Join us on 23-24 November 2023 in the city of Envigado (Colombia), for a special conference and engagement event, through which you will be able to learn in detail from Envigado's experience, as well as from the examples of other cities from the Cities Talk Nature community of practice, and the expertise of the INTERLACE project partners. The conference will gather municipal actors and practitioners interested in tapping the potential of nature-based solutions in their cities and regions. The event will feature a variety of formats aimed at fostering exchange and learning, including field visits, practical workshops, and peer discussions. While the event is primarily in person, the session in the morning of Friday, 24 November (between 8:30-12:30 Colombian time / 14:30-18:30 CET), will be streamed online for a global audience to be able to follow.

Urban ecosystems and their rural surroundings are increasingly under strain due to urbanisation and encroachment, the conversion of open spaces, loss of ecological connectivity, and climate change, amongst other factors. This can harm natural habitats and endanger human health and well-being, as well as biodiversity.

Yet while the interconnectedness of rural-urban areas present opportunities for development and cooperation, their linkages also require integrated solutions. In this context, nature-based solutions (NBS) hold great value. By restoring and protecting local ecosystems through e.g. ecological corridors, river restoration or agroforestry, NBS can strengthen urban-rural linkages to increase resilience to climate change, benefit the environment and support the economy.

The city of Envigado, Colombia, is a leading example of an integral approach to foster urban-rural linkages for people and biodiversity, with its local system of protected areas (SILOPE) and a wide range of creative and innovative mechanisms to engage citizens through cultural, social and education activities.