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AFD Day of exchanges- « Nature in the City »

Conference
Journée d’échanges AFD « Nature en ville »
© Zuleika de Souza/AFD
When
Schedule
9am-6pm
Where
AFD (Auditorium Nelson Mandela, Mistral) and online
Register

This conference proposes to put scientific research into perspective, and its operational translation, around the role and place of biodiversity in cities, with the presence of researchers and project leaders in the different geographies of AFD's intervention.

In a world where all ecosystems are rapidly deteriorating in the face of expanding urban areas and climate change, AFD is working to protect biodiversity in cities and is placing Nature-based Solutions (NbS), and more broadly "nature-based designs", at the heart of the projects it supports. Taking biodiversity into account in its activities and in the urban environment is now at the heart of its objectives on the convergence of climate and biodiversity that it has set itself.

The conference will be animated by Benjamin Mathieu, Moderator Journalist at Radio France's reporting department. It will take place in English, French and Spanish.

Program:

  • Welcoming World - 9:00-9:15 | Presentation of the program of the day
  • Conference Opening - 9:15-9:30 | Reminder of the major issues of biodiversity and urban growth for AFD

    Frédéric AUDRAS, Head of the Urban Development Division in AFD's Sustainable Development Solutions Executive Directorate (SDS) - France 
  • Round Table - 9:30-10:30 | Plenary: Biodiversity and urban development

    How to rethink the city in its socio-ecological functioning by repositioning biodiversity at the heart of projects? What are the challenges and new approaches in the planning, design and management of cities and urban projects? 

    Hélène SOUBELET, Director of the Foundation for research on biodiversity - France 
  • Asia Plenary - 10:45 à 11:30 | State of scientific knowledge key issues in the city-nature relationship in South Asia and India

    Focus : Urban forests and Wetlands in Asian cities 

    Harini NAGENDRA, Director of the Research Center of Azim Premji University - India 
  • Asia Round Table - 11:30-12:30 | Feedback and challenges of taking into account biodiversity in urban areas in the reduction of climate risks

    Example of the city of Son La (Vietnam): Proposals for developments and solutions based on nature.

    Thai Huyen NGUYEN ; Doctor of Architecture, Vice Director of Institute of International Trainings and Cooperations, Director of the specialized Division 2 Hanoi Architectural University - Vietnam 

    Hervé CONAN, Director AFD Vietnam 
  • Africa Plenary -14:00-14:45 | State of scientific knowledge and main issues in the city-nature relationship on the African continent and in South Africa in particular

    Focus : Exploring social and ecological dimensions of urban biodiversity conservation in Africa: insights from Southern Africa

    Nadia SITAS, Researcher at the Centre for Sustainable Transitions, Stellenbosch University - South Africa and IPBES Coordinating and Lead Author 
  • Experience feedback from Africa - 14:45-15:45

    1- Nature-based solutions: Ecosystem Based Adaptation approaches to biodiversity protection and infrastructure resilience in Durban

    Chumisa THENGWA, Deputy Head: Biodiversity Protection and Ecosystem Restoration at eThekwini Municipality, Durban - South Africa 

    2- Wetland rehabilitation in Rwanda's urban development project 

    Janet UMUGWANEZA, Program Manager Environment, Climate Change Mainstreaming & Biodiversity Management at Rwanda Environment Management Authority (REMA), Kigali, Rwanda 
  • Plenary Latin America -16:00-16:45 | State of scientific knowledge and main issues in the city-nature relationship in Latin America 

    Focus (in progress): Biodiversity and human well-being: ecosystem services provided by nature in the city 

    Juan David AMAYA-ESPINEL 

    Director of the Master in Environmental Management of the Pontificia Javaneria University of Bogota, Colombia
  • Latin America Round Table - 16:45-17:45 | Biodiversity as a support for urban transformation and attractiveness: crossed views on ecological continuities in cities 

    1- Study case of the “Biodivercities” intiative and the restoration of the Mallorquin estuary 

    Jaime PUMAREJO, Mayor of Barranquilla – Colombia 

    Ecological connectors of Barigui river 

    From Tanguá to Caximba: Linking the Environment and Social Framework in Curitiba with Sustainability 

    2- Study Case: Climate Risk Management Project – Bairro Novo do Caximba (PGRC- Bairro Novo do Caximba) 

    Mauro MAGNABUSCO et Mrs Daniela Tahira MUNHOZ DA ROCHA, IPPUC Curitiba – Brazil 
  • Conclusions - 17:45-18:00

    Hélène SOUBLET, Director of the Foundation for research on biodiversity – France

    Frédéric AUDRAS, Head of the Urban Development Division in AFD's Sustainable Development Solutions Executive Directorate (SDS) – France