas, benefiting species and habitats of both national and Community importance;
- increased populations of 20 key indicator species (8 of which are of Community interest);
- improved conservation status of Natura 2000 sites and locally protected areas at the 3 project sites;
- control of invasive species;
- restoration of wetlands to reduce flash floods and enhance biodiversity;
- sequestration of up to 1.3 tons of CO2/hectare/year through grassland restoration;
- over 10 000 residents actively engaged in events, workshops, demonstrations and volunteer programmes;
- establishment of local partnerships to ensure continued ecological benefits beyond the project duration;
- creation of educational and research opportunities for non-governmental organisations (NGOs), nature professionals and educational institutions;
- management plans and guidelines for conservation including:
- Budapest Grassland Strategy;
- Budapest Biodiversity Strategy;
- Urban Grassland Management and Sustainable Land Use Guidelines;
- Community Uptake Toolkit for use in urban gardens.
