Rethinking urban nature to promote human well-being and livelihoods

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Rethinking urban nature to promote human well-being and livelihoods
Workshop held on 25th January, 2018 at Radisson Blu Conference Centre, Malmö
Summary of Workshop Findings
Christopher Raymond, Natalie Gulsrud, Romina Rodela, Thomas Randrup and Signe Hegelund
Introduction
On the 25th January, 25 researchers, social entrepreneurs and policy makers attended a MOVIUM and SLU Urban
Futures funded workshop on “Rethinking urban nature to promote human well-being and livelihoods”. The
objectives of the workshop were to identify and discuss integrated digital, social and nature solutions for the
use, management and governance of urban nature in the City of Malmö; and to provide a platform for knowledge
sharing and networking between researchers and practitioners.
Multiple enlightening presentations on how to plan, design and manage urban nature were provided by the cities
of Malmö and Copenhagen, social entrepreneurs and academics. Each presentation guided a creative workshop
activity that involved four groups creating an integrated solution using Lego and other materials to address the
concerns of citizens presented in different scenarios relevant to the use and management of urban nature in
Malmö. Each group was asked to present their presentation to the wider group, what inspired them the most
from the workshop activity and how their understanding of integrated solutions in urban nature changed over
the day. This report presents a summary of each group’s creations and findings.
Group 1
Summary of the group’s design
Group 1 was tasked with developing an integrated solution for Henrik and Trine, a young couple in Malmö
interested in increasing levels of biodiversity and initiating urban gardening in their local park. At the same time,
the couple is concerned about ecological gentrification. This scenario inspired a complex discussion involving
both concrete and meta-approaches to integrated solutions. For example, the group, comprised of both
practitioners and researchers, immediately suggested concrete suggestions to the problem such as a digital and
physical meeting place in the park, a multi-functional storm-water management pond to attract and foster
biodiversity as well as tactics for engaging and maintaining neighborhood volunteers in the park renovation. At
the same time, group members struggled with how to address the overarching challenges of market forces in
urban renewal projects and mosaic governance structures within and across neighborhoods.

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Points of inspiration
This discussion resulted in several points of inspiration that shaped and shifted our understanding of integrated
solutions over the day. First, we were inspired by the potent role that food can play as a driver in urban greening
and neighborhood development projects. Yet we still are trying to understand the many ways in which food can
be a part of integrated solutions. For example, who should be in charge of food-focused integrated solutions?
The municipality, volunteers, green SMEs? We see the immense value of green SMEs in developing and bridging
social and ecological capital in communities, but how can integrated solutions support capacity building of SMEs
including succession planning? Ecological gentrification is a major challenge to integrated solutions. Perhaps
digital approaches hold the potential the “level” the playing-field and include new voices and often unheard
perspectives. On the other hand we acknowledge that digital tools can also exclude some from engagement in
integrated solutions based on access and racial or socio-economic digital divides. Our last reflection and learning
point regards governance of integrated solutions. If we are actually to realize green integrated solutions, we
need to begin with the internal processes and networks of the actors involved in the planning, implementation
and management of such projects. For example, in a municipality such solutions should span ‘siloed’ institutional
cultures and be integrated into the vision and aims of each municipal arm including the economy and budget
department. We need strong champions to reach this goal.
How the group’s understanding of an integrated solution changed over the course of the workshop
Throughout the workshop our group discussion moved back and forth between concrete and meta-approaches
to integrated solution, drawing on experience and theory, culminating in a cross-disciplinary learning experience
for all.
Group 2
Summary of the group’s design
Group 2 was tasked with developing an integrated solution for an immigrant woman named Maria who lives in
the suburb of Holma. The solution needed to be developed by social entrepreneurs in partnership with residents
and housing associations, and social support social inclusion among vulnerable groups in addition to different
types of recreation and agricultural activities, including a greenhouse, outdoor growing area, green walls and
social meeting area.
The group’s solution used the production of flowers, vegetables etc. as a means for creating a local, social arena
within the grounds of a local housing estate, involving both social entrepreneurs and individuals like Maria. The
social values derived from the initiative have higher priority than the concrete outcomes in terms of produce or
money; however, it may be valuable for the long term sustainability not to exclude economic thinking. Therefore,
we suggested including experts from the beginning. Horticultural experts may generate knowledge and
inspiration to those who have no previous gardening experience. Other experts could be financial and business
experts who can inspire in relation to alternative ways of generating income being these in financial terms, via
goodwill or others. Together, the experts will help the project to steer in a direction of reality and potential
positive outcomes. Such outcomes may be inspiration, and a sense of reality, but if invested properly it can also
stabilize the initiate financially.
Only 60% of the budget should be allocated the solution from the beginning because it is important to secure
funding and resources for a longer term engagement than the initial enthusiasm. The fact that ‘free space’ is left
over from the beginning allows flexibility, as well as ‘late-comers’ to feel included and to set a direction
themselves too.

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Points of inspiration
The fact that Copenhagen have an ambition of planting 100 000 trees, and that more than 1 million trees are
already planted in China. Different means, different cost, different opportunities but ambitions and inspiring.
The variety of entrepreneurial systems related to urban green spaces was very inspiring. It seems like the ability
to actually think in economic and business terms is also important for the long term success of such initiatives.
How the group’s understanding of an integrated solution changed over the course of the workshop
The term Integrated Solutions got a new twist during the day, as it changed from Chris’ initial definition of being
a combination of Social (S), Green (G) and Digital solutions (D), to becoming a combination of Entrepreneurship
(E), Social and Green solutions, where digital solutions may play a vital part.
Group 3
Summary of the group’s design
Group 3 was tasked with developing a solution to Mike and Dave’s solar energy storage concerns. The would like
to see a local green area to provide for battery storage of solar energy for their entire street, as well as support
urban agriculture, biodiversity conservation and social activities for their gay community, in addition to the
engagement of different industry sectors and multiple citizen groups. The group developed a Lego model to
visualise how Mike and Dave’s concerns could be addressed. Rather than hiding battery storage of solar energy,
the group proposed to expose it, make it visible and change the way citizens view infrastructure and create new
understandings of space. They designed an energy tower with a large light on the top to explain where the power
is coming from, how it is being produced and how it is being used. Around the tower is a café and visitor centre
which uses the stored power and communicates how it is being used to customers. The power is also sold to
other community projects, including an on-site commercial banana farm, community food gardens, ornamental
gardens and biodiversity gardens. Digital currency would be used to link all these industries together to make
flows of connections visible between the different producers. For example, Mike and Dave are being paid for
the energy they sell to the centre which is translated into a crypto-currency then used to support trade among
the diverse industries in the urban nature area. This financial process could be expanded to other areas, thereby
creating a whole closed-loop and sustainable economy. Also, the urban nature would have ornamental gardens
for aesthetics and native gardens to support biodiversity.

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Points of inspiration
The group acknowledged that we need to combine formal and informal networks to develop transformative
power in community initiatives. The bee is a terrific metaphor for such networks. However, how to avoid new
forms of exclusion resulting from new social enterprises needs further investigation. The circular economy is
more than exchanges between people using traditional currencies. Processes like block chain have the potential
to create more accountability and trust in the value sharing system. These economic and social contracts are
often ignored in urban nature management. Inputs from technology and small business may help. There is a lot
of potential to showcase (rather than hide) new forms of co-existence or co-location among energy generation,
agriculture and biodiversity conservation, but we need passionate people and visionary (and bold) organisations
to demonstrate such integrated solutions.
How the group’s understanding of an integrated solution changed over the course of the workshop
The group’s understanding of an integrated solution changed from the definition that Chris initially provided on
the integration of digital, social and nature solutions to one that also considered multi-level networks and
partnerships between government, NGOs and enterprises. The need for regenerative or circular economies (e.g.,
how to develop new forms of currency that enable different communities to share in the profits of the new
integrated solution) and strategies for promoting pro-social and pro-environmental behaviours were also
discussed in relation to the needs of Mike and Dave.
Group 4
Summary of the group’s design
Group four was tasked to develop an integrated solution to the concerns of Paula, a highly active teenager who
competes in triathlons and gymnastics and participates in team sports like netball and football. She is concerned
that existing green spaces in Malmö have a lack of sports training facilities to support the interests of local
residents. This group developed a LEGO model visualizing an integrated solution regarding the use of urban green
space, which meets the needs of teenagers practicing sports as well as the needs of other local residents
interested in growing food. Thus, the scenario foresees a triathlon path that goes across urban green and blue
areas and is as long as that it reaches the rural areas at the outskirts of Malmo. The green and blue areas are
open spaces used other stakeholders as is the rafting team, fisherman and swimmers (blue), but also residents
growing food ( green). The scenario also is meant to convey the idea of multi-functionality and for instance the
green area being used by the teenagers for sport is also a place where these later engage, together with others,
in growing food.

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Points of inspiration
During the course of the whole event the presentations given from the practitioners / social entrepreneurs were
particularly inspiring. In our group we have talked about what drives them and how they manage to work
strategically towards an activity that is innovative, successful and above all that creates employment.
How the group’s understanding of an integrated solution changed over the course of the workshop
We have not addressed the question of how perception of the integrated solutions changed, but at the end of
the activity when asked to discuss what each of us understands as integrated solutions we come to realized that
there were different interpretations within our group of this term. Having this talk at the very beginning of the
LEGO scenario activity would have been perhaps more useful than having it at the end.
Next Steps and Contacts
Researchers who attended the 25th January workshop met the next day to discuss how to translate some of the
key insights from the workshop into research concepts. Researchers we will be in contact with attendees as
these concepts are developed. For any questions concerning next steps please contact Christopher Raymond at:
christopher.raymond@slu.se
Acknowledgements
A big thank you to all those who participated in this enlightening workshop, plus to our funders - Movium and
SLU Urban Futures. We look forward to future partnerships on exciting urban nature projects!
How to cite this report:
Raymond, C.M., Gulsrud, N., Rodela, R., Randrup, T. and Hegelund, S. (2018). Rethinking urban nature to promote
human well-being and livelihoods. MOVIUM and SLU Urban Futures Workshop Report.