On 28 May 2025, as part of the Urban Agenda, the fifth webinar of the Greening Cities partnership was held under the title “Citizen Engagement for Nature Restoration”. The topic of the webinar was how cities can involve citizens and businesses in nature restoration on private land, and how urban areas can encourage cooperation beyond the public sector with the aim of expanding green areas and strengthening climate resilience.
This session focused on how cities can encourage nature restoration on private land, in line with the urban targets set by the EU Nature Restoration Law. From residential properties to commercial areas, the discussion explored policies and strategies for involving citizens and businesses in urban greening efforts.
The following case studies were presented during the webinar:
Rotterdam: The “Greening Without Borders” programme, which encourages private landowners and companies to green their properties, reducing urban heat and increasing biodiversity.
Zagreb: Dr. Irena Matković, Deputy Head of the City Office for Reconstruction, Construction, Spatial Planning, Building and Municipal Services and a member of the project team Activation of Green Courtyards for Carbon Neutrality (ActGREEN), presented community‑based greening initiatives that empower residents to participate in creating green spaces, fostering a sense of ownership and local stewardship. In her presentation, she outlined the goals of the ActGREEN project, past and future project activities, and particularly emphasised citizen involvement and community strengthening throughout the project.
Maria Sitzoglou: Bringing expertise from Paris, Soluna and Budapest, she presented co‑design approaches that have successfully transformed schoolyards and streets into vibrant, climate‑resilient public spaces.
After the presentations, the speakers participated in a discussion that encouraged active audience engagement and allowed participants to share experiences and ask questions about collaborative approaches to urban greening.
The webinar video can be found on the YouTube channel.
