1. Planning for green infrastructure and nature-based solutions
Rieke Hansen
RWTH Aachen University
GREEN SURGE – Green Infrastructure and Urban Biodiversity for Sustainable Urban Development and the Green Economy ( , EU-7th Framework project )
proGIreg - productive Green Infrastructure for post-industrial urban regeneration (06/ /2023, EU-Horizon 2020 project)

2. Green infrastructure and nature-based solutions
…are more than just „greenspace“
The smallest park in the world: Mill Ends Park, Portland (R. Hansen)

3. Green infrastructure (GI) and nature-based solutions (NbS) are both “intentional” – a result of deliberate planning, design and management.
GI (in Europe) aims at multifunctional, connected green space networks.
NbS focus on solutions to multiple urban challenges.

4. Green infrastructure as an urban planning approach
GI planning
…is understood as a strategic planning approach that aims at developing networks of green and blue spaces in urban areas designed and managed to deliver a wide range of ecosystem services.
…aims at tackling challenges such as climate change adaptation and social cohesion while contributing to biodiversity protection and developing a green economy.
..requires tailor-made, comprehensive and coordinated planning and implementation strategies, involving a variety of actors and based on sound assessments.
[GREEN SURGE]

5. Nature-based solutions (NbS) are systemic solutions
EKLIPSE framework
Raymond et al. (2017) An Impact Evaluation Framework to Support Planning and Evaluation of Nature-based Solutions Projects. Report prepared by the EKLIPSE Expert Working Group on Nature-based Solutions to Promote Climate Resilience in Urban Areas. Centre for Ecology & Hydrology, Wallingford, United Kingdom

6. proGIreg project NbS for challenge „urban regeneration“
Productive Green Infrastructure for postindustrial regeneration
Testing co-designed and co-created nature-based solutions
4 “Front Runner Cities”: Dortmund, Turin, Zagreb, Ningbo
4 “Follower Cities”: Cascais, Cluj-Napoca, Piraeus, Zenica
Project title
Post-industrial urban areas face challenges such as economic decline, inequality, security issues, and low environmental quality. Within the H2020-project “proGIreg” (productive Green Infrastructure for post-industrial urban regeneration), we will test different types of NBS to foster urban regeneration.
Together, different stakeholders will create productive green infrastructure that not only helps improve living conditions and reduce vulnerability to climate change, but also provides measurable economic benefits to citizens and entrepreneurs in post-industrial urban districts. …

7. NbS Benefit Assessment
Socio-cultural
inclusiveness
Ecological and
environmental restoration
Increased human health
and well-being
Economic and
labour market benefits
Building on EKLIPSE framework

8. Example: „soil-less“ NbS for polluted sites
Dortmund: a community center with aquaponics and community garden
RWTH Aachen, Luisa Ropelato
Dortmund will create a productive neighbourhood centre with Aquaponics, Urban Gardening and pollinator freindly food forest

9. Green infrastructure planning
GI planning
…is understood as a strategic planning approach that aims at developing networks of green and blue spaces in urban areas designed and managed to deliver a wide range of ecosystem services.
…aims at tackling challenges such as climate change adaptation and social cohesion while contributing to biodiversity protection and developing a green economy.
..requires tailor-made, comprehensive and coordinated planning and implementation strategies, involving a variety of actors and based on sound assessments.
[GREEN SURGE]

10. Case studies
5 Urban Learning Labs

11. Berlin: opportunities and challenges for Green Infrastructure
Berlins unique history - wastelands
Berlin Strategy (Senate Department for Urban Development and the Environment)
View from Berlin Teufelsberg Radar Station (R. Hansen)

12. Berlin: opportunities and challenges for Green Infrastructure
DIY and green space activism
Tempelhofer Feld (R. Hansen)
Schöneberger Südgelände (R. Hansen)

13. Berlin: opportunities and challenges for Green Infrastructure
Berlin wächst mit großer Dynamik. Nach aktueller Prognose wird die Bevölkerung bis zum Jahr 2030 um Personen auf dann 3,8 Mio. Berlinerinnen und Berliner zunehmen.
Hinzu kommen die geflüchteten Menschen. Bleiben die Flüchtlingszahlen anhaltend hoch, ist es sogar möglich, dass sich Berlin noch vor 2030 zu einer Vier-Millionen-Stadt entwickeln
wird. In den vergangenen Jahren sind Menschen aus verschiedensten Ländern nach Berlin gezogen – um zu arbeiten und auf der Suche nach dem Berliner Lebensgefühl. Die Integration
der neuen Bewohnerinnen und Bewohner – die selbst eine äußerst heterogene Gruppe sind – ist eine der zentralen Aufgaben für die kommenden Jahre.
Berlin Strategy 2.0 (Senate Department for Urban Development and the Environment)

14. Berlin: opportunities and challenges for Green Infrastructure
New housing areas
Gesamtstädtische Ausgleichskonzeption (Senatsverwaltung für Umwelt, Verkehr und Klimaschutz)

15. Berlin‘s approach: Landscape Programme
Thematic plans and synthesis plan

16. Berlin‘s approach: Landscape Programme
Connected green space system

17. Berlin‘s approach: Nature compensation for GI
Developing green and grey together
The nature conservation law (§§ BNatSchG) regulates the handling of interventions in nature and landscape and thus pursues a comprehensive approach. At the heart of the interventions are the mitigation hierarchy and the polluter pays principle. Other important fundamental principles are the precautionary principle, the balancing act, and, in the case of compensation requirements, the priority of substantive compensation before compensation payments. In accordance with these principles, the polluter is obliged to avoid preventable damage by the intervention and to minimize it as far as possible (precautionary principle). Unavoidable damage/impairments must be compensated or replaced by compensatory measures (substitute measures). A damage is compensated when the impaired natural functions are restored and function in an equivalent way as before the intervention, and the landscape is restored or redeveloped. If the impairments cannot be avoided nor compensated or replaced within a reasonable timeframe, and the interests of nature conservation and landscape management weigh heavier than other interests, the intervention may not be allowed (balancing rule). Only when an intervention is permitted by overcoming the interests of nature and landscape conservation, and a material compensation is not possible, the polluter has to compensate in the form of money.  

18. Berlin‘s approach: Nature compensation for GI
Invest in focus areas for nature conservation and recreation
Tegeler Fließ / Köppchensee (K. Lindschulte)
Gesamtstädtische Ausgleichskonzeption (Senatsverwaltung für Umwelt, Verkehr und Klimaschutz)

19. Berlin‘s approach: Nature compensation for GI
Implement connected, multifunctional greenspaces for people and biodiversity
Altes Flugfeld Johannisthal (R. Hansen)

20. Conclusion
Plan Green Infrastructure strategically across scales – from city-region to site.
Utilize nature-based solutions to target global and local challenges – while leaveraging multiple co-benefits.
Enhance and maintain the multiple social, environmental and economic benefits of green infrastructure and nature-based solutions.