The Case of Iasi
The functional urban area (FUA) of the Case Study in Iasi
Iasi is located in the eastern region of Romania and is the country’s third largest city. It is home to 271,692 inhabitants, with a further 334,165 residents living in the wider metropolitan area. The FUA spans an area of 455 km2 and is a patchwork of urban areas and rural landscapes. As one of Romania’s oldest cities, Iasi has a storied history that dates back to the 14th century. During the mid-20th century, Romania was governed by a communist dictatorship that marked a period of rapid urbanization and forced industrialization, especially during the “Golden Age” period of Nicolae Ceausescu’s rule (1965-1989). Since the Romanian revolution of 1989, the city developed a peri-urban belt that reflects an increase in socio-economic segregation within the population alongside increasing environmental challenges caused by climate change and urban development.
Today, the city faces three major sustainability challenges: a lack of green space, air pollution, and urban heat island effect. These issues are largely caused by insufficient and/or degraded green areas and urban sprawl, an increase in the number of private vehicles, and an overall increase in the use of fossil fuels for energy that further contributes to the effects of climate change. However initiatives have set out to change this reality. Nature-based Solutions (NBS) have been identified and recognized by local authorities and other actors, such as NGOs and universities, as instrumental in addressing multiple sustainability challenges in the FUA. So far, NBS have been implemented both in urban and peri-urban regions in the FUA, and are driven by a desire to address the compounding conflicts arising from climate change, rapid economic development, and urbanization.
So what we would like is for these works with nature to inspire people to appreciate nature, to cherish and preserve it, to take care of it, to get involved even with a corner, the trash, or with small actions.
Three examples of nature-based solutions in Iasi
CUIB was started by the Mai Bine Association in 2020 as a pilot case study in FoodE, a European research project with 18 partners led by the University of Bologna that looked to improve food systems at the European level. The goal of CUIB and Mai Bine was to (re-)learn how to produce food locally in the city in response rapid urbanization and need for land reclamation. The NBS’s overall vision promotes the sustainable production and redistribution of local foods alongside a reconnection with nature.
The Urban Natural Area Ciric is an initiative located 6 km from the centre of Iasi. The NBS looks to support local species and habitats by managing pressures on biodiversity through conservation actions supported by state and non-state actors. A key feature of the natural area is a forest that spans approximately 263 ha. Today, the natural area acts as an important refuge for people and other species from the high temperatures experienced in the city.
“Oaze Urbane,” or Urban Oasis, was started by the Civica Association and implemented in April 2025. The initiative aims to revitalize a playground through re-vegetation using participatory practices that involve local communities in the planting of native trees and vegetation. In addition, the project hopes to one day include a community garden to provide new opportunities for children to engage with nature.
Figure 1: Pedagogical panel from Urban Center for Good Initiatives. Photo source: Mihaela Groza
Figure 2: Information panel on diverse bird species in natural area. Photo source: Mihaela Groza
Figure 3: Development of playground area. Photo source: Mihaela Groza