Category: City and biodiversity

Insight Session: Bringing Nature Back into Bhutan’s Urban Future

Posted on by burkhard

As Bhutan’s towns and municipalities continue to grow, they face the challenge of accommodating urban development while preserving the country’s strong environmental legacy. Urban heat, flooding, habitat loss and changing relationships between people and nature are making new approaches to urban development increasingly important.

In this virtual Connective Cities Insight Session, the Bhutan Ecological Society (BES) will share how Nature-based Solutions and eco-regenerative development can help create greener, healthier and more climate-resilient urban areas.

Drawing on practical and emerging initiatives from across Bhutan, the session will explore how biodiversity conservation, ecological restoration, green-blue infrastructure, recreation and community development can be integrated into urban development.

A particular focus will be the planned Eco-Regenerative Park at Rinchending, Phuentsholing, where biodiversity conservation, green space, nature interpretation, sustainable recreation, wellness, regenerative tourism and benefits for local communities are being brought together. Further examples from Samdrup Jongkhar and the Gelephu Mindfulness City landscape will illustrate how ecological restoration and nature-based experiences can contribute to more resilient and liveable urban areas.

The session will feature

  • Nawang Norbu, Executive Director, Bhutan Ecological Society
    Setting the Scene: Nature, Climate Resilience and Bhutan’s Urban Future
  • Namgay Dendup, Nature-based Solutions Specialist, Bhutan Ecological Society
    Bringing Nature Back into Bhutan’s Urban Future: Nature-Based Solutions in Practice

 

The presentations will be followed by an open discussion and exchange with participants, offering municipalities and practitioners from different regions an opportunity to reflect on Bhutan’s experiences and share how Nature-based Solutions are being translated into practical and locally appropriate urban interventions in their own contexts.

Date: Thursday, 22 October 2026
Time: 10:00–11:00 CEST
Format: Online
Language: English

More information and registration: https://community.connective-cities.net/en/node/1616

Green Corridors Learning Process: From Exchange to Implementation

Posted on by burkhard

Version française [pdf]

The Green Corridors Learning Process is entering its next phase, strengthening practice-oriented knowledge exchange among municipalities and urban practitioners across the MENA region.

Today, green corridors are increasingly relevant as an integrated response to multiple urban challenges. They can help mitigate urban heat, improve the urban climate and biodiversity, support stormwater management, and reduce exposure to traffic and noise. At the same time, they can create attractive walking and cycling connections between neighbourhoods, public spaces and everyday destinations, strengthening sustainable mobility, accessibility and quality of life. In this way, green corridors link climate resilience and environmental sustainability with healthier, better connected and more liveable municipalities.

On 28–29 September, the Learning Process will place a particular focus on Egyptian municipalities, which will meet in person in Cairo, while peers and experts from across the region contribute online. Together with Port Said, Aswan, Alexandria, and UDF Egypt, the exchange will build on local and regional expertise and provide space to jointly address concrete municipal challenges related to green corridors, climate resilience, public space and integrated urban development.

A key element will be peer consultation on concrete municipal cases. Participating municipalities will benefit from experiences and expertise from across the region, jointly explore possible solutions and identify approaches that can be adapted to their local context. AI-supported visualisation will complement the peer exchange, helping municipalities translate ideas into tangible spatial scenarios and visualise possible pathways for future development.

The Cairo gathering forms part of the wider regional Learning Process. Further regional gatherings will follow shortly, providing opportunities for other participating municipalities to bring their cases into focus and benefit from cross-border peer learning and expert support.

More information on the 28–29 September gathering and the upcoming regional activities will be published soon.

Nature at the Heart of Municipal Resilience: Paving the Way Forward

Posted on by burkhard

The Connective Cities learning process “Nature at the Heart of Municipal Resilience” continues to bring municipalities from across Sub-Saharan Africa together to exchange experiences and develop locally adapted solutions. Following previous exchanges, participating municipalities are now refining their reform measures through online sessions and expert support, preparing them for the next stage of the learning process.

Examples from some of the participating municipalities, Nature-based Solutions (NbS) are taking increasingly concrete forms.

In Bosaso, Somalia, the municipality is developing guidelines for street tree planting to support the long-term sustainability of urban greenery. Sinda Town, Zambia, has identified community-owned land for an urban park that will provide recreational space and encourage community engagement.

In Méagui, Côte d’Ivoire, the municipality is developing small urban parks in the city centre while exploring suitable tree species for the local environment. Babadjou, Cameroon, is working on awareness and communication measures around the protection of indigenous trees and replanting in deforested areas.

Nanga-Eboko, Cameroon, is combining community engagement to address deforestation with opportunities for nature-based local economic development, including honey production and diversified fruit-tree cultivation.

In Cape Coast, Ghana, the municipality is exploring public-private partnerships for mangrove restoration to address coastal flooding while also considering opportunities related to carbon finance. In Nakuru, Kenya, a pilot tree-planting initiative along the River Njoro aims to reduce soil erosion associated with flooding.

Together, these examples show how participating municipalities are moving from the exchange of experiences towards locally adapted and implementable measures. The ongoing online exchanges provide an opportunity to further develop these approaches, address open questions and benefit from peer and expert feedback.

The next milestone will bring participants together in Kigali, where municipalities will share their progress and further develop their measures towards implementation.

Through the learning process, Connective Cities supports municipalities in translating Nature-based Solutions into practical responses to local challenges – shaped by local conditions, strengthened through international exchange and oriented towards implementation.

Connective Cities at the 19th Federal Congress on German National Urban Development Policy

Posted on by burkhard

From 14 to 16 September 2026, the 19th Federal Congress on National Urban Development Policy will take place in Cologne. The theme is “Act together, act faster, think further: shaping cities for everyone”. This event will bring together stakeholders from local governments, politics, public administration, academia and civil society to discuss innovative approaches to sustainable, resilient and forward-looking urban development.

For the first time this year, Connective Cities will have a stand at the event run by the Service Agency Communities in One World (SKEW). The congress offers an excellent opportunity to raise the profile of the international city network and its services for facilitating professional exchanges between local authorities. We will be focusing on discussions with local authority experts from the fields of urban development, mobility, climate adaptation and sustainable transformation.

At the SKEW stand, we particularly want to show experts what Connective Cities has to offer and discuss potential opportunities for participation and cooperation. We will also present selected examples of good practice from the relevant specialist areas, as well as the Connective Cities Media Centre as a knowledge platform. We warmly invite network members attending the Federal Congress to take this opportunity to speak to the team at the stand. We look forward to exchanging ideas, making new contacts, and generating new impetus for municipal development cooperation.

Further information: 19th Federal Congress on National Urban Development Policy

Insight Session – Municipalities Advancing Nature-Based Solutions

Posted on by Lennart Kreuzfeld

We are pleased to invite you to our upcoming virtual Insight Session on ‘nature-based solutions for urban resilience’, which will take place on July 15, 2026 from 1:00 PM to 2:30 PM CET.

Cities in sub-Saharan Africa, Germany, and other regions are increasingly relying on nature-based solutions to address flooding, climate risks, biodiversity loss, and the associated urban development challenges. However, integrating these approaches into municipal planning, management, and implementation remains a complex task.

This Insight Session brings together research, policy and community network perspectives to present practical approaches for planning, integrating and implementing nature-based solutions.

We invite the following discussion partners:

Andreas Wolter, President of Climate Alliance
Presentation: From Local Action to Collective Impact: How Municipal Networks Advance Climate Resilience

Andreas Wolter will present the Climate Alliance network and highlight its role in supporting municipalities to strengthen local climate action. His presentation will provide important insights into how city networks learn from each other, promote knowledge exchange, advocacy, and collaboration, while simultaneously helping municipalities translate climate commitments into practical measures – such as nature-based solutions to strengthen municipal resilience.

McKenna Davis Senior Fellow and Coordinator for Nature-Based Solutions at Ecologic Institute, Berlin
Presentation: Mainstreaming Nature-based Solutions: Insights and Practical Examples from the Urban Governance Atlas

McKenna Davis will share insights and practical examples from the Urban Governance Atlas and the Climate Adaptation Naturally project, highlighting how nature-based solutions can be integrated into municipal policy and planning.

Dr. Kirk B. Neu,Researcher in the fields of landscape architecture, landscape planning and urban resilience
Presentation: Evidence-based Lessons on Planning Nature-based Solutions for Flood Resilience in Sub-Saharan African Cities

Drawing on research from Ghana and the wider Sub-Saharan African region, Kirk Enu will present practical lessons on how municipalities can use research evidence to plan and implement nature-based solutions for inclusive flood resilience.

 

The event offers participants the following:

  • practical examples of nature-based solutions for strengthening the resilience of urban flood zones;
  • Insights into the framework conditions for governance, policy and planning required for implementation;
  • Insights from the compatibility of research results with municipal decision-making processes;
  • Perspectives on the role of municipal networks in promoting climate protection measures; and
  • an opportunity to exchange experiences with practitioners and experts from different cities and regions.

 

The event will be held in English, with French translation provided.

Date:Wednesday, July 15, 2026
Time:13:00 – 14:30 CET
Format:On-line
Registration: https://community.connective-cities.net/en/node/1607

We cordially invite municipal practitioners, urban planners, climate and resilience experts, researchers, development partners and other interested members of the Connective Cities network to participate.

We look forward to welcoming you to the event.

If you have any questions or require support, please contact: moses.munuve@giz.de

Insight Session Urban Tiny Forests in drought-affected Regions

Posted on by burkhard

On July 8th, 2026, Connective Cities hold an online Insight Session to explore ways, by which urban forests can be cultivated under difficult climate conditions. Attempts to do so are notoriously difficult in dry regions with high temperatures and low precipitation, where the usage of scarce water resources has to be distributed between (urban) populations, local businesses, agriculture and industry. Planting and watering urban trees is regularly considered secondary under such circumstances, leading to unsuccessful attempts of urban afforestation due to a lack of financial support and maintenance work. The Insight Session was joined by 34 participants from 13 countries, representing a broad range of municipalities from Africa and the Middle East.

Over the past decades, the Miyawaki-method of planting tiny forests has become an outstanding success story around the globe. In this technique developed by Japanese botanist Akira Miyawaki, a small dense forest is made from native trees and plants. The specifically dense way of planting a miscellany of indigenous plants accelerate the growth of flora and fauna, so that after around five years, micro forests may already be entirely self-sustaining. The forests improve air quality, reduce heat and bring back lost biodiversity, thereby stabilizing ecosystems and countering the environmental degradation as a result of the climate crisis. A videographic overview of the Miyawaki-Method can be found here.

Stefan Scharfe, speaking on behalf of Miya-Forest, a forest-planting/educating/researching NGO based in Eberswalde, Germany explained the success of the Miyawaki method through the instance, that planting trees is usually broadly accepted among a range of actors such as urban populations, housing providers and local administrations. However, the participatory approach of planting urban micro forests must be facilitated through a small group of core actors who take ownership of the project. Especially a thorough soil study can significantly increase the chances of the micro forests to become self-sustainable after an initial, intense phase of watering and caring.

Coming from the highly urbanized and biodiversically degraded context of Amman, Jordan’s Capital, Deema Assaf from the ecological research studio TAYYŪN joined the Insight Session as a second speaker, providing the participants with valuable hands-on insights from the MENA region. Mrs. Assaf elaborated on the tedious work with paleobotanists to collect evidence of indigenous species from the region, proven evolutionary resilient towards the local climate conditions. The seeds of these plants known to the soil form the base for a multi-layered ecosystem featuring canopy, sub-canopy, shrubs and ground cover tiers. Over the course of its growth, the micro forest attracts insects, mushrooms and birds. Also edible plants may be included, turning micro forests into sites of (urban) gardening.

In result, the Insight Session provided the participants with new inspiration for their own project development within the scope of the currently running Connective Cities learning processes on ‘Nature at the Heart of Municipal Resilience’ and ‘Green Corridors in the City and its Surroundings’. The potential of the Miyawaki Method to produce fast and self-reinforcing benefits through various ecosystem services and according to the local circumstances makes urban micro forests a tangible and fitting intervention in the current situation of intensifying climate crisis. However, forestry-related preparation – i.e. soil data and seedlings –, as well as institutional backing, secured funding and maintenance of the planting project are key elements for micro forests to thrive.

Connective Cities provides the network for future engagement on the topic and looks forward to share expertise among urban practitioners

Insight Session – Urban Micro Forests in drought-affected Regions

Posted on by Lennart Kreuzfeld

Date: Wednesday 8 July 2026

Time: 11:00 – 12:00 CEST

Language: English – French simultaneous translation

How can forests be planted sustainably in urban areas with chronically low precipitation and/or heat waves?

The Miyawaki-Method is a reforestation technique which has become popular in recent years due to its efficiency in growing vegetation in small urban spaces within a very short time period. In order to accelerate growth, the method builds on three key principles: The exclusive use of native plant species that are used to the soil; which are planted in extreme density; and form a multi-layered ecosystem featuring canopy, sub-canopy, shrubs and ground cover tiers. A videographic overview of the Miyawaki-Method can be found here. 

Not only can micro forests serve as cooling green corridors in urban geographies; they may also be classified as nature-based solutions, which are essential for various ecosystem services, not least disaster prevention. According to the method’s founder Dr. Akira Miyawaki, native forests are nearly thirty times more resilient and offer protection against natural disasters compared to non-native species. 

While the Miyawaki-Method has been developed in Japan in the 1970s, it only recently has become to spread globally, with many applications in India but also growing popularity in Europe, North America and other parts of the world. However, as droughts become more frequent around the globe, watering-intensive Miyawaki afforestation may also face increasing difficulties in implementation. Can Urban Micro Forests therefore be considered a suitable intervention and nature-based solution in municipalities affected by frequent drought – for instance across Africa and the Middle East? 

The MIYA-forest network from Eberswalde, Germany is one recent example of civil society-led practices to spread tiny forests according to the Miyawaki-method, both in Germany and the MENA region. In this ConnectiveCities Insight session, Board Member Stefan Scharfe will present the association’s best practices, which—in addition to planting more than 40 micro-forests since 2021—also include educational and scientific work.

As our second speaker, Deema Assaf from TAYYŪN, an Amman-based research and ecological design studio, will share her experience planting Miyawaki forests. The architect pioneered the Miyawaki method in the Middle East, planting the region’s first such forest in Amman in 2018 and going on to lead multiple native forest plantings across the city. Her work spans native seed harvesting and propagation, community planting workshops, and regenerative, permaculture-based design.

Please register for the event on the Connective Cities Community Platform: Urban Micro Forests in drought-affected Regions

If you have any questions or need assistance, please do not hesitate to contact:
lennart.kreuzfeld@giz.de

We look forward to welcome you in our discussion!

The “Walkable Triangle” in Kisumu, Kenya

Posted on by burkhard

Kisumu, a port city on the shores of Lake Victoria and one of Kenya’s largest cities, is becoming increasingly important for the movement of goods and trade between Kenya and its neighbouring countries, Tanzania and Uganda. With an annual population growth rate of just under 4 per cent, the population has more than doubled in 15 years, rising from around 205,000 in 2001 to at least 422,000 in 2025. This has led to a series of major infrastructure projects, which, however, have primarily focused on motorised transport, even though 53 per cent of residents’ daily journeys are made on foot.

One project under the ‘Kisumu Sustainable Mobility Plan’ is the ‘Walkable Triangle’: the pedestrian-friendly redesign of the three main streets—Oginga Odinga, Ang’awa Ave and Jomo Kenyatta Ave—in a commercial district in the city centre. These streets form a triangle around a sports and park area and are used by over 2,200 pedestrians every day. The aim is to promote non-motorised transport along the 1.5-kilometre stretch, making it safer, more pleasant and accessible, whilst preserving and integrating the existing tree population.

In addition, the city is promoting e-mobility in public transport through a battery-swapping system for motorcycle taxis, known as ‘boda-bodas’, and three-wheeled taxis, known as ‘tuk-tuks’.

The documentation describes the approach as well as the outcomes achieved by this good practice.

Author: Burkhard Vielhaber

Copyright: Connective Cities

 

Nature at the Heart of Municipal Resilience

Posted on by burkhard

Connective Cities invites municipal and regional authorities from Sub-Saharan Africa and Germany to participate in a new international Learning Process on Nature-Based Solutions (NbS).

Local and regional governments are increasingly at the forefront of addressing climate change, biodiversity loss, and environmental degradation. Intensifying floods, droughts, heatwaves, and land sealing are placing growing pressure on urban systems and governance capacities. Against this backdrop, Nature-Based Solutions offer a cost-effective, multi-benefit pathway to strengthen climate adaptation while also delivering mitigation co-benefits such as carbon sequestration, stormwater management, and urban heating and cooling regulation.

About the Learning Process

The one-year Learning Process will convene municipal practitioners, technical experts, and policymakers through three in-person workshops and continuous virtual collaboration. Participants will progress from problem identification to solution co-development and implementation readiness, supported by peer learning, technical input, and targeted coaching.

The process aims to:

  • Strengthen municipal and regional capacities to plan and implement NbS
  • Facilitate structured peer-to-peer learning between Sub-Saharan African and German authorities
  • Co-create actionable NbS project concepts ready for piloting, financing, or integration into planning frameworks
  • Generate knowledge products to support replication and scaling across city networks

 

Thematic Focus Areas

Participants will collaborate within demand-driven thematic working groups, including:

  1. Nature & Urban Ecosystems – Urban greening, biodiversity, de-sealing, urban forests, heat reduction
  2. Water & Sponge Cities – Flood management, river and wetland restoration, rainwater management
  3. Greening Municipal Infrastructure – Integration of green and grey infrastructure, ecological corridors, climate-adaptive mobility and energy systems

 

Timeline

  • March 2026: Virtual kick-off and insight session on Nature-Based Solutions
  • From 21 to 23 April 2026: First in-person workshop
  • October 2026: Second in-person workshop
  • January 2027: Final in-person workshop

 

 Who Can Apply

The call is open to:

  • Municipal and regional authorities from Sub-Saharan Africa
  • German municipalities and counties

Participation of two experts per authority is encouraged, with the option to involve partners from ministries, civil society, or the private sector.

 How to Apply

Interested authorities are invited to submit an Expression of Interest via the Connective Cities Community Platform:

👉 Application link:
https://community.connective-cities.net/en/form/connective-cities-ssa-learning-p

Application deadline: 30 March 2026

Contact