URWAN meeting in Siracusa
On 27 January 2026, Syracuse hosted a training day on urban regeneration and Nature-based Solutions (NbS) within URWAN – Urban Regenerative Water Avant Garde(N). The event took place at the Sala degli Stemmi of the Municipality of Siracusa and was organised by SVI.MED. – Euro-Mediterranean Centre for Sustainable Development in collaboration with the local authorities, Ferla Municipality and Syracuse Province.
Designed for local authority managers and staff, as well as technical professionals, the training explored how green infrastructure and NbS can strengthen climate adaptation, sustainable water management and urban resilience across Mediterranean territories.
Delivered by New Circular Solutions (NCS), an external company trained by MEDCITIES, the programme was adapted to the Italian and regional context through joint international work, and combined practical and policy-oriented sessions with contributions from IRIDRA and the University of Catania, to showcase regional case studies.
A key message throughout the day was the need to move beyond a purely “grey” approach to urban development, embracing solutions that work with natural processes. Examples discussed included low-impact development practices such as green roofs, rain gardens and permeable surfaces to manage stormwater while reproducing more natural urban hydrology, alongside the role of biodiversity in strengthening climate resilience and the potential of vegetation-based solutions to improve urban water quality.
The training also highlighted enabling conditions for implementation: integrating NbS into local regulatory frameworks and ensuring coordination across departments such as planning, environment and public works. Economic and social viability were addressed alongside financing and replicable models, with a strong emphasis on communication and participation – using clear language and accessible storytelling and engaging communities in co-design processes to build long-term acceptance and ownership.
Finally, during the training, two important tools developed and implemented within URWAN to support local authorities were presented: the URWAN Catalogue and the StartPark co-design methodology. The Catalogue brings together solutions and case studies to provide an immediate reference for guiding design choices and assessing replication possibilities in different contexts. StartPark, on the other hand, offers a structured co-design process that involves local actors and communities from the outset, transforming a technical intervention into a shared process that is more sustainable in the long term.
By bringing together institutions, technical professionals, and project partners, the training in Syracuse helped strengthen local capacity to plan and implement more resilient urban regeneration interventions. It also confirmed the importance of equipping territories with practical tools, shared knowledge, and collaborative approaches to increase the use of NbS in everyday planning and decision-making processes.
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- URWAN training in Syracuse
