Envigado Florece Program

actividad de siembra colectiva en Envigado

Envigado Florece is a strategic instrument of the Secretariat of Environment and Agricultural Development of the Municipality of Envigado that consists of the renaturalization of urban spaces in the municipality with the participation of the community. This began in 1995 under the name "Adopt Nature" and has had different names depending on the administration of turbo. Through this instrument, the local administration implemented conservation policies that include planting gardens and trees and educational and community awareness programs. Within this framework, the instrument encourages the transformation of hard areas into soft areas through the planting of native and ornamental plant species. These green areas are designed and managed in a participatory manner so that they will last over time, since the communities are responsible for their maintenance and conservation under the concept of co-responsibility. This initiative encourages the inclusion of both the community in general and vulnerable communities. The plantings implemented include functional gardens (edible, ornamental and aromatic) as well as tree species. The objective is to reduce the heat island effect and improve bioclimatic comfort, through the habilitation, improvement and recovery of green areas. Through Envigado Florece, ecological urban planning actions are implemented to mitigate the increase in temperature due to the reflection of the sun on hard surfaces and to allow citizens to enjoy them. It improves urban environmental quality through the generation and increase of soft floors, landscaping and beautification of green spaces. In addition, it is implemented under criteria of sustainable construction and bioclimatic comfort and this strategy contributes to the management of urban trees and conservation easements.

Overview

Type of instrument:

Legislative, regulatory and strategic instruments›Dedicated strategy, plan, or law

Challenges addressed

Ecologic connectivity
Green space management (e.g. accessibility)
Heat stress and heat island effect
Social cohesion
Social equity
Nature appropriation / stewardship

Consideration of nature-based solutions:

Through the change from hard to soft zones, the program contributes to the reduction of heat islands, provides emotional well-being to citizens, landscape improvement, biodiversity enhancement, restoration of biological corridors, appropriation of nature.

Targeted (peri-)urban areas:

Parks and (semi)natural urban green areas

Allotments, community gardens or agricultural areas

External building greens

Urban green space connected to grey infrastructure

Good practice characteristics:

Sustainable in the long-term

Locally appropriate

Potential to be replicated / upscaled

Inclusivity

Multifunctional NBS support

Governance

Government body/bodies

Initiating body:

Secretariat of General Services in 1995, and currently the Secretariat of Environment and Agricultural Development.

Instrument design:

Details about how the instrument was designed:

The community was involved from the design and conception of the program. In the design phase of the philosophy and the naturalization, beautification and similar programs that are developed in the urban area and today we call Envigado Florece, the community has participated to the extent that it has a direct connection with the Secretary of the Environment, which in turn supports with advice, delivery of materials that facilitate the naturalization process, such as plant material, soil, agro-inputs, etc. Community participation has been maintained over the years in a very active way because on the one hand the Secretariat of the Environment has maintained the nursery program to maintain the link with the community as well as the offer of technical assistance. On the other hand, the community has maintained a constant interest, for example from the elderly community who know, participate and enjoy the program.

Involvement of non-governmental actors:

Public sector institution (e.g. school or hospital)

Citizens or community groups / NGOs

Type of actor involvement:

Co-planning or co-design of instrument (e.g. boards, advisory role)

Civil society consultation through e.g. workshops, surveys, etc.

Instrument implementation:

Type of involvement:

The community is the one who has the initiative for implementation in their area. The Municipality provides technical advice, guidance, supplies for planting, and is responsible for the change from hard to soft zones. For the change from hard to soft zones, it is the zone leaders who make the request, which is endorsed by the municipality, or it can also be the municipality's initiative.

Type of non-governmental actors involved:

Citizen councils or consultation for co-planning (e.g. workshops, surveys)

Co-design of NBS, implemented by government

Community action boards, environmental committees and individual initiatives.

Targeted actors:

Private: household, real estate developer, business , financial

Citizens or community groups (CBOs), NGOs, NGOs, etc.

Financing

Details about instrument financing:

It is financed by the Municipality of Envigado with guidance, advice, and delivery of supplies. When required, it is articulated with the Secretary of Public Works for the lifting of hard floors. This program is developed through different projects aimed at the renaturalization of urban spaces, green infrastructure and recovery of green floors, this program has a resource of 10,577,948 million Colombian pesos for the four-year period.

Monitoring, evaluation and impacts

Is a monitoring framework in place?:

Did an evaluation take place?:

Yes

This program is measured through performance indicators such as: increase in trees and green areas that contribute to the reduction of the heat island effect. Increase of green public space EPV per capita (effective green areas / number of inhabitants).

Achieved outcomes and impacts:

One of the greatest impacts that the Envigado Florece program has had is the consolidation of a city brand, which not only stimulates individuals, families and the community in general to participate, but also motivates the community in general to want to improve their gardens, carry out new plantings and make positive changes in their environment. The creation of the "Envigado Florece" contest, where citizens, Zonal Committees, Community Action Boards, Residential Units and social and environmental organizations are invited to contribute to the environment through the design, planting and maintenance of ornamental and functional gardens in the Envigado Florece contest, in which the best gardens, maintenance, care and participation are awarded. During the process, the following categories are created: Per block (separators, parks or green areas); Per residential unit; Individual garden (front gardens or balconies); Rural gardens (farms and house farms). To give an example of the impact of the program, for the year 2021, through this program, 716 m2 of hard floor were recovered to soft or green areas, 350,000m2 of gardens were maintained, more than 15,000 trees were planted and more than 36,000 plants were delivered to the community in general for the beautification of the Municipality of Envigado.

Success factors and lessons learned:

Strategy to motivate participation through different local media. Constant and permanent motivation to the community in general, grassroots, social and community organizations to participate. Articulation with other governmental entities, such as Municipal Secretariats.

Sources and further information

Further documents

Weblinks:

https://www.envigadoteinforma.gov.co/conoce-los-lineamientos-del-concurso-enviga…

Photos

Secretariat of the Environment - Envigado