Shanghai's Changning district presented its "Habitat+" initiative at the China Pavilion during the UN Biodiversity Conference (COP17) in Yerevan, Armenia. The Oct 28 presentation was part of a Shanghai Day event focused on building biodiversity-friendly cities.

Changning covers 37.18 square kilometers and has about 690,000 residents. The district has created 32 habitat gardens and recorded 1,342 species. It recently ranked 26th on Time Out's list of the world's coolest neighborhoods.

Changning's approach aligns with the Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework. The district uses waterways and green corridors to link larger habitats with smaller ones in built-up areas. The district is also integrating habitat sites into its 15-minute community life circles so residents can experience nature close to home.

To identify where habitats could be created or improved, the district assessed habitat quality, size, connectivity, and disturbance levels. It sets different criteria for parks and commercial sites, and promotes rooftop and vertical greenery, bird-safe building design, and waterway protection.

A neglected corner in Lyuyuan Xincun No 8 Community became the Leyi Habitat Garden. Loushan Middle School built the district's first campus habitat garden, while The Place and IBP Hongqiao International Business Garden added habitats to their commercial grounds. Rewilding projects at Zhongshan Park and along the Changning Outer Ring Ecological Greenway have created small wetlands and shaded streams.

Residents are part of the effort, too. They help care for the gardens and learn about local wildlife through citizen science projects, nighttime wildlife watching, and nature walks.

Source: WeChat account of Changning district information office "shchangning"