Networks and cities' news

BiodiverCity Project Showcased in Finland during Erasmus+ STEAMCRAFT Meeting

Testing Action Wildflower ID Swatch in Limerick

Find below one excellent example about a real action: 

"our rationale for this testing action to create something unique to Limerick to assist LCCC staff and the public identify and record 25 species of native wildflower. The ID swatch is based on 25 species of wildflower found in Corbally Meadow, one of the most botanical species rich sites in the city. It is hoped the local aspect will help raise/educate public awareness around the value of native local wildflower seed as opposed to buying in non-local flowers that would not be as beneficial to local species in their larval and adult lifecycle as a source of food and habitat.

The Process involved procuring a local botanist to help determine the 25 species to be included in the swatch and to provide the images and detailed text for the life cycle and interesting species facts for "

Have you ever tried beehive therapy? Have you ever met a biodiversity officer?

In this edition, we dive into the transformative work of Local Authority Biodiversity Officers in Ireland, explore urban beekeeping as a tool for engagement, and discover how public parks can evolve into climate-resilient biodiversity hubs. We also take a closer look at groundbreaking initiatives like Limerick’s first Natural Play Area, permaculture gardens in Slovenia, and innovative tree and park management in Budapest.

How Did Biodiversity Become a Core Organising Principle of Urban Development in Guimarães, Europe’s Green Capital 2026?

Urban biodiversity is a critical yet often overlooked aspect of sustainable city development. As cities continue to expand, the preservation and integration of biodiversity within urban landscapes become increasingly important, both for ecological balance and the well-being of residents. Guimarães, a city in northern Portugal, has emerged as a model for biodiversity-driven urban planning, integrating nature-based solutions into its governance framework.

Biodivercity at the Inclusion4Schools Final Event

As part of the BiodiverCity URBACT project, the Municipality of Vratsa participated in the final event of the Inclusion4Schools Horizon 2020 project, sharing their expertise in co-design and co-planning methodologies.

During the event, Vratsa representatives introduced the Urban Local Group (ULG) method, highlighting how collaborative urban planning fosters inclusive and sustainable solutions. Their experience in engaging diverse stakeholders in the co-creation of green and resilient urban spaces resonated with participants, reinforcing the importance of participatory approaches in both education and urban development.

By bridging social inclusion and environmental sustainability, Vratsa continues to play a key role in shaping people-centered urban policies within the BiodiverCity network.

How can we maximalise conditions to get the full potential of exchange and learning?

Thinking about “evergreen” challenges at the mid-term of the BiodiverCity network 

“Very enriching experience for our municipality”. “The significant guidance provided by the URBACT Secretariat is very much appreciated”. “The inputs from the lead expert, ad-hoc experts and other partners are valued as extremely useful”. Based on this general feedback, the BiodiverCity learning journey is very positive. Yet, there is a huge gap between partner cities’ understanding of the challenge as well as their willingness to act through an integrated action plan. How can we make the learning journey better if everything seems alright?

We all know that integrated action plans can be game-changers and can be made for the desk drawer. It is all about commitment. Commitment from all participants of the learning journey. We all do our best, but we must confess, that despite all the efforts to make the learning process as effective as possible, there are factors we cannot influence.

Together with the host city, during several preparatory meetings, you put together an interesting agenda with a good mixture of knowledge, interaction and social elements. You do serious desk research to prepare for the upcoming meeting. You explain to the partners what to expect and who should come to the meeting. On the spot, you are active, you try to speak to, motivate and inspire everyone. But you cannot make sure that the local speaker will properly formulate the right message, enabling listeners to get it appropriately (if they are the right people to get that specific message). You organise exercises to capture the learning to push participants to share the lesson learnt at home with local stakeholders. But you cannot be everywhere…

These thoughts are in my mind, when coming back from the Mid-Term Review Meeting of the BiodiverCity action planning network, which works on urban biodiversity and nature-based solutions, relatively new themes in URBACT. No doubt, the project is on the right track, partners are satisfied with most segments of the network, and they also shared those thematic and methodological fields they would like to learn more about. 

When I arrive home, there is a clear action plan in my mind on how to tackle those thematic and methodological fields. Yet, I am still thinking about how to do better, especially now, before the most active semester of the network, since 2025 Spring-Summer will host Testing Actions, BiodiverCity Festivals, the finalisation of the action plans and in some cities, the City Nature Challenge will be also organised.