Gent
REWILD - Fast Forward: Rewild The City
REWILD Ghent takes greening initiatives to the next level, developing a strategy to reduce soil sealing and deliver on the ‘No Net Land Take’ ambition.
Focusing on overcoming the drivers and barriers hindering rewilding initiatives, solutions are tested in pilot projects in three of Ghent’s most vulnerable neighbourhoods. These interventions aim to deseal soil on both private and publicly owned land, through the introduction of at least nine rewilded public spaces and 20 additional rewilded private spaces. This ultimately hopes to improve local biodiversity, climate resilience, health and well-being.
Our main challenges...
There are approximately 59000 000 m2 of paved surface in Ghent, of which 75% is located on privately owned land. This significant sealing of the soil negatively impacts soil ecosystems and the crucial climate functions they would normally provide.
The city faces growing land-use pressures, and associated health and climate risks. Factors include: increasing numbers of residents, users and visitors; and growing demands from industry, services, housing and transport.
Greening initiatives have previously been hindered by financial constraints, limited support, and capacity issues. A series of hurdles – financial, skill level, organisational – stand in the way of activating citizens and enterprises and installing a sense of urgency.
and proposed solutions
Introduction of at least nine rewilded public spaces and additional rewilded private properties in three neighbourhoods. Renovation of three streets with over 20% of soil desealing converted into green space.
Unlocking and analysing data is key in data-driven policy-making. The aim is to determine priority locations for de-sealing and monitor progress made.
Activate private citizens and enterprises. Sustainable behaviour research will provide insights into citizens’ intent to de-seal, alongside research on opportunities and thresholds for engagement of enterprises. These actions provide the starting point for co-creation of planned interventions.
Key figures
Milestones
Start of the co-creation process with residents and schools in three pilot neighbourhoods
Renovation of three streets with over 20% of soil de-sealing converted into green space
Launch of the online rewilding roadmap for residents and enterprises
Launch of the greening dashboard based on spatial multi-criteria analysis
