INNOVATIVE SOLUTIONS FOR SUSTAINABLE URBAN SOIL RESTORATION THROUGH LIVING LABS

Objective

In the face of rapid urbanization, with 70% of the global population expected to live in cities by 2050 , urban soils have become critical in providing essential ecosystem services (ESs) supporting healthy urban ecosystems. Among the ESs urban soils are essential for regulating the carbon and water cycles, mitigating flooding risk and heat islands, provide provisioning services, such as supporting biodiversity and urban food production, and enhancing urban green spaces that improve mental and physical well-being, and landscape aesthetics. Despite their importance, urban soils are often degraded by anthropogenic activities, including sealing, contamination with heavy metals, and compaction, which hinders their ability to provide ESs. This degradation poses risks to human and environmental health and worsens the effects of natural disasters like floods and heatwaves. URSOILL aims to address these challenges by establishing a network of five Living Labs (LLs) across EU cities to serve as interactive platforms where local stakeholders collaborate to co-create, test, and implement innovative solutions for urban soil restoration. Each LL will focus on improving soil health, enhancing ecosystem services, and promoting sustainable land management through the use of innovative technologies and nature-based solutions (NBSs). URSOILL will adopt a multi-actor, interdisciplinary approach, engaging different stakeholders. By placing urban communities at the core, the project ensures that the solutions developed are not only scientifically validated but also socially and economically viable. The co-creation of solutions in real-world settings will allow for effective knowledge transfer, fostering long-term cooperation and facilitating the replication of successful practices in other urban areas. By restoring urban soils and enhancing their capacity to deliver essential ESs, URSOILL will help cities become more climate-resilient, sustainable, and livable.