Strengthening Biodiversity, Climate Resilience and Quality of Life in Small Municipalities
The cross-border Interreg project NatUrA – Nature in Urban Areas brings more nature into our villages, towns and local communities. Its goal is to develop and implement concrete measures for biodiversity, climate adaptation and high-quality public spaces in small municipalities. The project focuses on South Tyrol, Carinthia and Tyrol, where pilot municipalities work together with experts, municipal administrations and local residents to test new approaches for nature-friendly, liveable and climate-resilient settlements.
Biodiversity is increasingly under pressure in the Alpine region as well. At the same time, villages, town centres, squares, streetscapes, green spaces and public buildings offer great potential for ecological improvement. More greenery, more open and permeable soils, more habitats for animals and plants and better-quality public spaces can help municipalities become more resilient to heat, drought and heavy rainfall.
While many studies, guidelines and best-practice examples already exist for cities, rural areas and smaller settlements often still lack suitable tools. NatUrA addresses precisely this gap: the project develops practical approaches that are feasible, affordable and useful in the long term, especially for small municipalities in the Alpine region.
Why NatUrA Matters
More nature in settlement areas is not a decorative extra, but a key building block for sustainable and future-ready municipalities. Nature-based and semi-natural areas improve the microclimate, support rainwater infiltration, create habitats for insects, birds and small animals and enhance the quality of life for local residents.
NatUrA combines ecological, social and planning-related goals. The measures are designed not only to promote biodiversity, but also to strengthen climate resilience and make public spaces more attractive, healthy and usable. In this way, nature conservation in villages becomes visible, tangible and practical.
Key Measures
- Development and implementation of concrete biodiversity measures in pilot municipalities.
- Reduction of soil sealing through less asphalt, permeable surfaces and more green and water areas.
- Promotion of nature-friendly green space planning and ecological maintenance of public areas.
- Biodiversity-friendly construction, from the choice of materials to building design.
- Selection of site-appropriate plant species and management practices that protect insects, birds and small animals.
- Involvement of local residents in the development of local measures for nature and climate adaptation.
- Training and knowledge-building for municipal staff, experts and actors involved in green space planning and maintenance.
- Educational activities and hands-on formats for children and young people.
- Cross-border exchange between South Tyrol, Carinthia and Tyrol.
Pilot Municipalities in South Tyrol, Carinthia and Tyrol
In South Tyrol, the participation processes will start in the municipalities of Kurtinig an der Weinstraße/Cortina sulla Strada del Vino, Jenesien/San Genesio Atesino, Marling/Marlengo and Niederdorf/Villabassa. Further pilot municipalities are located in Carinthia, including Villach, Bad Bleiberg, Nötsch and Arnoldstein. In Tyrol, another municipality will be involved in the project.
The pilot municipalities serve as learning and implementation spaces. Together with local stakeholders, measures are developed that fit the specific characteristics of each place. This creates practical examples that can also provide valuable guidance for other municipalities across the Alpine region.
More Biodiversity in Villages: Small Measures, Big Impact
Biodiversity often starts with small but effective interventions: unsealed surfaces, flowering green strips, shade-giving trees, naturally maintained meadows, green walls, permeable paving or habitats integrated into buildings. Such measures can enhance the appearance of a village while also fulfilling important ecological functions.
Municipalities can play a pioneering role. When public spaces are designed in a biodiversity-friendly way, they become visible examples for residents, businesses and private property owners. NatUrA therefore understands this transformation not only as a technical task, but also as a cultural process: more nature in settlements should become normal, practical in everyday life and supported by the community.
Participation and Knowledge Transfer
A central element of NatUrA is the involvement of the local population. Citizens, municipal administrations, experts and local organisations contribute their knowledge of the area and help develop suitable measures. This creates solutions that are technically sound and, at the same time, supported by the people who live there.
The project will also include training sessions, expert events and educational formats. These activities are aimed at municipal staff, planners, green space managers and other professionals, as well as children and young people. The aim is to anchor knowledge in municipalities over the long term and build practical skills for nature-friendly, biodiverse and climate-resilient settlements.
Project Partners and Funding
The NatUrA – Nature in Urban Areas project is coordinated by the Dachverband für Natur- und Umweltschutz. In South Tyrol, Plattform Land, the Ökoinstitut Südtirol/Alto Adige and the Bildungshaus Kloster Neustift are involved. Further project partners include the City of Villach and the Naturpark Dobratsch association in Carinthia, as well as the University of Innsbruck in Tyrol.
The project is co-financed by the European Union through the cross-border cooperation programme Interreg VI-A Italy-Austria 2021–2027.
