From private garden to collective climate solution

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About the research

Did you know the largest green spaces in Flanders aren't all forests or protected nature? It's the private gardens, which together cover more than 12% of the region.

Imagine if those gardens could help protect us from extreme weather, including the heat stress we're experiencing these days. Unfortunately, most gardens aren't designed to do that. Too much pavement, closely mown lawns, and too few trees limit their potential to cool our surroundings, absorb rainwater, and support biodiversity.

Researcher Janne Teerlinck (LUSI - KU Leuven Urban Studies Institute) is exploring how we can change that, and how Flanders' private gardens could become a collective climate solution.

Sustainability
Janne Teerlinck
KU Leuven

Janne Teerlinck is an interdisciplinary researcher passionate about making landscapes more sustainable and resilient. With a background spanning architecture, landscape development, sustainable development, and a PhD at KU Leuven, she studies how private gardens can help protect us from climate change impacts through nature-based solutions and behavioural change. Her work combines ecology, human behaviour, and citizen science to show how even small changes in our gardens can make a big difference.

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