Networks and cities' news

BiodiverCity Project Represented at Key URBACT Event in Paris

The BiodiverCity project was proudly represented by its Lead Partner and Lead Expert at a dynamic three-day URBACT gathering in Paris, which concludes today. The event brought together Action Planning Networks and National URBACT Points for insightful exchanges, peer reviews, and collaborative reflections on Integrated Action Plans.

Throughout the event, participants explored best practices in storytelling, integrated urban development, and participatory planning methods. The BiodiverCity team actively contributed to and benefited from discussions aimed at enhancing the quality and impact of local action planning across Europe. The experience adds valuable momentum as the project continues its mission to foster greener and more inclusive urban spaces.

Bees Between the Tower Blocks Urban Beekeeping Blossoms in Veszprém

In an innovative step towards boosting urban biodiversity, Veszprém has joined the growing movement of urban beekeeping – bringing buzzing life to the city's rooftops and green pockets. As part of the international BiodiverCity project, two bee colonies, thanks to the collaboration with Bakonynektár beekeepers.

But this isn’t just about honey.

The initiative is a living experiment, asking a vital question: Can pollinators thrive in our urban environments? With over 33 m² of green space per capita – a national benchmark – and accessible parks within 500 metres of every residential area, Veszprém is already setting the stage for sustainable urban ecosystems. Flowering meadows, trees, green roofs, and semi-natural habitats provide crucial support to birds, insects, and now, bees.

Dunaújváros organised the biodiversity festival

On Sunday, Dunaújváros celebrated nature with a vibrant Biodiversity Festival, organised as part of the URBACT BiodiverCity project. Held on the picturesque Szalki Island, the event placed a special focus on younger generations and aimed to bring the natural environment closer to the community through engaging and educational experiences.

More info in hungarian: https://dunaujvaros.com/hirek/202505/oko_napot_is_rendeznek_a_szalki_szigeten

Buzzing with sustainability: green day brings to Veszprém's schoolchildren

This year on 16 May, as a side event of Planet Lens, the "Green Day - Sustainability all the time" event took place in Veszprém, aiming to bring sustainability issues closer to the schoolchildren of Veszprém in an interactive and playful way. The URBACT BiodiverCity project was also represented at the event, where the city's apiary was presented by Erika Csiza and Péter Simon. The children were fascinated by the bees visibly working in the beehive and enjoyed tasting the sweet treats. The next time the people of Veszprém can meet bees, their keepers and the fruits of their labour will be on 22 June at the Biodiversity Festival.  

Some photos:

Final Day Highlights of the BiodiverCity Project Mid-Term Meeting

The concluding day of the BiodiverCity mid-term meeting saw partners engage in deep discussions, reflections, and planning, solidifying the collaborative journey so far and setting a clear trajectory for the project's future. Here's a detailed summary of the day's activities:

Beyond tree plantations: Celebrate mature trees that provide great benefits for cities and citizens!

Spring is here, and until June 2025, BiodiverCity partner cities are loud with BiodiverCity Festivals celebrating urban biodiversity. Our ad-hoc expert, Rita Szerencsés, facilitated partner cities in the last months to activate residents along those festivals and raise awareness towards the magnificent ecosystem services trees provide for us.

Tree plantations, guided tours, promotion of monumental trees, forest bathing, craft workshops, art exhibitions, cultural programmes and interactive activities promoting biodiversity are organised for all generations in these weeks in 10 corners of Europe. Urban green areas are indeed great assets to engage residents and explain the benefits of nature (the so-called ecosystem services). But while thousands of residents actively participate in tree plantations, which is great, of course, fewer people know that most of these ecosystem services are provided by mature trees. And in many parts of Europe, they face serious challenges: never seen drought, increased pollution (traffic, dogs, humans) and neglect by public utility companies when earthworks are needed.

So, how to raise awareness towards these essential issues? Our ad-hoc expert, Rita Szerencsés, summed up what is going on during the BiodiverCity Festivals and what challenges partner cities faced while organising the festivals.