INTERACT-Bio, led by ICLEI, is designed to improve the utilization and management of nature within fast-growing cities and the regions surrounding them. It aims to provide expanding urban communities in the Global South with nature-based solutions and associated long-term benefits.
ICLEI Cities Biodiversity Center
South Tower, Sable Park
14 Bridge Boulevard
Century City, Cape Town, 7441
Brazil, China, Colombia, India, South Africa and Tanzania each have globally unique biodiversity, but complex development challenges are widely manifested in their fast-growing cities and surrounding regions. These countries are all signatories to the Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD) and are considered frontrunners in implementing the Aichi Biodiversity Targets. The project presents these countries with a unique opportunity to enable deeper engagement of, and contribution by, their subnational governments in implementing current and shaping future National Biodiversity Strategy and Action Plans (NBSAPs).
In Brazil, India and Tanzania, pilot projects demonstrate the multiple benefits of implementing local biodiversity actions and their contributions to supporting sustainable urban development. The implementation of sub-national BSAPs will be further supported by targeted investment cases, capacity building, and partnership facilitation with project preparation facilities and financing institutions. In China, Colombia and South Africa, INTERACT-Bio will map, assess and trial financing instruments and mechanisms that support local biodiversity actions.
Campinas is located in the southeast in a strategic watershed and is part of the Cantareira Water System, which supplies water for the sprawling State of São Paolo. Recently, the region has suffered from a major water crisis, with extremely low water levels and near the brink of collapse.
Located in the southeast, Belo Horizonte is home to eleven private ecological reserves and numerous public green areas like parks and gardens. The Metropolitan Region of Belo Horizonte has 5.8 million inhabitants distributed across 34 municipalities. It faces socio-spatial segregation resulting from urban sprawl that leads to unequal access to services and broader inequalities.
Located in the south and covered by the Atlantic Forest, the Metropolitan Region of Londrina has three state-owned parks and a rich hydrographic network, including the Paranapanema and Tibagi Rivers. Londrina faces increased pressure from urban development and aims to protect its important biodiversity while managing increased urbanization.
Located in the southwest, Kochi is home to a mangrove bird sanctuary. Vembanad Lake, the largest Ramsar wetland in South India, can also be found nearby. These biodiversity sites face challenges from rapid urbanization and unplanned growth, clogging and blocking of natural canals due to waste, and a lack of coordination in tackling these serious problems.
Nestled in the Eastern Himalayas, a global biodiversity hotspot, the city of Gangtok hosts rich biodiversity. The city has an orchid sanctuary and lies in close proximity to five more protected areas. The city biodiversity is severely threatened by rapid urbanization, unplanned development and dumping of solid waste.
Panaji is situated in the southwest amongst four wildlife sanctuaries. Panaji has seen clogging and blocking of the St. Inez Creek in the region due to solid waste dumping. The city has also felt the effects of climate change and rapid urbanization.
Mangaluru is situated in the southwest near the Western Ghats and the Netravathi-Gurupura Estuary, which hosts rich aquatic life and at least 25 mangrove patches. Mangaluru has begun to see the effects of climate change and struggles with rapid urbanization and lack of awareness of the crucial importance of local biodiversity.
The Overberg District Municipality governs the Overberg Region of the Western Cape, South Africa. Its head office is situated in the town of Bredasdorp. The boundaries of the Overberg are the Hottentots-Holland mountains in the West, the Riviersonderend Mountains in the North, the Atlantic and Indian Oceans in the South and the Breede River in the East. The district municipal area covers 12,241 km2 and currently has an estimated population of 300,285 people in 86,716 households.
Cape Agulhas is a coastal municipality (178 km of coastline) flanked by the Indian and Atlantic Oceans including where these oceans meet at the iconic southern tip of Africa at L'Agulhas.
Known for its dramatic coastline, Overstrand is home to over 130,000 residents, and numerous rivers, estuaries, wetlands and agricultural areas.
Dodoma City, the administrative capital of Tanzania, is located in the heartland of Tanzania, on the East African Plateau. The City boasts a rich agricultural heritage, including vineyards and livestock farming. Dodoma’s rocky outcrops are special among the world’s ecosystems.
Arusha is situated in northern Tanzania below Mount Meru on the eastern edge of the Great Rift Valley. The city is located near some of the greatest national parks and game reserves in Africa, including Serengeti National Park and Ngorongoro Conservation Area. Arusha has a long track record of biodiversity awareness and has committed to conserving natural assets, but faces challenges such as deforestation and rapid unplanned urban growth.
Dar es Salaam, Africa's fastest growing city, is situated in the eastern region of Tanzania on the Indian Ocean. The city boasts several natural habitat elements such as mangroves, marines systems, coastal forests and wetlands, but faces challenges such as coastal erosion, poor waste management, polluted waters and harmful unregulated fishing practices.
The municipality of Moshi is situated in northern Tanzania near the Kenyan border, on the lower slopes of Mount Kilimanjaro. The municipality has invested in integrating natural elements through city greening, but faces challenges of waste management, pollution due to plastics in the environment, and development activities along river banks.