ICLEI and UNEP strengthen their partnership #fornature

This World Environment Day, ICLEI–Local Governments for Sustainability and the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) are strengthening their existing global partnership to collaborate on the CitiesWithNature partnership initiative.

ICLEI, through its Cities Biodiversity Center (CBC), and UNEP will deepen their collaboration in the urban nature space, in pursuit of their common goals and ambitions and under the auspices of an existing Memorandum of Understanding, formalized in December 2015.

“Leveraging the individual and collective strengths of our two organizations, partnering on CitieswithNature will enhance our existing activities and establish a joint work programme for protecting, mainstreaming and enhancing nature in and around our cities,” says Ms Kobie Brand, Director of ICLEI CBC. “We are launching this particular collaboration on World Environment Day, and it will mark the starting point for far more long-term and wide reaching collaboration.”

For World Environment Day, the two organisations are collaborating on a campaign focused on cities, calling on them to share, learn and act #fornature. Central to this campaign, is a call to action to local and subnational governments to join CitiesWithNature and benefit from connecting with and learning from other cities and experts. Going forward, the two organizations will cooperate to raise awareness on the need to reverse the loss of nature through actions at the local and subnational level.

“We need a new deal on nature with commitments for ambitious action to safeguard our collective urban future. Greening cities has health benefits, helps climate mitigation and adaptation and creates jobs,” says Martina Otto, Head of Cities Unit at UNEP. “ICLEI and UNEP will work together to support multi-level governance for people and nature thriving harmoniously in and around our cities.”

CitiesWithNature was founded by ICLEI, the International Union for the Conservation of Nature (IUCN) and The Nature Conservancy (TNC). It provides a shared platform for cities, regions, partners, researchers, practitioners and urban communities to learn, share and inspire collective action for global impact. The platform seeks to showcase the value of nature in all aspects of urban life and mainstream nature into policy and planning.

“This announcement welcomes UNEP to the growing network of supporting partners who are co-shaping the CitiesWithNature initiative and online platform. We will work closely together to support cities and regions on the journey to a more resilient future, where nature is protected, enhanced, and respected,” says Ms Brand.

Nature holds many benefits for urban communities, and we depend on its goods and services for our survival. The COVID-19 pandemic brought home a strong message on how much we depend on nature. However, rapid urbanization is a significant driver of biodiversity loss, which is increasingly taking place at unprecedented rates. The time is now, more than ever before, to unite and build CitiesWithNature. It is at the local level where transformation can be achieved most meaningfully.

It is critical that we position nature at the center of our urban responses to COVID-19 and build back better. Furthermore, the United Nations Convention on Biological Diversity will adopt the Post-2020 Global Biodiversity Framework at the 15th Conference of the Parties (COP) next year. The framework will guide the global biodiversity agenda over the next decade. Local and subnational governments are critical in implementing the objectives of the Convention, and this partnership will seek to advance the advocacy agenda of this constituency in the global biodiversity arena.

As we celebrate World Environment Day, many of us isolated at home, the COVID-19 pandemic provides a sobering opportunity to reflect on our relationship with nature.

Nature provides us with essential life-supporting services such as food, clean water, medication and habitats. Healthy and diverse ecosystems contribute to making our communities more resilient. Countless studies have also demonstrated that interacting with nature positively impacts our mental and physical health and well-being, helping to alleviate stress and anxiety, especially prevalent at this time.

Yet, according to the Intergovernmental Science-Policy Platform on Biodiversity and Ecosystem Services (IPBES), biodiversity continues to decline in every region of the world, significantly reducing nature’s capacity to contribute to people’s well-being. This alarming trend endangers economies, livelihoods, food security, and quality of life of people everywhere. And our troubled relationship with nature makes us more vulnerable to hazards, such as extreme climate events and pandemics.

It is time to reimagine humanity’s relationship with nature.

Governments around the world, citizens from all walks of life, economists, scientists, we all need to rethink how we can do things differently. The current pandemic, sadly, provides us with an opportunity to do so.

As for cities, we are already in this mindset and on this path. We redesign streets to facilitate active transportation and reduce our carbon footprint. We rethink the use of public space, to make it more enjoyable, accessible to all, and functional. We bring nature back into our rapidly urbanizing world, by creating parks and involving citizens in the protection of wildlife, such as creating corridors for the migration of the amazing monarch butterfly across North America.

By planning our cities with nature, we can improve quality of life now and lay the ground for a sustainable future for the next generations.

We are not only dreaming the city of tomorrow – we are building it now, integrating nature-based solutions in our development approach.

As we grapple with massive challenges, let us not return to business as usual.

Together, let’s take strong action to create vibrant and equitable communities, where people and biodiversity can thrive, in urban areas as well as around the world.

Let’s rally for the planet and for ourselves, by living in harmony with nature

 

Valérie Plante

Mayor of Montréal

ICLEI’s Global Ambassador for Local Biodiversity

 

Ashok Sridharan 

Mayor of Bonn

President of Local Governments for Sustainability (ICLEI)

 

Michael Müller

Governing Mayor of Berlin

President of the World Association of the Major Metropolises (Metropolis)

 

Park Won Soon

Mayor of Seoul

Co-President of the Global Social Economy Forum (GSEF)

 

Mohamed Boudra

Mayor of Al Hoceima

President of United Cities and Local Governments (UCLG)

 

Oscar Rodriguez

Mayor of Asuncion

President of Mercociudades

On the occasion of International Day for Biodiversity on 22 May, Valérie Plante, Mayor of Montreal and ICLEI Global Ambassador for Local Biodiversity, penned a compelling letter, calling on mayors and leaders of local and subnational governments from around the world to jointly take urgent action to halt and reverse the trends of biodiversity loss. She points out that the COVID-19 pandemic provides a sobering opportunity to reflect on our relationship with nature.

In the letter, Mayor Plante also draws attention to the unique opportunity to act in the coming year, firstly in developing COVID response plans, and secondly as the local and subnational government constituency prepares for the 15th Conference of the Parties (COP) of the UN Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD). It is at COP 15 where the Parties will adopt the Post-2020 Global Biodiversity Framework (GBF), and it is critical that local and subnational governments are positioned as central to its implementation.

Local and subnational governments around the world are making ambitious commitments to conserve, restore, and live in harmony with nature in the coming decade. As a proud pioneer of the CitiesWithNature partnership initiative, Montreal is among over 150 front running cities and regions who are raising their ambition in support of the Post-2020 GBF. However, these ambitious commitments need to be met with the same level of action when it comes to implementation. Furthermore, this action needs to be captured as collective contributions to achieving the global biodiversity agenda.

On the occasion of World Environment Day, Montreal leads by example once again and demonstrates how their biodiversity actions are linked to the action targets in the CBD’s Zero Draft of the Post-2020 GBF.

“By planning our cities with nature – through nature-based solutions, green infrastructure and green open spaces – we can dramatically improve the quality of life for all. We need to halt and reverse the trends of biodiversity loss and take the path of Living in Harmony with Nature. On this World Environment Day, I call upon cities all over the world to become CitiesWithNature and to share their good practices, as Montreal is doing, to create a dynamic community of practice! Let’s take strong action to create vibrant cities and ensure a healthy planet, where people and biodiversity can thrive.”

~ Valérie Plante, Mayor of Montreal and ICLEI Global Ambassador for Local Biodiversity

The six good practice sheets below, compiled by Montreal, each present a key initiative of interest for the protection of biodiversity that is being implemented by the city, provide advice to facilitate the replication of the initiatives in other cities, and indicate which of the Post-2020 global biodiversity targets the initiative contributes to achieving. The sheets are a source of inspiration that showcase local and subnational leadership in the global biodiversity arena.

The launch of this initiative by Montreal, with support from the ICLEI Cities Biodiversity Center, the CitiesWithNature partnership initiative, and the Secretariat to the CBD, is timely. It stands as a further demonstration of the critical role of local and subnational governments in the CBD, and offers a blueprint for other cities and regions to demonstrate how they are achieving their biodiversity commitments. No action is too small. Instead, collective local action is our best chance at achieving global impact. Montreal is calling on other cities to join the journey to create vibrant cities, where people and biodiversity can thrive. Mayor Plante and the City of Montreal encourage other cities to develop similar resources that demonstrate their commitments in action, as well as the linkages between their local initiatives and global biodiversity targets.

As momentum builds towards COP 15, we need to think globally, and act locally! Global biodiversity targets need to be translated to the urban context to ensure that urban dwellers can enjoy the benefits of nature in their lives. Turning commitments into concrete action is critical now, more than ever before. Montreal’s initiative is an invitation to join a community of practice of local and subnational governments who stand ready to implement the Post-2020 GBF.

You can access the good practice sheets below:

Sheet 1: Ecosystem Management

The Ecosystems Management Program in Montreal’s major parks, preserves an essential balance between the protection of environmental integrity and general public access to sites, so that citizens can continue to enjoy the physical and psychological health benefits of nature. Inventories of the flora and fauna are maintained in order to paint a portrait of the major parks’ ecosystems. Through data collection and database management, the City monitors changes within habitats in order to intervene appropriately. When planning the development of a recreational space, such as a trail, the ecosystems portrait allows informed decision-making. Various management actions are carried out in response to the inventories, such as the removal of invasive alien plants and the subsequent planting of native vegetation.

Sheet 2: Conservation of Wildlife Trees

The holes, decomposing wood, and bare branches of Montreal’s trees, both dead and alive, serve as roosts and shelters, as well as feeding and reproduction sites, for a wide range of biodiversity. Woodpeckers, owls and other birds of prey are wildlife trees’ main occupants, but squirrels, raccoons and voles are also found there. In its nature parks, the City preserves wildlife trees and keeps parts of their main branches safely in place. This ensures that the trees can provide this supporting service for wildlife for 20-30 years before decomposing and returning to the earth. The City aims to densify the number of wildlife trees per hectare to support nesting birds and vary the species, sizes, diameters and stages of decay of these trees to promote biodiversity.

Sheet 3: Coexisting with Coyotes

Coyotes are very discreet and seek to avoid human confrontation. However, the expansion of coyote territory has resulted in an increased presence of the native species in North American urban areas. In 2017, coyotes were observed in Montreal’s neighbourhoods, causing some concern among residents. To ensure that humans live in harmony with nature in Montreal, a joint action committee was quickly established and a coyote management plan was created. Based on best practices and leading-edge scientific knowledge, its goal is to promote safe coexistence with the coyote. Communication is central to the plan, as well as scientific data collection to better understand the coyote’s behaviours and movements.

Sheet 4: Environmental Action Days

The City of Montreal hosts environmental action days in their major parks. These days are designed to engage citizens through concrete action and collective effort. Citizens who take part in these days have an opportunity to contribute directly to the protection of ecosystems in their major parks, while acquiring new knowledge. Mentored by City of Montreal experts, the participants – volunteers of all ages – contribute to picking up garbage left behind, controlling invasive plant species and planting native vegetation, based on the day’s objective.

Sheet 5: Renewed and Improved Wildlife Observatories

Montreal has been redeveloping wildlife observatories in its nature parks in the past few years. Promoting collaboration among experts to design facilities that embody principles of sustainable design and construction, while respecting wildlife and environmental imperatives, these facilities allow citizens to observe the surrounding wildlife without disturbing it, thanks to a wall equipped with viewing slots arranged at varying heights to accommodate visitors of all ages and physical conditions. The redevelopment of these observatories also provides opportunities to plant native vegetation and improve the biodiversity of the surrounding area.

Sheet 6: Wildlife Passages in the Urban Environment

Montreal has created a wildlife passage under a Boulevard that is currently being extended through a green corridor to restore habitat quality and enhance connectivity. The Boulevard has, over the past few years been under construction and now runs through a portion of the city’s eastern green belt. This corridor houses significant natural environments including a wooded border and wetlands. The wildlife passage is a 26-metre-long, culvert-type, two-level wildlife passage that was created under the boulevard as part of the construction process. A raised walkway allows species the choice of staying out of the water. Furthermore, approximately 600 native shrubs have been planted to block the incursion of reeds and enhance the area’s biodiversity. Through infrared camera technologies, Montreal has demonstrated the use of the culvert and its surrounding vegetation by a range of species, including the long-tailed weasel and the eastern milk snake.

Roadmap to COP 15: Timeline of key milestones

Due to the novel COVID-19 pandemic, many event dates in the lead up to the 15th Conference of the Parties (COP) to the Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD) have changed their dates, their locations, and in some instances, their overall method of delivery. Thus, the “Super Year for Nature” has been extended through to 2021, when COP 15 will take place in Kunming, China. While much uncertainty remains, and more changes are likely, the journey towards COP 15 will continue with the same rigor and momentum as before.  The ongoing mobilisation of the local and subnational government constituency will ensure that actions by cities and regions are consistent, transformational, and sustained to turn every year into a “Super Year for Nature.” An updated timeline, with the most recent event dates and details can be seen below:

Key Updates

Postponement of SBSTTA 24 and SBI 3

Given the continued uncertainties arising from the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic, including those related to restrictions on travel and the convening of large physical gatherings, the meetings of SBSTTA 24 and SBI 3 will not take place physically in Montreal in August 2020 as previously planned. We will continue to provide updates in this regard. Read the official CBD Notification, which details possible alternatives, here.

EU Biodiversity Strategy to 2030: Bringing nature back into our lives

On 20th May 2020, the European Commission published the European Union biodiversity strategy to 2030 “Bringing nature back into our lives,” a comprehensive, ambitious, long-term plan with the main objective to protect and restore:

  • 30% of lands & seas to become protected areas;
  • 30% of protected habitats to reach improved conservation status;
  • 10% of land to have landscape features of high biodiversity.

It aims to put Europe’s biodiversity on a path to recovery by 2030 with benefits for people, the climate and the planet. It is also the proposal for the EU contribution to the upcoming international negotiations on the global post-2020 biodiversity framework.

In the post-COVID context, the Biodiversity Strategy aims to build our societies’ resilience to future threats such as climate change impacts, forest fires, food insecurity or disease outbreaks, including by protecting wildlife and fighting illegal wildlife trade.

A core part of the European Green Deal, the Biodiversity Strategy will also support a green recovery following the pandemic.

The strategy is a step in the right direction. Cities and regions – local and regional authorities – must play a leading role and their potential to halt biodiversity loss & restore nature should be fully used. We need more ambition while putting Europe on the path to sustainable recovery post-covid19.

European cities and regions will be part of the solution:

  • To bring nature back to cities and reward community action, the Commission calls on European cities of at least 20,000 inhabitants to develop ambitious Urban Greening Plans by the end of 2021. To this end, the Commission will provide technical guidance on urban greening and assistance to mobilise funding and capacity building for EU countries, local and regional authorities, including for the development of Urban Greening Plans
  • The Commission will, in 2021, set up an EU Urban Greening Platform, under a new ‘Green City Accord’ with cities and mayors. ICLEI is project coordinator of this initiative, while the European Committee of the Regions will support the initiative via the Technical Platform for Cooperation on the Environment;
  • The Commission will support EU countries and local and regional authorities through technical guidance and help to mobilise funding and capacity building;
  • Tree planting, especially in cities, as part of the EU Forest Strategy in 2021 that will include a roadmap for planting at least 3 billion additional trees in the EU by 2030, in full respect of ecological principles. This will create substantial job opportunities linked to the collecting and cultivating of seeds, planting seedlings, and ensuring their development. Tree planting is particularly beneficial in cities, while in rural areas it can work well with agroforestry, landscape features and increased carbon sequestration.
  • Particular focus will also be placed on protecting and restoring the tropical and sub-tropical marine and terrestrial ecosystems in the EU’s outermost regions given their exceptionally high biodiversity value.

The European Committee of the Regions, via its Opinion by rapporteur Roby Biwer (LU/PES), will support the Commission towards UN CBC COP15 in Kunming, China (Q2/2021) addressing the proposal of the Commission that the post-2020 global framework includes, at a minimum, a principle of equality. This includes respect for the rights and the full and effective participation of indigenous peoples and local communities. There should be an inclusive approach with participation of all stakeholders, including women, youth, civil society, local and regional authorities.

For more information, click here.

 

Overview of achievements following the adoption of Decision X/22

ICLEI Cities Biodiversity Center (CBC) has recently compiled a document which provides an overview of what has been achieved at the global, national and subnational levels following the adoption of Decision X/22 on the Plan of Action on Subnational Governments, Cities and Other Local Authorities for Biodiversity 2011-2020. The overview captures some of the key initiatives taken by CBD Parties and a range of international organizations over the past decade, in strengthening the role of local and subnational governments in contributing to the objectives of the Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD). It also highlights the rich and varied contributions by the local and subnational levels of governments. The impressive list of achievements and successes makes a strong case for a renewed and significantly stepped-up dedicated Decision on local and subnational action in support of the new Global Biodiversity Framework, and a more ambitious plan of action to institutionalize implementation at the subnational and local levels of government. It will be introduced through a panel discussion in this week’s webinar. The details to register for this webinar are below.

 

Ramsar Wetland City Accreditation

The Ramsar Convention on Wetlands (adopted in 1971) is an intergovernmental treaty that provides the framework for national action and international cooperation for the conservation and wise use of wetlands and their resources. In 2015, the Convention introduced a Wetland City Accreditation Scheme in recognition of the important role of cities in protecting and enhancing the benefits from urban wetlands. In the second round of Ramsar Wetland City Accreditation, the Ramsar Convention’s Secretariat received applications from 25 cities. These applications are currently under review. Results of the review will be presented to the 58th Meeting of the Standing Committee during October of 2020.

How to get involved?

The Edinburgh Process: Extension to consultation period

As you are aware, the Edinburgh Process for Subnational Governments, Cities and Local Authorities on the development of the Post 2020 global biodiversity framework is currently underway, as arguably one of the most significant opportunities for the voice of the local and subnational government constituency to be heard loudly in the lead up to COP 15. Given the COVID-19 context we find ourselves in, the event was transformed into a dynamic and interactive online consultation process.

The event aims to consult the local and subnational government constituency on the Zero Draft Post 2020 Global Biodiversity Framework (GBF), the review of the Plan of Action on Subnational Governments, Cities and Other Local Authorities for Biodiversity, and recommendations for a new dedicated and stepped-up decision that builds on a renewed Plan of Action toward 2030, and the Edinburgh Declaration. All of us are facing unprecedented times and are addressing the current global pandemic.  We recognise this is impacting upon resources, timely action and indeed the COP15 timeline itself.

Therefore the Scottish Government has extended the consultation period until 12 June 2020 to give delegates another two weeks to respond and make inputs through the consultation documents, by means of completing two google forms. The Edinburgh Process partners want to represent all of the subnational constituency and can only do this if you add your views. We encourage you to respond to this consultation, and to be a part of the momentum that is building in the lead up to COP 15.

If you have not done so already, we encourage you to register for the Edinburgh Process and make your voice heard by providing inputs to the consultation documents. This can be done by expressing your interest in participating at: enquiries-subnationalworkshop@gov.scot

Successful registration will allow you access to Attendify, the platform where the Edinburgh Process consultation documents, resources, links to webinars, and webinar recordings will all be housed. For more information, click here.

A series of thematic webinar have been held as part of the Edinburgh Process. The last of these webinars, which will focus on Resource Mobilisation, is scheduled to take place this Thursday (4 June 2020) from 1-2:30 pm (BST). Register for the Edinburgh Process today!

All inputs received through the online consultation and outcomes of the process will be taken into account in the drafting of the Edinburgh Process report to the CBD. This output, including key issues arising, will be reported back to participants at Online Information Session 2 (anticipated to be held across the week of 29 June).  A final consultation report will then be submitted to the CBD ahead of the meeting of the Subsidiary Body for Implementation (SBI) -3 meeting. Inputs made on the principles for inclusion in a stepped-up, dedicated decision and renewed Plan of Action, as well as inputs to the table of achievements (2011-2020) will be incorporated in the Plan of Action review document and to the final consultation report. The process aimed to establish an Edinburgh Process community working towards CBD COP 15.

 

The event is being organised by the Government of Scotland and the Secretariat of the Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD), in collaboration with partner organisations such as ICLEI, REGIONS4 Sustainable Development, the European Committee of the Regions (CoR), the Group of Leading Subnational Governments toward Aichi Biodiversity Targets (GoLS), the UK’s Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, Scottish National Heritage, the UNEP World Conservation Monitoring Centre, the Government of Quebec and of Wales. For more information, and to stay up-to-date with the unfolding details, click here.

 

Save the Date: Register for our next webinar

ICLEI continues to host its monthly Post-2020 webinar series to keep up to date on the unfolding participatory process on the roadmap to COP 15: The Paris Moment for Nature. Visit our website to see more on our local and subnational advocacy for nature and to get involved. In case you have missed the previous webinars in the series, the recordings are available on our YouTube Channel. To read more about our previous webinar in the series on the topic of Biodiversity, Food, and Nutrition for Health, click here.

Join us for the 13th webinar in the series, to be held at both 10am and 3pm SAST (GMT+2) on 4 June 2020. The topic for this webinar will be: Reflecting on the journey since 2010 – overview of achievements linked to the Plan of Action on Subnational Governments, Cities and Other Local Authorities for Biodiversity

The webinar will take the form of an exciting roundtable discussion, as we reflect on the history of local and subnational government advocacy in the CBD. The roundtable will feature the following speakers:

-Ms. Kobie Brand– Global Director, ICLEI Cities Biodiversity Center (CBC)
-Mr. Oliver Hillel– Programme Officer, Secretariat of the Convention on Biological Diversity (SCBD)
-Ms. Susanne Nolden-Department of International Affairs and Global Sustainability, City of Bonn, Germany
-Mr. Grant Pearsell– Director and member of City Planning’s leadership team, City of Edmonton (retired)

Don’t miss out! You can register for the webinar by clicking on your preferred time below:

at 10:00 am SAST (GMT+2)

at 03:00 pm SAST (GMT+2)

CitiesWithNature

We are proud to announce that growth of the CitiesWithNature Partnership Initiative. To date, we have over 150 cities and regions who have registered on the online platform. On the occasion of International Day for Biodiversity, Valérie Plante, Mayor of Montréal and ICLEI Global Ambassador for Local Biodiversity, penned a compelling letter, calling on mayors and leaders of local and subnational governments from around the world to jointly take urgent action to halt and reverse the trends of biodiversity loss. On the same day, the network released the second edition of its exciting CitiesWithNature Buzz.

Visit our Updates page to read more about what cities and regions are doing to enhance the value of nature in and around our urban areas. In the lead up to World Environment Day, aptly themed “time for nature,” on 5th June 2020, CitiesWithNature has partnered with the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) to encourage cities and regions to join the journey. View the toolkit, which includes a dedicated section for Cities, here.

To join CitiesWithNature, connect with the growing network of cities and regions who are taking action for nature, and experience this innovative platform, click here.

Subscribe to stay up to date with the latest CitiesWithNature news.

 

COVID-19

We continue to stand together, in solidarity, as we are increasingly faced with loss and hardship as a result of the pandemic. Furthermore, we applaud the dedication and hard work of healthcare workers who are on the front lines in treating the sick. We continue to acknowledge the role of local and subnational governments for their rapid response in the face of this crisis.

Nature provides diverse life-supporting and life-enhancing contributions to people. All cities critically depend on healthy interconnected ecosystems within and around them. The COVID-19 pandemic is placing huge strain on our communities, our governments, our healthcare systems and our economies. Our cities still continue to grapple with massive sustainability challenges, and building urban resilience will be even more critical now.

 

The generous support from the Post-2020 Biodiversity Framework – EU Support project, the INTERACT-Bio project, and CitiesWithNature partners and cities, has contributed to this email update.

Disclaimer: If you would prefer not to receive these updates in future, please let us know.

This article originally appeared on ICLEI Europe’s website.

Today, 22 May 2020, we celebrate International Day for Biological Diversity. For the year 2020, the day’s theme is ‘Our solutions are in nature’. This theme includes recognising the role of nature and biodiversity to address environmental and social challenges, and emphasises the need to regard humans as part of nature, rather than separate from it.

Cities across Europe and beyond are re-assessing the diverse roles of nature in the urban fabric, and striving towards not only protecting and conserving nature in cities, but also increasing, enhancing and bringing nature back into our urban areas for good.

This work requires support from national and European levels. As Parties to the United Nations’ Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD), the EU and its Member States have adopted a series of strategies and action plans aimed at halting and reversing the loss of biodiversity. This includes the EU 2020 Biodiversity Strategy, which was just replaced on 20 May 2020 by the latest EU Biodiversity Strategy that sets ambitious targets for urban biodiversity.

Nature-based solutions (NBS) also play a central role in current efforts to step-up these and other international commitments. Efforts will culminate in a new Global Biodiversity Framework to be adopted at the Convention on Biological Diversity CoP15 event, which has been postponed to 2021.

 

Biodiverse cities are the cities of the future

All cities across the globe have the potential to host rich biological diversity. In an article written by the Stockholm Resilience Centre at Stockholm University, Dr. Thomas Elmqvist, professor of natural resource management, explains, “Cities are often very rich in biodiversity, and that is because they were located in very rich areas, in floodplains and in low areas with high fertility. So, naturally, you would have very high diversity of plants and animals. Now, cities need to learn how to co-exist with that biodiversity.” But, what practical steps can cities take to do this?

A number of projects are taking Dr. Elmqvist’s words forward, supporting local governments to identify, preserve, co-exist with, and foster their rich biodiversity for the benefit of both the environment and for people. The CitiesWithNature platform enables cities and their partners to engage and connect over their shared commitment to recognise and enhance the value of nature in and around cities. In addition, ICLEI Europe leads the capacity-building UrbanByNature programme, which empowers local governments from across the world to harness the potential of nature for sustainable urban development.

These are but two examples of the capacity-building initiatives that are ensuring that, in the future, our cities are equipped to protect and embrace nature. But why protect urban nature? What benefits can cities actually see in their communities?

 

Barcelona: harnessing its natural heritage to benefit all

ICLEI Member Barcelona (Spain) is one example of a city deriving tangible benefits from enhancing its urban nature.

Barcelona is committed to preserving and transforming its green spaces into habitats for diverse flora and fauna. It aims to promote natural processes with a view towards supporting complex vegetation and optimising so-called “ecosystem services” – in other words, the benefits that people get from ecosystems. In Barcelona, these benefits include lowering air temperature by increasing shade and combatting the “heat island effect”, benefits to residents’ physical and mental health, economic benefits derived from tourism, and much more.

The city has rich natural heritage due to being surrounded by the Serra de Collserola mountain range, which brings with it habitats that are home to a diverse array of species. Barcelona has been working to promote a network of green corridors that connect the Collserola’s natural spaces, as well as the city’s coastline, with green spaces in its urban fabric. This facilitates the movement of species and supports biodiverse systems.

Furthermore, the Barcelona Biodiversity Atlas provides a set of maps showcasing some of the most relevant data on Barcelona’s biodiversity, including its parks, gardens, plant species that live there, street trees and the birds nesting in the city, in order to make this biodiversity more accessible for residents.

Barcelona has set a target of increasing urban green space by 1.6km2 by 2030. This will ensure that inhabitants have easier and more access to green space, and will be enhanced by various activities and events that bring residents closer to these natural areas. Some examples of such activities are the “How does Barcelona work” programme, with a thematic hub on “a greener city”, as well as the “Music in the Parks” festival, which makes the city’s green spaces the stage for music festivals, often alongside guided tours that raise public awareness of the environmental and heritage values of urban parks.

“We cannot underestimate the benefits of urban nature for our communities,” explains Toni Pujol Vidal, Environment Officer at Barcelona City Council’s Urban Ecology Directorate. “When we bring nature closer to people, we can see tangible positive impacts on residents’ physical health and mental wellbeing, not to mention the environment. We can mitigate urban heat, pollinators return to support Barcelona’s trees and flowers, and the city becomes an even more pleasant place to be.”

During the ongoing coronavirus pandemic, Barcelona is once more turning to urban nature as a tool to mitigate challenges. The city is giving free plants to its residents to grow on their balconies and in their homes. Barcelona is using these plants as a simple way to promote the wellbeing of its inhabitants, while also supporting the greening of residential urban spaces like balconies.

With its ample experience promoting urban biodiversity, Barcelona strives to lead by example, and inspire peers in the global community to learn from its experiences. Barcelona has, for example, signed on to the CitiesWithNature platform, to showcase and share its achievements in terms of work done on biodiversity and nature-based solutions over the past years, whilst continuing to set high ambitions for its future.

 

Interlinkages between urban biodiversity and nature-based solutions

It is clear that there is a lot to learn from nature and natural processes. Nature-based solutions provide a glimpse into the value of nature in our surroundings, and how nature can be an ally in tackling urban challenges.

Nature-based solutions provide a wide range of benefits for humans, including improving health and wellbeing, social cohesion, civic participation, and much more. NBS can also play a critical role in contributing to urban biodiversity when cities plan, design and implement these solutions while keeping biodiversity centrally in mind. According to the European Commission, “nature-based solutions must benefit biodiversity and support the delivery of a range of ecosystem services.”

Several international projects – such as CLEVER Cities, Connecting Nature and REGREEN – are dedicated to working with cities to increase their urban biodiversity via the introduction of nature-based solutions to diverse urban challenges.

“Nature-based solutions have become indispensable elements of urban planning to safeguard our natural environment, while providing important health services to inhabitants,” explains Holger Robrecht, Deputy Regional Director at ICLEI Europe. “They are at the heart of what makes our cities attractive and liveable, and hold significant potential to scale up the protection of biodiversity in urban areas. Linking the concepts of urban biodiversity and NBS will enable us to concentrate our efforts for vast positive impacts.”

 

Our solutions are in nature

This International Day for Biological Diversity, let’s celebrate the large number of local and subnational governments that are stepping up their efforts to mainstream biodiversity protection into policies, and are seeing NBS as a key method for moving this agenda forward.

Cities across the world are encouraged to join in this effort, and make use of the great network of capacity-building initiatives and knowledge-sharing opportunities to support them in this venture.

For more information and to join this movement, click here.

 

This World Environment Day, it’s Time for Nature.

It’s time to wake up. To take notice. To reimagine our relationship with nature.

It’s time to raise our voices to tell the world that we need action now.

WHAT CAN CITIES DO?

Cities house the majority of people living on the planet today and consume around 75 per cent of the resources that come from nature. By 2050, the UN predicts 80 per cent of the world population will live in urban areas. Consequently, cities have a huge role to play in preserving the planet’s finite resources and providing services for people. If we are to change the current course of destruction and embrace greater custodianship of nature, we must first LEARN about what we can do; SHARE that knowledge with our citizens on World Environment Day; and ACT on the things we need to change.

 

LEARN ● SHARE ● ACT

Here are some resources for city mayors, councils and municipalities to LEARN about how they can protect biodiversity:

 

These UNEP Guidelines explore ways to harness climate and resource potential for health and well-being at neighbourhood level

This UNEP report examines how cities can become sustainable and resource efficient as urban populations grow

The UNEP GEO Cities Report provides local governments, scientists, policy-makers and the general public with reliable and up-to-date information on improving urban environmental planning and management

This UNEP report shows how local governments and decisions can help improve the state of the global environment

The Cities and Biodiversity Outlook summarizes how urbanization affects biodiversity and examines 10 ways cities can strengthen conservation and use natural resources more sustainably

Consult these resources to learn how to protect land from degradation

The UN Habitat Guidelines look at how to balance territorial development by enhancing urban-rural linkages

CitiesWithNature, an initiative hosted by ICLEI, IUCN and The Nature Conservancy, is a shared platform for cities and their partners to engage and connect

The Nature of Cities initiative curates conversations about urban solutions to environmental challenges

Cities4Forests encourages cities to better connect, conserve, manage, and restore forests around them

Learn how to better integrate nature into urban life by consulting these handbooks and this poster.

Here are some ideas for how cities can SHARE the message on World Environment Day:

 

Join the CitiesWithNature initiative that recognizes and enhances the value of nature in and around cities

Sign up to the C40 Cities Climate Leadership Group

Announce a new “green area” to be created in your city

Use social media accounts to highlight the native biodiversity that exists with in your city and what is in danger of being lost unless measures are taken

Send native plant seeds to citizens on World Environment Day that they can plant on their balcony or garden to encourage biodiversity

Join the Climate and Clean Air Coalition

Join the Cool Coalition

Have the mayor host a virtual chat with citizens pertaining to questions about the environment in the city

Announce new targets pertaining to nature and biodiversity

Here’s how cities can ACT for nature:

 

Adopt a “Whole-of-Government” approach, to allow a wide vision towards sustainable urban development

Include nature-based solutions as part of your city climate strategy

Develop combined transport and ecosystem corridors, naturally shading pedestrians and cyclists while connecting key green spaces in and around the city

Set targets to protect and create green spaces in the city, and introduce innovative policies such as obligations to recreate as much green space as a real estate development is eating up

Consider making living roofs and solar panels mandatory requirements in the specifications for tendering of affordable housing

Create urban gardening opportunities for communities

Produce a sustainable development report to be updated on a regular basis

All cities, large and small, are invited to become part of a unique initiative that recognizes and enhances the value of nature in and around cities across the world

Enlist urban planners to analyse how more trees can be planted in residential neighbourhoods and close to schools and hospitals

If native watersheds were built over due to urban expansion, enlist planners to analyse whether they can be restored

Allocate funds for biodiversity restoration in your annual budget

In collaboration with scientists, find out what ecosystem services you could make use of in your city and protect or restore them.

This article originally appeared on ICLEI USA’s website.

On today’s occasion of the International Day for Biological Diversity, 10 cities, towns, and counties are recognized as the United States Pioneers to the CitiesWithNature platform.

Each of the cities to join CitiesWithNature shares policies, plans and committed actions to protect nature, prioritize nature-based solutions to climate change, account for ecosystem services and make sure residents in their communities have easy access to nature and the outdoors. The U.S. Pioneers include:
City of Buffalo, NY
City of Fort Collins, CO
City of Holland, MI
City of Los Angeles, CA
Orange County, FL
City of Orlando, FL
City of Pittsburgh, PA
City of San Antonio, TX
Santa Fe County, NM
City of Urbana, IL

 

Managed in partnership between ICLEI-Local Governments for Sustainability, the International Union for the Conservation of Nature (IUCN), and the Nature Conservancy, the CitiesWithNature platform is endorsed by the United Nations Secretariat of the Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD) as the official mechanism to coordinate local and subnational ambitions and commitments toward global efforts in halting biodiversity loss and protecting our natural world.

The announcement comes during a “Super Year for Nature”, designated by the international community of practice on biodiversity in the leadup to the 15th Conference of the Parties to the Convention on Biological Diversity (COP15). 2020 was intended to be the year when the terms of the current Convention on Biological Diversity was set to expire, to be replaced by updated principles for preserving nature, known as the Post-2020 Framework. Due to global pandemic caused by the COVID-19 novel coronavirus, key events on the road toward COP15 have been postponed or canceled, moving the global community to extend the Super Year for Nature through 2021. Local governments are asserting their role in preserving and enhancing nature as part of the Post-2020 Framework process.

CitiesWithNature is open to all cities and subnational governments, regardless of size or level of progress in working with nature. Launched on June 20, 2018, at ICLEI World Congress in Montreal, Canada, the platform is structured so that a city, town or county can decide how involved its stakeholders want to be — the more actively they engage and contribute, the more benefits they will receive. There is no fee associated with joining CitiesWithNature and committed cities do not need to be members of ICLEI to join.

About ICLEI USA

ICLEI–Local Governments for Sustainability is the leading global network of more than 1,750 local and regional governments committed to sustainable urban development. Active in more than 100 countries, we support local governments to deliver their self-determined sustainability policy and drive local action for low-emission, nature-based, equitable, resilient and circular development. Our members and team of experts work together through peer exchange, partnerships, and capacity building to create systemic change for urban sustainability.

ICLEI USA is the United States country office of ICLEI-Local Governments for Sustainability and a leading technical expert on greenhouse-gas emissions accounting, climate action, and resilience and sustainability planning. Along with our ClearPath tool for local greenhouse gas emissions accounting, we remain firmly positioned as the experts in the industry through our development of the U.S. Community Protocol for Accounting and Reporting of Greenhouse Gas Emissions, the Local Government Operations Protocol, and the Recycling and Composting Protocol.

About ICLEI Cities Biodiversity Center

ICLEI’s Cities Biodiversity Center (CBC) is located in Cape Town, South Africa, embedded in the Africa Regional Office of ICLEI. We offer cities a broad portfolio of supportive services through our dedicated team of passionate, skilled and dynamic biodiversity and urban development experts. Through our ICLEI CBC programmes and initiatives we seek local solutions and promote innovation to address the complex issues surrounding natural capital and the degradation of ecosystem services in a rapidly urbanizing world. The CBC recognizes the crucial role that cities and local governments play in the pursuit of a greener existence through efficiently integrating urban development and biodiversity management at the local level.

 

“Our natural systems and urban ecology are what make us the City Beautiful — from our lush tree canopy-lined streets and vibrant public parks to the more than 100 lakes throughout our neighborhoods and the renowned Orlando Wetlands Park. The City of Orlando continues to stand committed to environmental protection, stewardship of natural resources, and climate action, and we are delighted to be an inaugural U.S. member of the CitiesWithNature partnership”, said Honorable Mayor Buddy Dyer, City of Orlando, Fla. “Now, more than ever, we are realizing the important connections between the health of our community, our environment, and our economy. Moving forward in our new normal, we plan to continue to advance sustainability and resilience, and work to reconnect our communities with nature.”

 

“San Antonio is proud to join CitiesWithNature as a Pioneer City.  Established on the banks of the San Antonio River over 300 years ago, our city continues to thrive by respecting our abundant natural resources,” said Honorable Mayor Ron Nirenberg, City of San Antonio. “We have a record of prioritizing investments that elevate and regenerate the beauty and livability of our community as well as protecting the native species, air, water and land that sustain us. Examples include establishing the Bracken Cave Preserve, home to the largest bat colony in the world; committing to the Mayor’s Monarch Pledge to support pollinators who migrate through our area twice each year; and conserving land over the Edwards Aquifer Recharge Zone, our primary source of drinking water. We know that caring for nature is essential to a sustainable future, and we have prioritized biodiversity, green infrastructure and healthy ecosystems in our SA Climate Ready, Climate Action & Adaptation Plan. Naturally, we celebrate this initiative and look forward to working together as stewards of our planet.”

 

“Holland is a great place to live, work, and play — due in large part to our connection with our green spaces, which includes 500 acres of city-managed greenspace across 23 parks. We are excited to be a Pioneer Community in the CitieswithNature initiative,” said Honorable Mayor Nathan Bocks, City of Holland, Mich. “Holland is a thriving community with abundant natural and community resources and is known around the world for our historic annual Tulip Time Festival and the work of Holland in Bloom community initiative. We recognize how a community’s public parks and recreation facilities can positively impact the health of residents and the quality of an area’s natural resources.”

 

“The Covid-19 pandemic has reminded us in Los Angeles that the available open space in our urban setting is inadequate, especially in our disadvantaged communities, and also has reminded us how important these recreational areas are for our physical and mental health,” said Enrique C. Zaldivar, Director and General Manager, City of Los Angeles Sanitation and Environment. “Additionally, it has pointed out that we need to be mindful that open space access needs to take into consideration not only the environmental justice perspective, but also support the enhancement of biodiversity in an urban habitat.”

 

“Nature offers many benefits to the health and wellness of those who live and work in the City of Buffalo,” said Oluwole A. McFoy, General Manager of the City of Buffalo Sewer Authority. “From our vibrant and active waterfront, to our world class public park system, our natural assets provide recreation opportunities and support an active lifestyle for all. Buffalo’s location on the shores of the great lakes provides clean and affordable drinking water, and our street trees and urban forest offers relief in the shade on a hot summer day. Nature has something for everyone.”

 

“Cities are a great scale to implement solutions to our global nature and urban biodiversity challenges. The CitiesWithNature platform provides a pathway for implementation” said Scott Tess, Sustainability & Resilience Officer for the City of Urbana, IL. “Cities learn from cities. The success stories we hear from others or share from our own experience short-cut implementation and avoid pitfalls while pushing the nature and urban biodiversity agenda forward”

 

“Nature is the life support of our physical existence. In these difficult times, we realize that nature provides so much more — it’s a respite during difficult times,” said Angie Fyfe, Executive Director of ICLEI USA. “Thank you to the local government leaders who recognize the value of nature in cities and who emphasize this important health, climate, and equity benefit in their communities.”

The International Association of Horticultural Producers (AIPH), through its Green City initiative, and ICLEI, through its Cities Biodiversity Center (CBC), announce a global partnership to collaborate on the CitiesWithNature partnership initiative, ahead of International Biodiversity Day on Friday 22 May.

Biodiversity is essential for sustainable development and human wellbeing; this is the message from the United Nations ahead of International Biodiversity Day on Friday. The theme this year is “our solutions are in nature,” which could not be more pertinent at this time, when our cities face many challenges.

AIPH leads global thinking on the successful integration of nature into the built environment. Through its Green City programme, it initiates projects and activities that create an awareness of the power of plants in contributing practical and economically sound solutions to many of the problems that our cities face. Our environment, human wellbeing, social cohesion, and economies are all improved by intelligently designed green space.

ICLEI – Local Governments for Sustainability is an international organisation of over 1750 local and subnational governments dedicated to sustainability. ICLEI CBC acts globally on biodiversity and nature on behalf of ICLEI, and is secretariat of the CitiesWithNature partnership initiative, on behalf of the founding partners: ICLEI, the International Union for the Conservation of Nature (IUCN) and The Nature Conservancy (TNC), and the growing network of supporting partners. CitiesWithNature provides a shared global platform for cities, researchers, practitioners, partners, and urban communities to connect, learn, share, act, and inspire each other to strengthen collective action in mainstreaming nature into our cities and surrounding regions. It enables the global celebration, enhancement, and protection of nature for the benefit and overall wellbeing of cities and people in cities.

This partnership aligns the common goals of the two organisations towards promoting sustainable urban development.

Chair of the AIPH Green City Committee, Bill Hardy, says: “Our partnership with CitiesWithNature enhances the capacity of AIPH to influence practice, and change the way our cities look and function.”

 

AIPH Technical Advisor, Dr Audrey Gerber, adds: “This partnership reinforces our serious green ambitions. Through joint activities, research, and shared resources, facilitated by this partnership, we will seek to inspire people worldwide — organisations, city councils, communities, and government administrations  —  to reignite our relationship with nature  and reap the benefits.”

For more information about the Green City programme, please visit AIPH website.

Ms. Kobie Brand, Global Director of ICLEI’s CBC, says: “We are thrilled to partner with the world’s champion for the power of plants. Plants are an important component of the biodiversity on which we critically depend, especially in our increasingly urban lives. Our cities are places where people and nature can thrive in harmony. On International Biodiversity Day and beyond, we are jointly committed to building CitiesWithNature.”

Mr Timothy Blatch, Global Coordinator of CitiesWithNature adds: “Our collaboration is exciting and timeous, and we welcome AIPH to the growing global network of partners dedicated to mainstreaming nature in all aspects of life. We are united in our vision as we embark on the journey to reconnect people with nature. The solutions to the challenges our cities face are in nature, as we shape a collective urban future that is greener and healthier.”

For more information about the CitiesWithNature Partnership Initiative, please visit the online platform.

 

For further details contact:

Dr Audrey Gerber, PhD MCIHort, AIPH Technical Advisor

Email: audrey.gerber@aiph.org

Rachel Wakefield, AIPH Communications Executive

Email: rachel.wakefield@aiph.org

Phone: +44 (0) 1235 776 160

Website: www.aiph.org

Follow AIPH on:

LinkedIn #AIPH

Facebook: @theAIPH

Twitter @AIPHglobal

 

For further details contact:

Mr Timothy Blatch, Global Coordinator: CitiesWithNature, ICLEI CBC

Email: timothyblatch@iclei.org

Michelle Preen, Senior Manager: Communications, ICLEI CBC

Email: michelle.preen@iclei.org

Website: www.cbc.iclei.org

Website: www.citieswithnature.org

Follow CitiesWithNature on:

Twitter @CitiesWNature

 

 

Notes for Editors:

International Association of Horticultural Producers (AIPH)

Since 1948, AIPH has united horticultural producers in an international community that thrives to this day. Much has changed in that time. Technologies advanced, cities rose from the ground, and we have become more connected than ever. As a result, our essential bond with nature has been weakened. AIPH strives to reignite and uphold an appreciation of plants that we believe is a basic human instinct. We support the work of grower associations globally and together we champion a prosperous industry, growing plants that enhance lives, advance societies, and sustain our planet, for this generation and the next.

Through the Green City initiative, we aim to develop an international standard for green cities as well as being a focal point for green city best practice and a source of expertise.  Through world activities, research and marketing, and shared resources, we seek to inspire people, organisations, city councils and government administrations to join this challenging movement and reap the benefits.

 

ICLEI Cities Biodiversity Center (CBC)

ICLEI – Local Governments for Sustainability is a global network of more than 1,750 local and regional governments committed to sustainable urban development. Active in 100+ countries, we influence sustainability policy and drive local action for low emission, nature-based, equitable, resilient and circular development. Our Members and team of experts work together through peer exchange, partnerships and capacity building to create systemic change for urban sustainability. ICLEI’s CBC is located in Cape Town, South Africa, embedded in the Africa Regional Office of ICLEI. We offer cities a broad portfolio of supportive services through our dedicated team of passionate, skilled and dynamic biodiversity and urban development experts.

Through our ICLEI CBC programmes and initiatives we seek local solutions and promote innovation to address the complex issues surrounding natural capital and the degradation of ecosystem services in a rapidly urbanizing world. The CBC recognizes the crucial role that cities and local governments play in the pursuit of a greener existence through efficiently integrating urban development and biodiversity management at the local level.

As we celebrate the International Day for Biodiversity (22 May) and World Environment Day (5 June) this year, the COVID-19 pandemic provides a sobering opportunity to reflect on our relationship with nature. Valérie Plante, Mayor of Montréal and ICLEI Global Ambassador for Local Biodiversity, has penned a compelling letter, calling on mayors and leaders of local and subnational governments from around the world to jointly take action to halt and reverse the trends of biodiversity loss, especially as they develop their post-COVID-19 recovery plans. She outlines numerous ways that leaders can take strong, decisive action to create healthy, vibrant cities, where people and nature can thrive.

Read Mayor Plante’s letter below:

“As mayors and leaders of local and subnational governments, we have a unique opportunity and an important responsibility to protect our biodiversity and ecosystems in ways that will restore humanity’s relationship with nature, especially as we develop our post-COVID-19 recovery plans. Together, let’s take strong action to create healthy, vibrant cities, where people and nature can thrive.”

~ Mayor Valérie Plante of the City of Montréal & ICLEI’s Global Ambassador for Local Biodiversity

 

 

By Timothy Blatch, CitiesWithNature Program Coordinator

Locations: Los Angeles, Montreal, Melbourne, London, and Durban

Los Angeles

Melbourne

In the time of COVID-19, cities are on the frontlines of response efforts. While the pandemic has shone a spotlight on our healthcare systems and our socio-economic disparities, it has also brought our relationship with nature to the fore. The links between ecosystem stability, the natural environment, and human health have never been clearer. According to UNEPP (2020), it is precisely because of the interconnected nature of all life on this planet, that an ambitious post-2020 biodiversity framework matters greatly, and why nature needs to take center stage in our efforts to “build back better” in the coming days.

Inger Anderson, Chief of UN Environment put it well when she said, “Humanity’s expansion on the terrestrial earth surface means that, today, human activity has altered almost 75 per cent of the earth’s surface, squeezing wildlife and nature into an ever-smaller corner of the planet. And yet, nature is critical to our own survival: nature provides us with our oxygen, regulates our weather patterns, pollinates our crops and produces our food, feed and fibre, but it is under increasing stress.”

Anderson goes on to say that “we need to take on board the environmental signals and what they mean for our future and wellbeing, because COVID-19 is by no means a ‘silver lining’ for the environment. Visible, positive impacts are but temporary, because they come on the back of tragic economic slowdown and human distress.” In her First Person Editorial Ms. Andersen calls instead for a profound, systemic shift to a more sustainable economy that works for both people and the planet.

Montreal

London

As almost half of humankind have lesser or even no options to connect with nature in these trying times, many are realising anew just how essential our connection with nature is for own health and wellbeing, and how we long for it once we are separated from it. We all need nature, even more so in these unprecedented times where the fast-changing daily dynamics of COVID-19 are consuming and fundamentally altering our lives.

“Urban parks and green open spaces provide opportunities for urban communities to enjoy and connect with nature, improving health and wellbeing. While we cannot all access our parks right now, we know that nature never closes and its multiple gifts continue to benefit our cities. Together we stand in solidarity with our cities to celebrate the value of nature and our urban parks, as we build resilient CitiesWithNature” – Kobie Brand, Global Director, ICLEI Cities Biodiversity Center

During the COVID-19 pandemic, cities are increasingly realising that:

Building urban resilience is critical

The COVID-19 pandemic is placing huge strain on our communities, our governments, our healthcare systems and our economies. Our cities still continue to grapple with massive sustainability challenges, and building resilience will be even more critical now and as we move forward during and after the COVID-19 pandemic.

We need to protect and respect nature:

Nature provides diverse life-supporting and life-enhancing contributions to people. All cities critically depend on healthy interconnected ecosystems within and around them. There is a growing urgency for collective and large-scale action to protect biodiversity and respect nature in and around cities to prevent irreversible loss and damage to the natural systems that protect us.

Nature is good for everyone:

It is well known that spending time outdoors in nature can be good for mental and physical health and wellbeing. Levels of stress and anxiety have increased dramatically since the outbreak of the COVID-19 virus, so any activity that offers stress reduction and improved health is a gift. If people don’t have symptoms and cities aren’t in total lockdown, spending time in nature, where people maintain adequate physical distance, can be very beneficial.

We increasingly need to connect online:

The pandemic is calling us to increasingly connect online. CitiesWithNature, as a unique, next-generation initiative, is supporting an online community of practice, enabling learning and action around integrating nature in cities and (re)connecting people with nature. CitiesWithNature:

  • Demonstrates innovative ways of engaging cities and regions, partners and individuals on urban nature
  • Provides a platform for knowledge sharing and learning on the critical importance of nature in urban life
  • Offers a space for collective action at the local level to realise global impact
  • Invites partners to come on board and shape the initiative going forward e.g. the development of a pathway on the critical importance of urban parks
  • Grows and strengthens a virtual community of practice that is resilient to crises and is not dependent on physical space or in-person interaction
  • Facilitates mainstreaming of nature in and around our cities to secure our increasingly urban future

Join the journey today and be a part of this exciting global movement in pursuit of building CitiesWithNature, which is especially critical both during and after the pandemic.

World Urban Parks and ICLEI: Partnering for Parks and CitiesWithNature

Urban parks are of critical importance for the health and wellbeing of urban communities and for the resilience of our urban areas, which is especially apparent now, more than ever before. It is, however, essential that these benefits are distributed equitable across our cities and that access to urban parks and green open spaces is ensured in as far as possible. Online, virtual, and more sustainable engagement mechanisms are key to a new way of doing in 2020 and beyond.

World Urban Parks and ICLEI- Local Governments for Sustainability, through its Cities Biodiversity Center, are thrilled to announce our exciting, new partnership. The signing of our collaboration agreement formalizes a strong partnership between World Urban Parks and ICLEI for collaboration on the CitiesWithNature Partnership Initiative and the WUP Campaign. Leveraging the individual and collective strengths of our organizations, our joint work programme will help to mainstream, protect, and enhance nature and maximize the benefit derived from the ecosystem services and nature-based solutions. This partnership is timeous, given the current circumstances surrounding the pandemic and the need for us to fundamentally rethink our relationship with the natural world.

“The overall aim of this partnership is to reconnect communities with nature in and around urban areas and use the CitiesWithNature platform to facilitate this aim, for the benefit of all partners of the Partnership Initiative.  This partnership brings together two strong global organizations committed to advancing the protection and advancement of nature in urban environments for the health and well-being of all people and our planet” – Jayne Miller, Chair of World Urban Parks

Both our organisations look forward to working together to advance our joint vision for greener, healthier CitiesWithNature.

The COVID-19 International Parks Expert Roundtable Statement

On April 2nd, the World Urban Parks with its key global partners, including ICLEI’s Cities Biodiversity Center, held the first COVID19 International Parks Expert Panel to discuss how to further collaborate both during and after this global crisis on the importance of urban parks for people in our rapidly changing world.

From the statement of collaboration, there is overwhelming endorsement that parks are a critical public health and social resource and we recognize that stay-at-home measures and physical distancing will likely take a toll on our mental health, especially during high-stress and anxiety-producing global public health emergencies. We also know from medical research how important nature is in urban life and how access to parks and open space provides that “nature fix” for human survival – providing opportunities for physical activity and regaining our emotional, psychological and mental balance.

The world has changed substantially and the COVID-19 crisis needs a response that is far from business as usual. The COVID-19 International Parks Expert Panel of core members have agreed to work together, leveraging our individual and collective strengths, through leadership and collaboration, the co-creation of a clear vision, knowledge sharing and communication of clear, positive, time-sensitive messaging.

#NatureNeverCloses

ICLEI Cities Biodiversity Center was also a core partner in the World Urban Parks Park Week campaign: #NatureNeverCloses that ran from April 25th– May 3rd 2020.

With COVID-19 is affecting each country, region and city differently. For World Parks Week 2020, World Urban Parks, ICLEI Cities Biodiversity Center, and partners challenged all urban citizens to explore how and in what ways they are experiencing nature in their own circumstances. For example, some cities have completely closed off access to urban parks and green open spaces at this time. In some cities, residents are not allowed to leave their homes except for essential grocery store and pharmacy visits. However, some cities have allowed limited access to parks and green spaces and some have even kept their parks wide open to the public, with differing degrees of social distancing regulations. Even at this time, there are ways we can experience nature in our daily lives. This may take the form of birdwatching from the window or looking after the house plants. The pandemic has shown us that even when we seem to be locked down, nature never closes.

World Parks Week 2020 was an opportunity for us to share how and in what ways we are exploring nature!

Source: World Urban Parks

During Parks Week, ICLEI CBC hosted a CitiesWithNature webinar on The Benefits of Access to Nature for Urban Communities During and Beyond Pandemics and Associated Movement Restrictions. The webinar brought together a panel of five city officials from major cities across the globe to share their experiences and learnings from the pandemic and to showcase how more than ever before, we need nature in and around our cities. The list of cities represented included Los Angeles, London, Melbourne, Durban, and Montreal.

“Life is all about connections, dynamics, and relationships. In cities, parks are essential places of contact with nature’s biodiversity. Parks are also places where people like to gather. Social distancing in parks is understandably a big and complex change that sparks important discussions. And while we navigate through restrictions in this sensitive context, we can bring to light the positive message that important well-being and health benefits can still be experienced, through immersion in nature, contemplation, and inspiration, which may be optimal when visiting a park alone. Discovering the unnoticed ‘nearby nature’ in smaller neighbourhood green areas can also bring positive and unsuspected discoveries for families, close to home. For so many reasons, biodiversity protection in cities is vital.” – Joëlle Roy LeFrançois: Planning Advisor, Urban Biodiversity Division, Parks and biodiversity management Department, Ville de Montreal

“This pandemic has reminded us that the available open space in an urban setting is inadequate, especially in our disadvantaged communities and also indicated how important these recreational areas are for our physical and mental health. We need to investigate the open space access indicator from not only the native wildlife standpoint, but also from the environmental justice perspective. Another valuable and obvious lesson that we learned is how clean the air and water have become while the world shelters in place. Many wildlife sightings in our open space (national parks) and urban environment reflects our adverse impacts on native faunas and that more access for all to open spaces and parks will have unintended consequence of adversely impacting native fauna.” – Mas Dojiri: Assistant General Manager at LA Sanitation & Environment (LASAN) and LASAN’s Chief Scientist, Los Angeles

Mr Errol Douwes: Senior Manager: Restoration Ecology Branch, Environmental Planning and Climate Protection Department, EThekwini Municipality (City of Durban) presented a collection of images of the nature in and around the City of Durban, in South Africa. Noting that South Africa’s response to COVID-19 has, to date, come with strict movement restrictions and citizens not being able to access green spaces or parks, Errol’s photo montage was a stark reminder of how beautiful nature is and how we long for it, especially when we cannot access it. Errol’s key message was that “globally, we need to integrate nature and open spaces into all our urban environments. This improves air quality, sequesters carbon, reduces stress levels and helps to protect biodiversity. Cities and local governments can be the leading proponents in this work.”

The case of London was presented by Peter Massini: Lead – Green Infrastructure, Development, Enterprise & Environment, Greater London Authority, which stands in contrast to the Durban experience.

“In London, throughout the Covid-19 pandemic, continued access to parks was permitted provided users abided by the social distancing rules. The reduction in the background noise of traffic resulted in a surge in the numbers of people reporting hearing and appreciating birdsong. But there is a caveat; the data suggests that it is younger, more affluent Londoners who have been using parks more. This reflects, perhaps, that it is this demographic who are most likely to be able to work from home, and have shifted their exercise routine. Londoners in lower socio-economic groups and other disadvantaged groups seem not to have significantly increased their use of parks.

We need to redouble our efforts to provide access to green space and nature for all Londoners, especially for the most vulnerable groups and for those who’s working patterns or caring responsibilities limit their opportunity to make regular trips to the local park. We need to provide some of the benefits of visiting a park part of everyone’s everyday experience.”

In Melbourne, all outdoors spaces are closed but public parks and gardens may still be used for essential daily exercise. The exercise exemption has been a life-saver for residents while schools are closed and parents are working from home. According to Mr. David Callow: Acting Director for Parks and City Greening for the City, families especially have been finding headspace in parks by running, walking and cycling. However, residents are not allowed to sit and enjoy these spaces, which highlights the importance of fostering green spaces at home. The city’s program to increase biodiversity in home gardens is seeing more volunteer teachers participate now that the ‘home visits’ are conducted online.

Durban

Our ‘Paris moment’ for nature

The coming weeks and months will be critical in shaping our collective urban future. Our response to the pandemic and to the socio-economic recovery should be one that is nature-centric. It should transform our economic, social, and environmental systems as we pursue greater resilience in the face of increasing natural disasters, climate change impacts, and even pandemics. We are dependent on nature and our lives are better for having nature in them. We need to respect and protect nature to ensure that are cities are filled with the multiple benefits it provides, both in our response to the pandemic and beyond.

We have a unique opportunity now to define how we build back better after COVID-19. This allows us to ask the question ‘What if?’. What if your city was a National Park City? The National Park City vision aims to create cities where nature and people are connected. The Universal Charter for National Park Cities is a monumental document has been written to inspire people, create a common understanding of what National Park Cities are and to encourage positive collaborations. Developed by the National Park City Foundation in partnership with World Urban Parks and Salzburg Global Seminar, people from more than 50 countries have commented on and contributed to its development. Through the National Park City foundation, a movement is growing, drawing people together to take action in transforming our cities into CitiesWithNature.

This World Biodiversity Day is the perfect moment for us to reflect. It is a time for us to see nature from behind our windows and long to be in it. This longing reminds us how much we value nature: in our homes, in our cities, and in every aspect of our urban lives. It is also a critical moment for nature as our leaders negotiate the Post-2020 Global Biodiversity Framework that will guide the global agenda over the next decade.

In our rapidly urbanising world, it is critical that we design, build, and sustain CitiesWithNature, now more than ever before. Cities are at the forefront of implementing the new framework, and cities are mobilising to take collective action for global impact. The voice of local and subnational governments is growing ever louder, as we stand united, ready to take up our role in contributing to the most ambitious global biodiversity agenda ever adopted. This is the ‘Paris moment for nature.’