Barcelona grows together: nature and city shaped by everyone
Barcelona is a city of contrasts, with sun and sea, narrow streets and wide boulevards, and an increasing number of natural spaces. Take a closer look and you will see that the city is currently undergoing a comprehensive transformation. Roofs, streets, courtyards and parks are being reimagined, new habitats for plants and animals are being created, and nature is gradually returning.
The city has developed a comprehensive master plan called the Barcelona Nature Plan 2030 that combines biodiversity, climate adaptation and quality of life. But what exactly does this plan entail? It's not just about creating new parks; it also involves planting street trees, introducing green roofs and fassades, developing urban agriculture, and implementing measures to protect biodiversity. These initiatives are designed to make Barcelona more resilient, liveable, and future-oriented.
There is nature in every corner of the city
Space is limited in Barcelona and the city is densely built up. However, the city seizes every opportunity to integrate nature into the urban landscape.
- New parks, such as Glòries Park and the Central Park at Marina del Prat Vermell, provide recreational areas, promote biodiversity, and act as green lungs within the urban landscape.
- Roofs, streets and courtyards are being revitalized, and unused areas are being transformed into small oases for people and animals.
Ecological maintenance techniques that do not use pesticides protect plants and animals, creating natural habitats.
The city collects extensive data on vegetation, natural spaces and animal species. The Biodiversity Atlas documents over 1,400 species, including birds, butterflies and urban meadows. This enables progress to be measured and new measures to be planned more effectively.
Bringing nature back also brings responsibilities. New parks, planted roofs and street trees require regular maintenance and stable funding. Not everyone is immediately happy about wildflowers or unused spaces, but it is precisely these areas that provide habitats for animals and plants, making the city more diverse and vibrant.
Taking responsibility and getting involved
Participation plays a central role in Barcelona. From an early stage, citizens, NGOs, experts and municipal departments were involved in creating the Barcelona Nature Plan 2030. Workshops, public discussions and the Decidim online platform enabled everyone to contribute and discuss proposals.
But how does this manifest itself in everyday life? People have a say in which areas are transformed, which tree species are planted, and which places become urban retreats. This commitment is particularly evident in the revitalization of roofs and fassades, as well as in the new parks, where neighbourhoods are actively involved in the planning and maintenance processes.
This participation creates more than just new public spaces; it also fosters a sense of responsibility and social cohesion. Those who help shape their neighbourhood experience first-hand how urban planning can transform it. Who wouldn't want to be part of that, and have the freedom to help shape their neighbourhood?
Barcelona as a model for urban sustainability
Barcelona is not just building individual parks or planting trees. The city is developing into a laboratory for urban sustainability: it is dense, lively and socially just – and at the same time climate-resilient and future-ready.
The Barcelona Nature Plan 2030 is complemented by further strategies:
- The Trees For Life - Master Plan for Barcelona’s Trees includes strategies for street trees and urban vegetation.
- The Climate Emergency Action Plan aims to protect against heat, heavy rainfall and other climate impacts.
Urban Agriculture Strategy: roof and community gardens as well as urban agriculture.
As part of the UNP+ project, Barcelona is sharing its experiences, learning from other cities and testing how financing, biodiversity indicators and cooperation between administrative levels work. The Barcelona Nature Plan 2030 is regularly reviewed and adapted so that it remains a living tool that responds to new challenges.
If Barcelona pursues and implements its goals, the result will be more than just a cosmetic transformation: streets, squares, roofs and parks will become habitats for people, animals and plants. This could make Barcelona a role model for other cities that are considering climate adaptation, biodiversity and quality of life together. Anyone walking through the city will witness a visible transformation that is changing every corner, step by step.
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