SUCCESS CASES
Strategy for the Renaturalization of Alcoy AlcoiBioUp!
Jose Antonio Mancera | October 22, 2025
- Biodiversity
7 min.
The challenge
Alcoy needed a technical and operational framework to recover degraded environments, strengthen its green infrastructure and connect the city with its extraordinary natural environment (Font Roja, Mariola and the network of ravines), in a context of Mediterranean climate with dry summers, local microclimates and a complex urban hydrography that converge in the Serpis River.
Our mission: to translate this diagnosis into strategic direction, prioritized programs and projects with timetables, indicators, responsible parties and funding.
The solution
We developed the AlcoiBioUp! renaturalization strategy, a comprehensive strategy articulated in four strategic axes and cross-cutting actions:
- Resilience to climate change (SBN, valuation of ecosystem services in decision making).
- Biodiversity conservation (promotion and increase of biodiversity in green areas and trees).
- Connectivity and green infrastructure (development of corridors and bicycle-pedestrian connectivity).
- Restoration and maintenance (renaturalization of degraded areas and control of invasive exotic species).
The strategy also includes citizen culture, inter-administrative cooperation and legal tools for its deployment.
Our strategy had 4 pillars: resilience, biodiversity conservation, green infrastructure and restoration.
Implementation keys
Based on a thorough physical-environmental diagnosis, GIS analysis and strategic analysis, we prioritized actions that connect city and riverbanks: delimitation of the public domain of the Riquer-Serpis, cleaning of waste and diversification of agricultural areas to add biodiversity.
In urban restoration we detailed interventions such as the renaturalization of the Buidaoli Pond, the increase of vegetation in the Barxell River, and the improvement of natural and pedestrian continuity in critical sections, with the objective of ‘zero empty tree wells’ in parks and streets. For invasive exotic species, we established a regulatory program with early detection, control, eradication, and awareness actions.
Results and impact
The strategy converts an inventory of scattered problems into an operational plan with a timetable, responsibilities, indicators, and follow-up. It connects the urban green mesh with nearby riverbanks and natural parks, improves the urban microclimate, increases biodiversity, and mobilizes citizens towards sustainability.
The document sets a common, long-term vision: to integrate nature, innovation and participation as levers of quality of life and urban competitiveness.
We turn the current problems into an operational plan with a timetable, responsible parties, indicators and long-term follow-up.
Governance and financing
AlcoiBioUp! is supported by the Biodiversity Foundation (MITECO) in the framework of the PRTR financed by the European Union – NextGenerationEU. The economic planning contemplates the diversification of sources, realistic cost methodology and a 20-year horizon, guaranteeing a solid investment.
Why it worked
- Technical rigor and territorial approach: local geology, climate, hydrology and vegetation provide the basis for realistic actions.
- Prioritization and governance: each action has a purpose, a responsible party and an evaluation mechanism.
- Activatable financing: alignment with European and national programs, project portfolio ready for implementation.
Conclusion
With AlcoiBioUp! the Alcoy City Council has an executable roadmap to renaturalize the city, recover degraded spaces and reconnect citizens and nature. It is a realistic, measurable and bankable strategy that places Alcoy as a benchmark in urban sustainability and climate resilience.
Jose Antonio Mancera
Arboriculture & Biodiversity Consultant
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