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Belgrade sets plans in motion for co-creating nature-based solutions

18 December 2019

Belgrade sets plans in motion for co-creating nature-based solutions

18 December 2019

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On 19 November 2019 Belgrade’s city administration hosted almost 60 representatives from over 35 local and national institutions from civil society, academia, and the public and private sectors, to launch its CLEVER Cities Urban Innovation Partnership. This partnership is a city-wide informal alliance, which has come together to guide and plan the process towards co-creating nature-based solutions in Belgrade, Serbia.

This event included an information session held by the Secretariat for Environmental Protection and CEUS (Centre for Experiments in Urban Studies), an open discussion and initial interactive workshop on mapping needs, wishes and first proposals of nature-based solutions for the targeted area of Dorćol. One of the aims within the project is to transform the area around a historic railway track in Dorćol into a Linear Park. The motivated participants proposed ideas including introducing urban beekeeping, sounds of nature in electric vehicles, alarm badges for air pollution, and the integration of nature-based solutions within medieval and industrial built heritage sites.

Feedback from among the Urban Innovation Partnership was very positive and constructive, with a majority of all participants confirming that they had developed a solid understanding of the concept of nature-based solutions as a result of the event.

Since the meeting, the Urban Innovation Partnership has launched a call for young architects to design particular zones and hubs for the nature-based solutions in the area of Dorćol. Further steps coming up in December and January will be to host focus groups with Urban Innovation Partnership members, carry out a questionnaire among citizens on amenities and ideas for the Linear Park, and host an open workshop with an exhibition for local citizens.

Image: CEUS