The Power of Nature in Cities

Climate change, increasingly frequent heatwaves, growing threats to nature and human health, and the loss of biodiversity are reshaping the challenges cities and local communities need to address. As pressure on public and open spaces continues to grow, urban greening is becoming increasingly important in creating more resilient, healthy and liveable cities. The conference The Power of Nature in Cities: Nature Restoration, Heritage and Community will explore how cities and municipalities can translate nature restoration in urban areas from strategic objectives into concrete, feasible and socially supported measures.

The conference will explore how restoring and strengthening urban nature can go hand in hand with protecting cultural heritage, two closely connected aspects of urban planning that call for integrated approaches and collaboration among those involved in planning and managing our cities. Through examples of good practice from European cities, expert contributions and a roundtable discussion on experiences from Slovenia, we will explore the importance of dialogue and collaboration among different stakeholders in planning quality urban areas. We will explore how cities can bring nature restoration, cultural heritage and climate resilience together to create healthier, more resilient and liveable urban areas.

Particular attention will be given to the Slovenian National Nature Restoration Plan and to the practical challenges Slovenian municipalities face when planning and managing public and green public spaces, particularly where proposed solutions need to be aligned with cultural heritage protection.

The conference is an opportunity for networking and exchange of experiences among representatives of local communities, state institutions, experts in spatial planning, urban development, nature conservation, cultural heritage, climate policy and communication, as well as everyone involved in shaping greener and more resilient cities.

The agenda will be available in October.

The conference is organised by the Ministry for environment and spatial planning, IPoP – Institute for Spatial Policies and Association of Municipalities and Towns of Slovenia as part of the project Supporting the implementation of spatial and urban policy. The event is organised with support of URBACT and European Urban Initiative.