Urban nature: supporting restoration of urban ecosystems, along urban transport networks and in the built environment

Expected outcome

Projects are expected to contribute to all of the following outcomes: Development of approaches, tools and methods, on how and where to restore, increase and maintain urban green space and tree canopy cover to achieve the greatest positive impacts - on climate mitigation, adaptation and resilience, biodiversity, soil, air and water quality, quality of life, and human health. Uptake and deployment of solutions to map, restore, increase and maintain urban green space and tree canopy cover, via pilot sites in lead cities, including along urban transport networks . Monitoring, evaluation and assessment of the environmental, economic, social and health impacts of the solutions deployed in pilot sites, including co-benefits and trade-offs. Dissemination of results to follower cities and relevant target groups in other countries and cities.

Scope

To address the expected outcomes, individual projects will be required to address all the following aspects, with at least three in each pilot site: Develop and test approaches, tools and methods to understand how different patterns of urban green space and tree canopy cover impact on local temperature regulation / heat island effect, biodiversity, water scarcity, stormwater and landslide management, local air quality; and how changing / increasing the distribution / quantity / quality / connectivity of urban green space and tree canopy cover could help build more resilient and biodiverse urban ecosystems. Identify obstacles and barriers limiting the development of urban green spaces and tree planting / maintenance, including governance aspects, interface issues between green structures and underground infrastructure (underground pipes, etc.) and overall root growth and survival, water scarcity and the shortage of supplies of native tree seedlings. Develop innovative solutions that address such barriers and ensure the sustainability of urban green spaces and trees. Develop innovative measures and practices to increase urban green space and tree canopy cover, with consideration of what types of trees or other plants are best suited to enhancing local biodiversity, prioritizing native species, supporting climate mitigation and adaptation, reducing air pollution, improving human health and quality of life while ensuring connectivity to avoid isolated or fragmented solutions. Explore multifunctional solutions, addressing infrastructure and urban planning that can bring co-benefits on aspects such as managing stormwater, enhancing biodiversity, providing recreational spaces, sheltering from extreme weather, reducing inequitable access to nature, improving air quality, reducing noise, improving accessibility. Projects are required to address all of the following aspects: deploy innovative measures and practices to increase urban green spaces and/or tree canopy cover in at least two pilot sites in two lead cities, including at least one pilot site along an urban transport network or in the built environment. involve local communities, including disadvantaged groups, and local stakeholders, including public and private land and property owners, in the design and development of these measures and practices monitor, evaluate and assess the environmental, economic, social and health impacts of the measures taken in the pilot sites . outline plans for ensuring the sustainability and legacy of the efforts beyond the project's duration. Each project funded under this topic must involve entities from at least four cities, each from a different Member State or Associated Country. At least one of the four cities must be one of the 112 cities selected for the EU Mission on Climate-neutral and Smart Cities and at least one must be a signatory to the Adaptation Mission Charter .

What this means for cities and regions

Lead cities with pilot sites, working with planners and transport infrastructure owners. Each pilot must address at least three aspects, from heat-island effect to stormwater and air quality. Topic budget €40 million; 4 grants expected; around €10 million per project. Opens 9 February 2027; closes 22 September 2027. The call asks to map green space and canopy cover and measure its effect on local temperature — exactly what Copernicus land monitoring (tree cover density, Urban Atlas) and thermal satellite imagery deliver.