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Courtesy of Fritzell & Pantzar/Folkhem trä/Land arkitektur/HISM
Bringing nature back into the heart of our cities
Cities, with their dense populations and mounting climate pressures, hold strong potential to become more sustainable and resilient through forest-based solutions and green infrastructure that tackle shared global challenges.
Healthy Cities by Nature: How urban nature can become public health infrastructure
This brief examines how urban green spaces protect public health and how cities can embed nature into everyday planning, services, and education.
- Cities
EFI Biocities launches webinar series highlighting nature’s role for healthier and more resilient cities
First webinar highlights how integrating nature into cities boosts wellbeing, supports policy, and reduces long-term health costs.
- Cities
EFI Biocities new webinar series: healthy cities by nature on 3 June
EFI Biocities is launching a new webinar series exploring how cities can integrate nature into urban development.
- Cities
Greenest capitals in Europe
Have you ever wondered which cities in Europe have the most tree cover?
- Cities
What is a biocity?
A biocity is a new term created to describe a city that is “hosted by nature”.
- Cities
What is urban forestry?
Urban forestry involves the management and establishment of trees and forests across a city
- Cities
What is carbon farming in forests?
Explore carbon farming activities, practices and co-benefits
- Resilient forests
Our work
The Biocities Network addresses the following priority topic:
- Circular Biocities: from concept to a new urban reality
The Network implements the following key activities:
- Science-policy-business reports that connect the dots between the disciplines and sectors that can catalyse transformational change in urban environments.
- Science-policy-business events that raise awareness and foster a new, informed debate on Circular Biocities across key sectors.
- Awareness-raising communication activities that engage journalists and use a range of platforms and tools, from blogs and exhibitions to awards.
Recommended
Publications
- van der Bosch et al. 2024. The evolution and future of research on Nature-based Solutions to address societal challenges. https://doi.org/10.1038/s43247-024-01308-8
- Scarascia-Mugnozza et al. 2023. Transforming Biocities: Designing Urban Spaces Inspired by Nature. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-031-29466-2
- Wilkes-Allemann et al. 2022. Research Agenda – Biocities of the future. https://doi.org/10.36333/rs4
- Ten key ideas for Biocities
- Pathways for transition to Biocities
- Antoniella et al. 2024. Do poplar plantations enhance organic carbon stocks in arable soils? A comprehensive study from Northern Italy. Journal of Environmental Management, 370, 122882. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jenvman.2024.122882
- De Carolis et al. 2024 First insights of cotton intercropping with peach trees under Mediterranean conditions. Agroforesty Systems. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10457-024-01084-6
- Chiti et al. 2024. How can carbon farming in forests contribute to carbon neutrality? Policy Brief 10. European Forest Institute. https://doi.org/10.36333/pb10
- Chiti et al. 2024. Come può il carbon farming nel settore forestale contribuire alla neutralità carbonica? Policy Brief 10. Istituto Forestale Europeo. https://doi.org/10.36333/pb10it
- Garofalo et al. 2024. Explainable Artificial Intelligence to Predict the Water Status of Cotton (Gossypium hirsutum L., 1763) from Sentinel-2 Images in the Mediterranean Area. Plants, 13(23), 3325. https://doi.org/10.3390/plants13233325
Biocities projects
Urban Nature Plans+
UNPplus helps European cities develop Urban Nature Plans, integrating biodiversity and green infrastructure into urban policies.
- Forests and people
ESPON GILL
ESPON GILL offers local authorities a practical way to pinpoint where green infrastructure delivers the greatest benefits.
- Cities
UFOREST
Promoting Europe’s innovation capacity among universities, cities and businesses to deliver a new approach to Urban Forestry.
- Cities
CLEARINGHOUSE
Collaborative learning in research, information-sharing and governance on how urban forests support Sino-European urban futures.
- Cities
