Let's get wild!
Scientific research and experiments with citizens and companies in three neighbourhoods in the Belgian city of Ghent will lead towards a long-term rewilding strategy for European cities.
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Research
How to accelerate desealing and greening? What are today’s barriers and how can we tackle them? What are innovative ways to fund desealing projects? And can we address regulations that hinder desealing or encourage additional paving? The research questions within Rewild the City cover a large variety of different aspects. The results should lead to a clear long-term strategy.
At the same time, unlocking and analyzing new and existing data in order to stimulate data-driven policy-making is crucial. The City of Ghent and its partners examine which variables, such as the lack of greenery or risks of flooding, should be taken into account when setting priorities. They subsequently indicate the places where they want to deseal and avoid additional paving first.
Researchers are publishing!
During the Rewild the City project, the partners will publish
several studies and reports.
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Neighbourhood experiments
A significant portion of the grant is invested in several projects in public space. These are spread across 3 different neighbourhoods slightly outside the city center. In Sluizeken-Tolhuis-Ham, a former industrial site will be redeveloped into a neighbourhood park. In Ledeberg as well as in the vicinity of Ottergemsesteenweg, a playground of a primary school and several streets are getting a makeover. In those streets, up to more than 20 per cent of the paving will be turned into greenery. In each of the 3 neighbourhoods, at least one more spot will be added after consulting the inhabitants.
With the people of Ghent
Renewing streets, squares and parks is important, but the commitment of Ghent citizens is crucial as well. As much as 75 per cent of the paved surface in Ghent is in private hands. Rewild the City investigates how the local government, residents and companies can cooperate. Inhabitants from the pilot neighbourhoods are involved in the renovation of the public spaces nearby. New methods will make it as easy as possible for them to deseal their own private grounds as well. In the end the pilot neighbourhoods will gain in terms of biodiversity, climate resilience, health and well-being.
Budget
The project is co-funded by the European Union through the European Urban Initiative (EUI) program. It also receives support from the Province of East Flanders.
- Total project budget: 6,249,360.20 euros
- EU grant (80%): 4,999,488.16 euros
- Province of East Flanders: 196,279.00 euro
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