Project type                     Urban climate resilience project

Partners                           Greater Amman Municipality and the Ministry of Environment

Beneficiaries                   Amman municipality

Dates                                2020 – 2021

Website                          Improving green infrastructure in Amman

Through adopting the Miyawaki method, the project attempts to enhance greening strategies in the city of Amman. Based on the strong partnerships established with Greater Amman Municipality and the Ministry of Environment, and the implementation approach developed by ILCA, the Urban Micro-Lungs project provides a series of workshops and training sessions to build capacities of municipal staff and integrate the Miyawaki method in urban landscape design across the city. The project explores how authentic native wilderness can replace manicured artificial landscapes in dense urban settings. It calls for mainstreaming native species and creating maintenance-free mini-forests that optimize the use of limited water resources in the world’s second water-poorest country.

Yet this project is not solely about physical intervention. It revolves around the community living and working around the forest sites and attempts to establish a sense of ownership and responsibility towards the new-born public space. While it is very challenging, real solid transformation takes time. A series of community activation sessions have been arranged to raise awareness about the environmental benefits of green infrastructure. Community members and youth initiatives have also participated in the planting of native trees and shrubs, including men, women, children, and elderly residents.

To develop long-term engagement, the project also includes a junior rangers program involving youngsters in forest observation and growth monitoring for the first two years of establishment. As a learning opportunity, this program opens a window for children to know the native plants of their land, add their names to their vocabulary, and their forms and scents to their memory – gradually building local knowledge and long-lasting connections.

• The mini forests improve air quality, enhance flood resilience, regulate microclimates, and restore soil health, while sequestering carbon and supporting native biodiversity.
• The project fosters local ownership through planting sessions, awareness campaigns, and a junior ranger’s program for youth involvement in forest monitoring.
• Small green spaces act as urban micro-lungs, addressing pollution and water scarcity in Amman’s dense urban environment.