With support from ClimateReadyYYC, Calgary Climate Hub is helping communities across Calgary take meaningful, collective climate action through nature‑based solutions.
This project brought together three powerful components: planting a Miyawaki Tiny Forest, hosting Nature Based Solutions Workshop, and building Nature‑Based Solutions (NbS) Network to support community‑led climate action across the city.
Planting a Tiny Forest for Long‑Term Impact
In partnership with the Rocky Ridge Royal Oak Community Association (RRROCA), Calgary Climate Hub planted a 170 m² Miyawaki Tiny Forest—a densely planted, native forest designed to grow quickly and deliver big climate and community benefits.
Funding from Climate Ready YYC supported the installation of a drip irrigation system, a critical component for the forest’s survival and long‑term success during its early years. Combined with an active community stewardship committee and a newly formed Friends of the Forest Club, the irrigation system helps ensure the forest will thrive while building local capacity for long‑term care.
Tiny Forests play a powerful role in climate adaptation. They cool surrounding areas, improve air quality, absorb stormwater, support biodiversity, and provide welcoming spaces for people to gather and connect. With Calgary’s tree canopy sitting at just 8%, projects like this help address critical gaps in urban resilience—while doing so in a deeply community‑driven way.
Building a City‑Wide Nature‑Based Solutions Network
The second and third phases of the project focused on education and capacity‑building. Calgary Climate Hub hosted a Nature‑Based Solutions Workshop in partnership with Grow Calgary, bringing together community members to learn from local experts, including the Calgary Horticultural Society, Green T Design, a pollinator specialist, and Tiny Forest leads.
At this event, Calgary Climate Hub launched its Nature‑Based Solutions Network—a monthly online Community of Practice that brings people together every fourth Wednesday to support the design, funding, and implementation of community‑led NbS projects. These sessions continue today and are helping communities move from inspiration to action.
Why It Matters
Together, these efforts support climate adaptation by:
- Reducing urban heat and improving air quality through dense, native tree canopy
- Managing stormwater and reducing flood risk
- Supporting biodiversity and pollinators
- Strengthening social connection and reducing climate anxiety
- Empowering communities to lead their own climate solutions
Through this project, over 70 participants, including youth, seniors, LGBTQIA2S+ community members, and residents from across Calgary, came together to learn, plant, and lead. Thanks to the success of this project, Calgary Climate Hub has secured additional funding to expand this work into 2026. Calgary Climate Hub will continue supporting community‑driven nature‑based solutions—amplifying the impact of ClimateReadyYYC’s investment for years to come.
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