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Bundesamt für Naturschutz

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Delivering high quality urban nature across Europe. Key messages from the European Urban Nature Networking Workshop

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Discussion paper
This discussion paper synthesises key findings from the European Urban Nature Networking Workshop held in Bonn in May 2026. Drawing primarily on workshop presentations, case studies and discussions, it identifies enabling conditions for delivering high-quality urban nature across Europe and formulates strategic messages for action at national, European and international levels, including in the context of CBD COP17.
Author
McKenna Davis, Fenja Kroos and Teresa Spantzel
Editor
Federal Agency for Nature Conservation
Year of publication
2026
Language
English
Pages
40
Sprungmarke

Description

Urban nature is essential infrastructure for biodiversity, climate resilience, human health and liveable cities. Urban green and blue spaces provide habitat and ecological connectivity while contributing to cooling, water regulation, air purification, recreation and social well-being. While policies such as the EU Nature Restoration Regulation, the EU Biodiversity Strategy for 2030 and the Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework have created a strong policy mandate for action, implementation remains uneven and under-resourced. Municipalities as the key implementation level, managing public space, shaping land use and delivering green and blue infrastructure, depend on enabling conditions defined at national, European and in-ternational levels. Multi-level coordination is therefore a precondition for success.

Workshop discussions identified five key enabling conditions for delivering high quality urban nature across Europe.