Networks and cities' news

Meet Sinead Mc Donnell, one of Ireland's Local Authority Biodiversity Officers!

Urban biodiversity as a category refers to the variety of living organisms as well as the multiplicity of habitats in and around dense human settlements. The conservation work to mitigate biodiversity loss is more or less the same in the city and outside of urban areas, however, some sub-themes such as awareness-raising, mitigating the heat-island effects and other urban disaster risks, green infrastructure and the fight against invasive species make the urban aspects important within biodiversity conservation. The most important thing is that cities offer unique opportunities for learning and education about a resilient and sustainable future and have a large potential to boost innovations and governance tools.

International Biodiversity Day Celebrated in Sarajevo: Interactive Lecture, Planting, and Intergenerational Gathering

Sarajevo, May 22, 2024 – As part of the Urbact program and the "BiodiverCity" project, sponsored by the European Union, the City of Sarajevo organized the celebration of International Biodiversity Day. The event took place at the School for Vocational Education and Training, Azize Šaćirbegović 80, and gathered a large number of participants, including the ULG coordinator, ULG members, employees of the Sarajevo City Sustainable Development Service, the Center for Healthy Aging, school students, and citizens.

The bird-watching station

The bird-watching station with an experiential platform is an educational and pedagogical structure along the Dravinja Learning Path, which is part of the Municipality of Poljčane's vision towards biodiversity development (BiodiverCity). The bird-watching station is a charming outdoor classroom with partially obscured views of the surrounding nature. In the series of wooden slats, designed to resemble riverbank reeds, there are interactive didactic tools for learning through play. On the platform, elevated above the Dravinja floodplain, there are thematic carousels about animals and plants along the river, which rhythmically continue into the bird-watching station and culminate in an imaginary riverbed. Learning through play during a pleasant walk in nature attracts both the young and the young at heart to explore and observe the world around them.

Innovative tools and methods to foster sustainable and biodiverse maintenance of public green areas

Increasing the size and improving the quality of urban green spaces is an utmost priority of all European cities in the shadow of the ecological crisis. This is also required by the EU Biodiversity Strategy for 2030 and the related Nature Restoration Law.

Intergenerational Festival in Poljčane

At the beginning of this summer, we organized an Intergenerational Festival in the meadow under the Čreti hayrack in the Municipality of Poljčane as part of the URBACT program's BiodiverCity action network.

Tools to activate residents to trans form their private gardens in to biodiversity oases - Biodivercity case study 5.

Hegyvidék, Budapest's greenest district, is turning private gardens into biodiversity oases to tackle climate change and promote eco-friendly living. The Green Office is leading this effort with initiatives like free composting boxes, native tree planting, and bird-friendly programs, encouraging residents to adopt sustainable practices. The study was written by Ferenc Albert Szigeti, coordinator of the Hungarian Hub for Nature-based Solutions, lead expert of the BiodiverCity network.

If you are interested, you can find the whole study HERE!