Izmir is a Turkish city with roughly 4 000 000 inhabitants. Located in the west coast of Anatolia, it is the country’s third most populous city. The local climate is Mediterranean, with long and hot summers and relatively mild winters.
Izmir is one of the oldest cities on the Mediterranean sea, with 8500 years of history. It is deeply cultured and offers a variety of historical sites. Izmir is also a modern and dynamic economical centre of its region. The local economy benefits from flourishing service industry followed by manufacturing and agriculture.
With its large population and expanding urban areas, Izmir offers an opportunity to apply European re-naturing strategies to cities facing the challenges of the fast urbanizing world. The interventions will focus mainly on creating green corridors and on decreasing the city’s temperatures. More specifically, the following initiatives will be implemented, grouped into four categories:
- Re-naturing urbanization
- Cycle and pedestrian route in green corridor
- Planting of trees and creation of arboreal areas and parks
- Carbon sink via the installation of urban woodland
- Water interventions
- Installation of grassed swales and water retention ponds for water storage and filtering
- Riverbank restoration and green pavements
- Singular green infrastructure
- Biochar production and usage
- Installation of several pollinator modules
- Installation of green fences
- Green covering shelters, cool pavements
- Construction of Greenhouses for educational purposes
- Non technical interventions
- Engagement of citizens in a variety of educational activities
- Support to participation of citizens to co-design activities