Cities across Europe are shifting how they think about nature - not as decoration, but as solutions to the challenges they face. To facilitate this process, Urban Nature Plans (UNPs) help cities to systematically integrate and sustain biodiversity, urban nature, and community well-being.

Developed with input from over 40 municipalities, UNPs are designed to help cities strengthen biodiversity, boost climate resilience, and improve quality of life. Built around seven key elements and a ten-step process that is rooted in co-creation, the framework supports long-term planning, connects departments like health, mobility, and housing, and aligns local action with EU nature restoration targets.

Recognising their strategic value, the EU’s Biodiversity Strategy for 2030 encourages all cities with over 20,000 inhabitants to develop UNPs. The framework can also support implementation of Article 8 of the EU’s Nature Restoration Regulation, which calls for action to halt the decline of urban green spaces.

UNPs are not static, but rather living frameworks that adapt as cities evolve. They are designed to grow with new data, changing priorities, and local realities. Cities like Barcelona (Spain) and Paris (France) are already using UNPs in practice, and actively contribute to their ongoing development through their insights and experience. Similarly, cities like Mannheim (Germany), Burgas (Bulgaria), and Belgrade (Serbia) are also in the process of developing UNPs, adapting the framework to address their specific urban challenges and priorities.

The approach was recently featured in a webinar of the Urban ReLeaf project’s scenario spotlight series, where ICLEI Europe’s Anna Bruen (Senior Expert) shared how cities can use UNPs to build greener, fairer futures. Watch the full recording or explore the Urban Nature Plans+ project website to learn more.