Planetary boundaries, No Net Land Take and the doughnut model all highlight the urgent need for a paradigm shift in urban planning and growth. However, translating these models into reality presents significant challenges. Greening initiatives are hindered by financial constraints, limited support, and capacity issues. While some pilot projects have been successful, there is a pressing need to go from pilot projects to full scale transition.

REWILD aims to

- overcome barriers hindering rewilding and desealing initiatives,

- implement successful pilots and test solutions in three neighbourhoods in Ghent,

- develop a strategy to realise No Net Land Take and reduce soil sealing.

This strategy will be based on scientific facts & figures, translating them into indicators, priorities, and actions. It will operate within resource constraints, ensuring an equitable distribution of responsibilities and benefits, thereby maximizing its transformative potential.

At the city scale, there is currently no framework like this in Europe, and projects engaging stakeholders to de-seal private properties are rare.

Three of Ghent’s most vulnerable neighbourhoods will gain in terms of biodiversity, climate resilience, health and wellbeing, play areas, and more, with the introduction of eight rewilded public spaces and additional rewilded private properties. The project will equip the city to implement the strategy and developed solutions and replicate its positive impact in other places.