Elisabet Roca participates in the United Nations G20 video on land restoration presenting the case of the Besòs River

The Director of the Institute for Sustainability Science and Technology Research, Elisabet Roca, was one of the experts invited to participate in an institutional video of the G20 Global Initiative on Reducing Land Degradation and Enhancing Conservation of Terrestrial Habitats, promoted by the United Nations Convention to Combat Desertification (UNCCD). The video, available on the official YouTube channel of the G20 Global Initiative, showcases experiences from around the world that contribute to reversing land degradation and moving towards more sustainable development models:

Urban restoration of the Besòs River: a pioneering project in Europe

In her contribution, Elisabet Roca presents the case of the Besòs River, a flagship example of ecological restoration in a dense and socially vulnerable metropolitan context. The Besòs, once one of the most polluted rivers in Europe, became during the 1990s and 2000s the focus of an ambitious process of ecological, social, and urban transformation.

This process included the decontamination and renaturalization of the riverbed, the creation of linear parks, the recovery of riparian habitats, and the construction of green infrastructure accessible to the public. It also represented a radical shift in the way metropolitan land was understood and managed: from a degraded and marginalized border, the river was reimagined as a structural axis for public space and ecological connectivity between municipalities.

Environmental justice and participatory planning

Roca also highlights in the video that this project had not only environmental impacts, but also contributed to the social and territorial cohesion of one of the most vulnerable areas of the Barcelona metropolitan region. The neighborhoods adjacent to the Besòs —many of them with high proportions of immigrant populations, low income levels, and a lack of services— gained access to a quality public space, fostering equal opportunities in access to ecosystem services.

This approach, which combines ecological restoration with equity and inclusion, is key to ensuring that environmental policies also support social justice. Restoring nature in urban settings is not just an ecological issue; it is an opportunity to address historical inequalities and build fairer cities.

An inspiring model for other cities

The Besòs River case has become a reference for many cities seeking to integrate nature into urban planning and promote a green transition with a social focus. Projects like this highlight the potential of nature-based solutions to address global challenges such as climate change, biodiversity loss, and the lack of quality public space.

Elisabet Roca’s participation in this G20 initiative reflects international recognition of the work of ISST in the fields of sustainability, spatial planning, and impact-oriented research.