Today, 20 May 2020 , the European Commission adopted a new biodiversity strategy to 2030. It sets ambitious targets to protect more nature, to restore ecosystems and to step up governance, monitoring and global efforts.
Urban biodiversity is now part of the EU biodiversity policy.
As part of a wider nature restoration plan, more focus will go to cities. To bring nature back to cities and reward community action, the Commission calls on European cities of at least 20,000 inhabitants to develop ambitious Urban Greening Plans by the end of 2021. These should include measures to create biodiverse and accessible urban forests, parks and gardens; urban farms; green roofs and walls; tree-lined streets; urban meadows; and urban hedges. They should also help improve connections between green spaces.
To facilitate this work, the Commission will in 2021 set up an EU Urban Greening Platform, under a new ‘Green City Accord’ with cities and mayors. This will be done in close coordination with the European Covenant of Mayors.
EnRoute has been, toghether with many other projects, important to recognise the value of urban green spaces and biodiversity. The strategy specifically mentions the EnRoute project.
Many thanks again to the cities who contributed to this succes!