Learning from... | Nature-Positive Cities, Collaboration & Action

Learning from… Looking Beyond the Horizon

As we face escalating climate challenges across Europe, it is time to expand our perspective and look beyond our own borders. The Middle East, with its centuries-old expertise in surviving and thriving in harsh climates, provides valuable lessons for the future of our cities and landscapes.

Germany has a long tradition of contributing to the green transformation of arid regions. Landscape architect Richard Bödeker was a pioneer in shaping green spaces in Saudi Arabia, introducing modern ecological planning strategies that laid the groundwork for today’s large-scale urban greening initiatives. Today, his son Jens Bödeker continues this mission, bringing decades of expertise to the Green Riyadh program and he shared his knowledge at Myplant & Garden in Milan.

At LAND , we have always embraced the philosophy of Exploring, Collaborating, Cultivating—knowing where to look, whom to listen to, and how to learn. Not by chance, in the newsletter title I refer to Learning from Las Vegas, the groundbreaking study from 1972 that challenged conventional architectural thinking by architects Robert Venturi, Denise Scott Brown, and Steven Izenour, demonstrating the importance of learning from places that break the mold.

Learning from... A New Perspective on Cities and Landscapes

More than fifty years later, this mindset remains as relevant as ever. At Myplant & Garden, together with Green City Italia and Comune di Milano , we launched a new format —Learning from… —which takes inspiration from this analytical approach. But instead of neon-lit casinos and roadside architecture, we are focusing on cities, landscapes, and Nature-Positive urban development.

From the first Green City Forum in 2010 to Expo 2015, I have always been convinced how that making cities greener requires connections and knowledge exchange. What began as the European Green City Network has grown into a global movement, guided by our #NaturePositive vision. Therefore, if we want to build more resilient and livable cities, we must be ready to learn from each other—from successful green infrastructure projects across the globe, from new policies and governance models, and from the landscapes themselves.

In this context, I am particularly pleased that LAND has joined NZZ Sustainable Switzerland , an initiative that brings together public and private institutions to foster sustainability in Switzerland. Our holistic consulting approach views the landscape as capital for future generations, integrating biodiversity, climate resilience, and sustainable development into planning and governance. In a rapidly urbanising country like Switzerland, we must prioritise ecological infrastructures, nature-based solutions, and cross-sector collaboration to ensure cities remain both livable and resilient.

Learning from Milan | "Let’s Break It Up!"

The transition toward #NaturePositiveCities requires more than just good intentions—it needs structured collaboration between public institutions, private companies, and engaged communities.

For this reason, I was particularly pleased to see Green City Italia and the City of Milan formalize a Letter of Intent for the depaving initiative "Let’s Break It Up"—an urban regeneration movement that aims to remove unnecessary paved surfaces, improve soil permeability, and restore urban biodiversity we in LAND are working on since many years (more about this in the first issue of my newsletter).

Like many discussed during the event, this initiative reflects a shift in urban design: landscape interventions are increasingly rooted in expertise, data-driven approaches, and a long-term perspective fostering public-private collaboration and community engagement.

I want to renew my thanks to Elena Grandi (Councillor for the Environment, City of Milan), Alessandro Beduschi (Councillor for Agriculture and Green Systems, Lombardy Region), and Francesco Tresso (Councillor for Public Green Spaces, City of Turin) for their shared commitment to this vision, where ethics and aesthetics converge to shape our future cities.

Learning from Green Riyadh | Saudi Arabia’s Green Transition

One of the most ambitious urban forestry projects in the world, Green Riyadh aims to plant 7.5 million trees and increase the city’s green coverage from 1.5% to 9%, aligning with Saudi Vision 2030.

As I mentioned, at Myplant & Garden, Jens Bödeker , a key consultant to the Royal Commission for Riyadh City | الهيئة الملكية لمدينة الرياض , and Hussain Al-Hazzani, M.Sc. shared insights into how Saudi Arabia is not only planting trees but also pioneering AI-driven urban greening solutions. They showed us of how long-term commitment, cross-cultural expertise, and technological innovation are driving one of the world’s most ambitious urban greening efforts:

•       Smart irrigation systems optimize water use in an arid climate.

•       Satellite monitoring ensures tree health and efficient maintenance.

•       Green corridors enhance biodiversity, connectivity, and climate resilience.

While the Middle Eastern climate differs significantly from Europe’s, the technological innovation and long-term planning behind projects like Green Riyadh can provide valuable insights for our own nature-based strategies.

This is not a one-way transfer of knowledge—it is a circular cultural exchange, where we learn from each other.

Learning from Vienna | The Klimagesetz as a New Benchmark

Michael Gräf , Director #LANDAustria, presented Vienna’s Climate Strategy (Klimagesetz) as an exemplary model. Vienna is one of the first European cities to introduce a legally binding framework for climate neutrality, setting clear targets for 2040 with specific measures on urban greening, sustainable mobility, and biodiversity enhancement. Vienna’s Klimagesetz introduces forward-thinking climate policies that can serve as inspiration for cities across the continent and beyond. New buildings over 7.5 meters must incorporate extensive greenery, with at least 20% of facades covered in vegetation. Tree protection measures ensure that any tree with a trunk circumference over 40 cm is safeguarded, helping to preserve urban biodiversity. The city is also expanding water features, increasing permeable surfaces, and implementing natural cooling strategies to combat rising temperatures. Vienna’s approach demonstrates that climate policies are most effective when they are embedded into urban planning and reinforced through legislation.

Learning from Each Other | The Road Ahead

From Milan to Riyadh, from Zurich to Berlin and Vienna, the shift toward Nature-Positive Cities is gaining momentum. But for these initiatives to have a lasting impact, they must be shared, scaled, and institutionalised.

This collaborative spirit will continue at the International Green Cities Forum in Milan this June, where we will explore how to turn knowledge into action at the intersection of governance, design, and public-private collaboration.

A Challenge Ignored is an Opportunity Missed

While we reflect on the discussions from Myplant & Garden and the urgent need for nature-based solutions, it is striking to see how, in the recent German electoral debate, the climate crisis was largely absent. And yet, it is at the core of the most tangible challenges facing Germany today—flood resilience, energy transition, and urban overheating, just to name a few.

But addressing the climate crisis should not be a matter of political division—it requires a Grundkonsens, a shared commitment that transcends party lines and ideologies. Sustainable urban development, biodiversity, and climate adaptation are not ideological battles; they are essential to ensuring a livable future for all.

One recent milestone in this direction was reached at COP16 in Rome, where global delegates adopted a biodiversity finance roadmap to guide nature conservation efforts until 2030. While this marks an important step, key questions remain: how will these funds be mobilized, and how can they be effectively directed to create real impact at the local level?

I already emphasized in my January newsletter: every crisis can become an opportunity—if we act. It is up to all of us, planners, entrepreneurs, institutions, and citizens, to keep climate action at the heart of decision-making, beyond electoral cycles.

What Can We Learn from You?

As we continue this journey, I invite you to join the conversation:

What are the best examples of Learning from... in your experience?

What strategies should cities prioritize in their nature-positive transformation?

#LANDscape is life—let’s shape it responsibly.