On September 16, 2024,, at the City Hall of Niš, the CROSS-REIS project team organised an engaging Info Day with local policymakers as part of Work Package Cultivating Regenerative Futures. This initiative aims to enhance the involvement of stakeholders, including decision-makers and citizens, in the co-design of Nature-based Solutions (NbS). Each partner in the CROSS-REIS project, representing widening countries, is tasked with motivating decision-makers in their champion cities to participate actively, ensuring that key stakeholders and citizens are involved in collaborative NbS design processes.
During the event, the CROSS-REIS team shared updates on ongoing research and practical contributions, underscoring how the project can influence and shape policies towards regenerative practices—essential for the sustainable development of Niš. The discussions centred around the importance of integrating regenerative principles into local policy-making, emphasising the need for collaborative approaches that include diverse stakeholder voices.
One of the most significant achievements was the city’s active involvement in the creation of an urban biodiversity database. This initiative, developed as a direct result of discussions during the event, aligns closely with the objectives of the CROSS-REIS living-lab planned for Niš. The database will serve as a vital tool for cataloguing and monitoring the city’s biodiversity, enabling policymakers to make informed decisions that prioritize ecological balance and sustainability in urban development. The City of Niš demonstrated its dedication to leveraging CROSS-REIS findings by integrating this initiative into its broader urban planning strategies, highlighting the importance of data-driven approaches in shaping a regenerative future.
The Info Day highlighted the exceptional cooperation between the CROSS-REIS project and City offices and agencies, which has provided access to crucial data and insights. This collaboration ensures that the research conducted is comprehensive and directly relevant to the needs of the community.
The CROSS-REIS team is excited to continue this partnership, striving towards actionable outcomes that will benefit the city and its citizens. The active engagement of local decision-makers is a critical step in fostering a culture of regenerative futures in Niš, setting an example for other widening countries involved in the project.