Networks and cities' news

Testing Action Held in Dunaújváros

On Wednesday, a testing action took place in Dunaújváros under the framework of the Bidovercity URBACT project. As part of this initiative, we held educational sessions for two kindergartens, focusing on composting and the sweet chestnut tree. After the presentations, children, teachers, and families participated in a collective chestnut gathering activity.

Find our video: https://www.facebook.com/reel/468241139599585

BiodiverCity Peer Learning Event: Poljčane combined nature and urban solutions!

We spent a fantastic two days in Poljčane for the BiodiverCity Peer Learning Event, where cities and experts together explored how nature-based solutions can be applied to fight. 

Get to know Ireland’s first Natural Play Area!

Within the 3rd Core Network Meeting, the BiodiverCity partnership tested Limerick’s first Natural Play Area, which opened in 2022 at the Castletroy Urban Greenway, within the Go Green Routes Horizon 2020 project - the easy-to-adapt tool inspired all network partners.

From a comprehensive blue and green infrastructure strategy to action plans supporting urban biodiversity specifically

BiodiverCity case study inspired by Limerick (Ireland)

Limerick, the Green Leaf City 

Preparing for the 2020 Green Leaf Award (the city’s commitment to better environmental outcomes was awarded by the competition aimed at cities and towns across Europe, with populations between 20,000 and 100,000 inhabitants) inspired Limerick City and County Council (LCCC) to make a Green and Blue Infrastructure Strategy (GBI, 2023). It includes a range of actions to work with communities to contribute towards opportunities to conserve and enhance biodiversity and inform policy. This comprehensive GBI strategy was analysed in detail by the BiodiverCity partnership in June 2024, and they have found that a comprehensive strategy on green and blue infrastructure is key, simply because it sets the scene for several new policies targeting green infrastructure (e.g. on trees) and biodiversity. Let’s see how Limerick works in this field!  

First intergenerational BiodiverCity festival

The first intergenerational BiodiverCity festival in Poljcane was organised on 6 th June 2024 together with the local elderly association, kindergarten and primary school. The location of the festival was carefully selected; thus, it was carried out under the hayrack near the Dravinja River.

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.