Urban Planning, Ecological Transition, Urban Services and Housing

The Greenery and Biodiversity Plan for 2020, launched back in 2013, already foresaw how the city allotments contribute to biodiversity, which is why it envisions “promoting ecological agriculture in urban and peri-urban spaces” (initiative 4.8) and “designing a shared community-managed allotments and gardens programme” (initiative 9.7).

In line 3 of the Government Measure of the Programme for Promoting Urban Green Infrastructures for 2017, the following initiatives, among others, are proposed under the heading “Co-responsibility in looking after urban nature”: creating school and community allotments and gardens, involvement in municipal allotments as users or organisations, promoting ecological agriculture in urban and peri-urban spaces and vacant lots, and promoting allotments, balconies, terraces, roof terraces, green covers, walls and gardened courtyards.

The Urban Agriculture Strategy (EAU) is a tool for planning the initiatives needed to improve and increase agricultural land areas in the city under an agro-ecological model. These allotments are intended to maximise environmental and social services, and increase the presence of nature in the city for the benefit of the people and biodiversity conservation. The vision for 10 years from now is one of an ecological, healthy, resilient city, whose citizens are involved in the management of its allotments and promoting agro-ecology and food sovereignty.

The principal values guiding the strategy are:

• Ecological justice. The aim of promoting ecological agriculture and agro-ecology is to contribute to the sustainable management of urban greenery and improve the quality of the urban space to promote people’s health and mitigate the effects of climate change.
• Inclusion and social justice. Urban agriculture must promote inclusion and social cohesion through community activation, ensuring that urban allotments are egalitarian, plural and democratic spaces, and guaranteeing equal access to resources.
• Participatory democracy. The urban agricultural initiatives must be based on shared governance and promote citizen participation and shared responsibility.

During 2019, 146 activities carried out in the municipal network’s urban allotments including school visits, visits from associations and individuals, open days and so on, involving a total of 2,597 visitors.