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The current global pandemic is calling us to increasingly connect online. CitiesWithNature, a first-of-its-kind initiative, is supporting an online community of practice and enabling learning and action around integrating nature in cities and reconnecting people with nature. We all need nature now, more than ever before. 

 


Stay in the loop

Keep up to date with the latest news

 

 

 

On International Day for Biological Diversity (22 May 2020), it is imperative to recognize that nature is an integral component to finding solutions within our cities and regions. On this momentous day, we’re celebrating the importance of biodiversity and the benefits we derive from it. Read our ’10 Benefits CitiesWithNature provide urban communities’ to show appreciation for all that biodiversity offers.

 
 

IPBES recently published a guest article which discusses why COVID-19 Stimulus Measures must save lives, protect livelihoods, and safeguard nature to reduce the risk of future pandemics.

 

Antonio Guterres, Secretary-General of the UN, wrote an IPBES opinion piece on how COVID-19 presents a unique opportunity for the world to save the sick and rescue the planet.

 
 

Statement from Mayor Ashok Sridharan on International Day for Biological Diversity

Our solutions are in nature! On the occasion of International Day for Biological Diversity, Ashok Sridharan, Mayor of Bonn and President of ICLEI, has released a video statement underlining the urgent need for collective and large scale action to protect biodiversity and respect nature, which includes a call to action to join CitiesWithNature.


 
 

Mayor Valérie Plante calls on local and subnational government leaders to take action on nature

“As mayors and leaders of local and subnational governments, we have a unique opportunity and an important responsibility to protect our biodiversity and ecosystems in ways that will restore humanity’s relationship with nature, especially as we develop our post-COVID-19 recovery plans. Together, let’s take strong action to create healthy, vibrant cities, where people and nature can thrive.” 


~ Mayor Valérie Plante of the City of Montréal & ICLEI's Global Ambassador for Local Biodiversity

 
 
 

EU Biodiversity Strategy for 2030: Bringing nature back into our lives

The European Commission has adopted the new EU Biodiversity Strategy for 2030 and an associated Action Plan - a comprehensive, ambitious, long-term plan for protecting nature and reversing the degradation of ecosystems. It aims to put Europe's biodiversity on a path to recovery by 2030 with benefits for people, the climate and the planet.

 


World Environment Day

 

 

World Environment Day is coming up on 5 June 2020. To prepare for this important day, UNEP has developed a practical guide for a range of audiences including a section specifically designed for cities. UNEP’s theme for this year is biodiversity and acknowledges that together we can and must act #fornature.

 
 
 

World Urban Parks partnership & webinar

 

 

CitiesWithNature has recently partnered with World Urban Parks (WUP), for more info, read the partnership announcement below. We would like to say a big congratulations to London, Los Angeles, Montreal, Durban, and Melbourne for taking part in the latest WUP webinar featuring CWN and ‘The benefits of access to nature for urban communities during and beyond pandemics and associated movement restrictions’.

 
 

Featuring our cities

We are proud to showcase the amazing work that our CitiesWithNature are doing
 
 
 
New arrivals
 
We are very excited to announce the arrival of our new cities and regions; Byron Shire Council, City of Newcastle (Australia), Zagreb (Croatia), Anyang City, Gangwon-do,
Gangdong-gu (Republic of Korea), Tehran (Iran), Dun Laoghaire Rathdown County Council (Ireland), Cascais Municipality (Portugal), Santa Fe County (USA). We now have over 140 cities and regions and would like to encourage all to keep building their profiles and engaging with the nature pathway.
 
 
 
Highlighting city contributions
 
In an effort to gain inspiration and celebrate in their success, have a look at the work that the following featured cities have developed and shared:
 
 
ICLEI Oceania recently announced that CitiesWithNature has launched in Australia and is working with pioneer city councils across Australia to co-design resources to help take their next steps in embedding urban greening and nature-based solutions into their plans and programs.
 
 
 
 
 
 

Post-2020 Process

Keeping you up to date on key moments for biodiversity in the Post-2020 process


Edinburgh Process for Subnational Governments, Cities and Local Authorities on the development of the Post-2020 global biodiversity framework
 
The Edinburgh Process is currently underway and provides a critical opportunity for local and subnational consultation on the roadmap to COP 15. Due to COVID-19, the format of the original in-person workshop has shifted to a virtual means of engagement and online consultation process. The Process comprises a series of regional information sessions and thematic webinars and participants are encouraged to provide inputs to the consultation documents online via google forms. You can register to participate by expressing your interest to enquiries-subnationalworkshop@gov.scot.
 
 
 
Post-2020 Webinars
 
Please save the date and join us on 4 June 2020 for the next Post-2020 webinar! You can register for the webinar by clicking on your preferred time below. Also, don’t forget that you can watch all previous webinars on our YouTube channel.
 
 
NATURVATION Reports
 
In the context of the Post-2020 Global Biodiversity Framework, NATURVATION has produced two reports that articulate why we need a framework that works for cities, reviews actions that cities are already taking, and motivates for these actions to be acknowledged in the Framework.
 
 
 

Get involved

Collaboration is key to the success of CitiesWithNature

 
 
RISE Africa competition
 
RISE Africa is hosting its annual photography competition with the theme of ‘Hidden Flows – unlocking the heartbeats of our cities’. African cities are encouraged to share the #hiddenflows showcasing the resource flows and urban metabolism of home.
 
 
 
Forest Challenge
 
Cities4Forests are hosting an incredible initiative until 15 June 2020, encouraging all to connect with nature by posting an image with your friends, family, or colleagues with forests and trees. For every image posted, one tree will be planted.
 
 
City Nature Challenge
 
The City Nature Challenge is taking a different form this year, as it is no longer a competition. This year's challenge will provide an international opportunity to document and showcase local biodiversity as best as one can in current circumstances. Sign up for this exciting online engagement opportunity below.
 
 
 
 
 
 
In case you missed it...
 
 
NatureForAll
 
NatureForAll have recently launched their ‘Discovery Zone’, which is an online nature-based solutions resource hub aimed at helping people connect with nature in a time of physical distancing and self-isolation.
 
 
 
IUCN Global NBS Standard
 
The IUCN Council has developed and adopted its first-ever Global Standard on nature-based solutions (NBS). These standards signify the undeniable importance of NBS, and enables both the public and private sector to consistently and reliably scale-up the application of NBS.
 
 
Tips for tree planting
 
ICLEI Africa has developed a useful resource which highlights the top 10 tips for planting the right trees in the right places. It’s important that no tree planting goes to waste and that all trees that are planted are the right choice for their environment.
 
 
 
 
Pollinator-friendly cities
 
The EU Commission, in collaboration with ICLEI Europe, has published a guide for pollinator-friendly cities in an effort to promote thriving wild pollinator populations, which are a prerequisite for healthy, resilient green spaces and urban ecosystems.
 
 
Making Nature’s City
 
The San Francisco Estuary Institute has synthesized global research to produce a science-based framework for supporting nature and building urban biodiversity within cities.
 
 
 
Have your say
We want to hear from you! Please share your stories of nature in your cities with us at info@citieswithnature.org, and stand a chance to be featured in the next CitiesWithNature Buzz.
 
 

 
 
 

 
 

 
 
 

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