Biodiversity & Nature-based Solutions

Urban sprawl is rapidly depleting biodiversity and degrading natural ecosystems, while poor land-use planning is resulting in social and economic issues within and around cities.

In order to create a healthy environment to live and work in, local governments must reconcile their development ambitions  with  nature  by  integrating  multi-functional,  biodiverse  and  interconnected  green  and  blue  spaces  in  their  cities.  These  can  act  as  Nature-based  Solutions  (NBS),  tackling  challenges  such  as  poor  air  quality,  vulnerability  to  climate  change-related  risks  like  flooding  or  heat  waves,  deteriorating  health  of  citizens,  and  bringing urban communities closer together. As a long-term advocate of the importance of urban biodiversity and  green  spaces, ICLEI  Europe  supports  local  governments  in  embedding  NBS  into policies and planning processes. By working with cities to implement NBS and promote biodiversity, ICLEI Europe also helps them to reduce the impacts of climate change, thus creating a cohesive urban society and nature-positive economy.

ICLEI Europe's global flagship programme Urban By Nature, and European resource centre NetworkNature are two of the flagship initiatives designed to support local, regional and international cooperation to maximise the impact and spread of nature-based solutions.

Check out our Factsheet to learn more!

Biodiversity & Nature-based Solutions factsheet

Involved in 25+

past and ongoing

Nature-based Solutions

projects

Supported 85+ cities

in the planning and/or

implementation of NBS

Supporting 20+ cities in breaking

ground for Urban Greening Plans

by pioneering NBS plans pre

the EU Biodiversity Strategy

 

"Cities have a key role to play in protecting and enhancing biodiversity as well as in taking bold actions to bring about transformative change that will halt biodiversity loss. Växjö has recently taken steps towards integrating ecosystem services into our local Comprehensive Plan. Healthy biodiversity and the ecosystem services that it provides are key for the well-being of our citizens and will help to build resilient cities."


Cheryl Jones Fur, (Member of ICLEI's European Regional Executive Committee)
Councillor, Växjö, Sweden

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