CitiesWithNature – the tool that integrates nature into urban planning

The platform provides local authorities with knowledge, guidance and tools to improve their cities

To honour the International Day of Biological Diversity, ICLEI – Local Governments for Sustainability, has launched a new knowledge sharing tool aimed at helping municipalities and local governments in their quest for improving their cities. The Nature Pathway on the CitiesWithNature platform will help combine nature with urban planning and development. Local governments will have the opportunity to find advice, knowledge and tools as well as excellent examples of good practices that promote the unity between nature and cities.

By going down the Nature Pathway, city administrations will begin a journey of inspiration and exploration. They will find the best ways to incorporate nature-based solutions into their decision-making process and achieve great results by intertwining nature with urban development. Ashok Sridharan, Mayor of Bonn and president of ICLEI is appealing for everyone to join the platform - “The scientific evidence on the biodiversity crisis is alarming and taking action is an imperative. Local and regional governments understand best how biodiversity in our cities protects lives and livelihoods. They can and should play a major role in protecting and restoring our natural world. The CitiesWithNature platform provides the strongest way forward for cities to change our current trajectory, and that’s why I’m asking my fellow city leaders to join the city of Bonn in becoming a part of CitiesWithNature.”

Cities can not only learn from each other, but they can also contribute to the vast pool of knowledge by adding their experiences and submitting data of their good practices for everyone to see. The great thing about the Nature Pathway is that it is completely adaptable to every city’s specific priorities – it will help them take the next step in their journey to become more nature-oriented, whatever it entails.

By using the platform, citizens will be able to track the progress that their city is making. On the CitiesWithNature platform, they will find city profiles, the commitments that local administrations have made and the work they’re doing to achieve them.