Social learning about location & importance of NBS

Air quality in urban areas is a known issue for health and quality of life. Motorised vehicles produce a range of pollutants that can affect human health. These include very small particles emitted from exhaust (especially from diesel-fuelled vehicles), and from wear-and-tear on brakes and tyres. If inhaled these particles can cause a range of both short-term and more chronic health problems, including increased chances of death from respiratory and cardiovascular disease. This Particulate Matter (PM) is measured in microns (one micron is one millionth of a metre). Health concerns start...

The initiative was the idea of enthusiastic parents and teachers, who were really keen on the close-nature surroundings of their children. They worried about the local air quality as a four-lane highway goes near to the school. The discussions with the involvment of experts started in 2016 and the first steps were made in community collaboration. Birdnests and feeders were made by the children as well most of the plantation was made by them with the help and guidance of adults.

The schoolgarden and its surroundings were surveyed for birds to select the most appropriate plant types....

• [Organic] food production
• Supply school canteen with organic food products
• Local food network
• Environmental education
• 2sd rank objectives: Research/experiment, social dynamic

The project has two complementary components:

1. An urban farm:
   Vegetable production (surface of 4+2 ha) and food process supply for the school canteens of the city (around 1200 meals) => 85% of the fruit and vegetables consumed
2. A territorial project:
...

A vertical greening system installed on the facade of an office building built early in the last century and renovated in the 1980’s, owned by INPS (National Institute of Social Insurance) and located in the city center of the Genova neighborhood of Sestri Ponente.

INPS Green Facade is a pilot project coordinated by the University of Genoa (DAD) which aims to quantify the positive effects of the green envelopes in densely built urban environment. Monitoring activities are focused on the evaluation of the environmental benefits, both economic and social, in particular in densely...