"Green oases in Jena" funding guideline comes into force

Inner-city greenery is becoming increasingly important in terms of both urban climate and urban ecology. In addition to the well-known positive effects such as improving air quality through CO2 sequestration and oxygen production, air cooling and aesthetics, urban greenery is also playing an increasingly important role as a habitat and development area for numerous animal species such as birds and insects in particular.

Mayor Christian Gerlitz commented: "For years, we have been recognizing initiatives for more greenery on buildings with the Jena Green Façade Award. However, with the increase in extreme weather conditions and the simultaneous decline in bird and insect populations, it has also become clear that we need further incentives for more urban greenery."

With the "Green Oases in Jena" funding guideline, the city of Jena has now created concrete support to implement measures for greening facades and roofs on existing buildings, unsealing and greening front gardens, courtyards and open spaces as well as creating insect-friendly green spaces, with the city contributing a proportion of the costs.

"Even in times of tight budgets, we continue to take climate change seriously. With the funding program, we want to offer Jena's citizens an incentive to contribute to climate adaptation in the city," adds Mayor Christian Gerlitz

The funding program is limited to properties and areas that are located in the inner-city area and in the built-up districts of the city of Jena.

Natural persons, communities of owners, companies and associations are eligible to apply.