CITY WINDOWS TO NATURE – IMPROVING URBAN BIODIVERSITY AND DEVELOPING GREEN INFRASTRUCTURE

By project GIFT

Published on 29 January 2025

Croatia

About this good practice

This project is aimed at creating the prerequisites for the establishment of a proactive and multifunctional network of green infrastructure which improves the system of sustainable management due to the fact that Park Maksimir has around 2,5 million visits per year. The construction and renovation of 12 infrastructure facilities contributed to the improvement and creation of a new attractive visitor infrastructure. Biodiversity protection, preservation, revitalization and creation of a network of diverse habitats are of great importance for the protection of nature and for improving the quality of life of citizens. Two lakes and a pier for boats, an educational promenade, a Center for Urban Biodiversity Research,an Interpretation Center for the Protected Fauna of Croatia, a Bioforensic Laboratory and a display of aquatic habitats were built. The fish population was revitalized and a bioremediation island was built that helps to purify the water naturally. Over 3,000 trees and over 5,000 seedlings of various plants were planted,1500 invasive species of Reynoutria japonica and 3428 invasive species of fishes were removed and 130 invasive species of Trachemys scripta was taken care of in the ZOO Zagreb. Stakeholders of the project were city and competent state administration bodies, public institution Maksimir, Zagreb Zoo, non-governmental organizations dealing with environmental and nature protection and animal protection. The main beneficiaries are the citizens and tourists.

Resources needed

Project value: EUR 4.634.246,51. EU funding 40%, City of Zagreb 60%. The team consists of 15 people (project and financial manager, construction coordinator, experts). About 400 people from different companies worked on the realization of the project as external contractors.

Evidence of success

7 plans and studies for the sustainable management were prepared, educational and thematic walks were arranged, the Interpretation Center for the protected fauna and Bioforensic Laboratory was arranged inside ZOO Zagreb,17 educational programs related to the protection of biodiversity were developed and more than 20,000 citizens were educated. A habitat for bears and beavers was arranged. Over 3,000 trees and 5,000 seedlings of various plants were planted and invasive species were removed.

Potential for learning or transfer

This project creates prerequisites for the establishment of a multifunctional network of green infrastructure that improves the system of sustainable management of nature in cities. Urban biodiversity is key to connecting people and nature and is a successful educational tool that awakens a large number of people to a sense of responsibility for the need to protect nature. The Urban Biodiversity Center is a place of learning and implementation of solutions related to nature protection in urban environments. The project made it possible not only for the Park to be in the service of promoting nature protection, but also to become an important place for the exchange of experiences of all experts. The project can be an example of good practice for others regarding the management and improvement of green infrastructure, in the experience of dealing with invasive species and how to offer citizens a place for a quality stay in nature through the arrangement of green protected infrastructure.