As there is no general recipe for SAFS (but principles), we use the experience and vision of local “lighthouse” families in field courses and farmer-to farmer exchanges. Concretely we accompany the restoration of degraded plots, and also the implementation of new ones, with a successional focus and without using fire.
During a 12 months modulized training with 8 modules of one week each, farmers a trained in dynamic agroforestry. 5 modules are centralized where the principles of dynamic agroforestry are taught in theory and practice. Between the centralized modules, the participants are implementing according to their specific farm conditions a dynamic agroforestry plantation on their own farm. ECOTOP trainers monitor and supervise them, visiting each participant on their farm. The implementation, costs, challenges, problems, development and success is recorded by each participant. During the last module as "final test" each participant presents his experiences with his garden and lessons learnt. One concept is to grant local innovative farmers a university title of agricultural technicians, which generates prestige in the communities and helps to interact with policy-makers. Many of such “peritos” have become local leaders and are now in various positions, promoting SAF locally.

Partnerships and collaboration between different public bodies is necessary for the development and implementation of activities.

Furthermore, public participation is required for the development of a Land Use Plan and is also part of the implementation of green strategies aimed at improving air quality and buffering heat stress. For example, a scheme has been in place since 1992 for Stuttgart residents to  adopt a tree, for which they are also responsible for.

In addition to improving overall conditions related to increasing temperatures, the city of Stuttgart has designed an innovative project “KlippS – Climate Planning Passport Stuttgart” based on quantitative findings in urban human-biometeorology, for improving human thermal comfort. The KlippS project calculates the human thermal sensation under “warm” category during the daytime in summer. KlippS is divided into two phases: the first phase is concerned with a rapid evaluation of human heat stress for the areas involving “sustainable building land management Stuttgart”, the second focuses on numerical simulations at high-risk urban areas related to heat.
 

KlippS provides the following remarkable issues on a planning-related potential to mitigate local human heat stress:

a) innovative program involving the human-biometeorological concept which represents a new interdisciplinary field

b) various spatial scales including the both regional and local ranges on the basis of the systematical two-phase method

c) quantitative approach to human heat stress by using dominant meteorological variables such as air temperature T, mean radiant temperature MRT and thermophysiologically equivalent temperature PET

A preparatory land use plan (PLUP) was undertaken, which organises land into its building and other types of uses and includes green areas and corridors. This PLUP is not legally binding, but serves as a basis for planning and information.

The land use plan developed in 2010 contains essential components for sustainable urban development, envisaging urban development under the slogan "urban─compact─green". Its guideline is for brownfield rather than greenfield development in a 4:1 ratio. It aims to protect green areas and develop a green network through brownfield areas.

Topographic structures such as stream and meadow valleys provide natural green belts which at the same time represent preferred pathways for ventilation, while green spaces benefit urban climate and its protection:

• Vegetation exerts a significant stabilizing effect on the CO2 balance, cools the area and improves air quality.
• Green spaces serve as place-keepers, eliminating other uses which could impact negatively on climate protection due to potential emissions of relevance for the climate, such as roads or buildings.
• Where lower-level and less dense vegetation exists, green spaces promote ventilation within built-up areas through generation of cold air through thermally induced local wind systems such as ground wind and downslope winds and so act as fresh air corridors. This reduces exposure to pollutants and dissipates the build-up of heat and thermal stress, in particular during periods of extreme heat.
• Where vegetation is higher and denser, high wind speeds during storms are buffered. Furthermore, woodland plays a major role in terms of protection against soil erosion as a result of heavy rainfall and storms.

These green areas are protected and/or created in Stuttgart through the Land Use Plan.

The climate Atlas for the Stuttgart region was published in 2008 and comprises of standardised climatic assessments for 179 towns and municipalities in the Stuttgart region. It provides relevant information and maps required for urban climatic optimisation, such as regional wind patterns, air pollution concentrations, temperature, etc.

A key element of the atlas in terms of EbA planning for airflow and cooling is an area classification based on the role that different locations play in air exchange and cool airflow in the Stuttgart region. This is based on topography, development density and character, and provision of green space. The Atlas distinguishes eight categories of areas in this manner, and for each of them different planning measures and recommendations are provided.

Planning recommendations were included in the “Climate Booklet for Urban Development Online – Städtebauliche Klimafibel Online".

Capacity building activities included:

• Awareness raising
• Trainings and workshops
• Hands-on learning activities at the field sites
• Supporting improved municipal coordination
• field visits and study tours with government and other partners

 The project focused on re-enforcing the capacities of actors on the ground (local community-based organizations as well as capacities of the Municipal Government), to implement ecosystem-based interventions and therefore much was "learning-by-doing".

The project also aimed to strengthen coastal governance at the municipal level and capacity for sustainable coastal zone management through the creation of a Municipal Coordination Roundtable, trainings and support.

At the national level capacity building efforts were directed at raising national awareness of the importance of the ridge-to-reef approach to disaster risk reduction and climate change adaptation and need for sustainable coastal zone management.

The ridge to reef approach aims to provide a holistic intervention for protecting the coastal area by targeting environmental degradation in the uplands ("ridge") that impact coastal ecosystems through sedimentation, by restoring the shoreline and protecting marine ecosystems ("reef"), thereby mitigating storm surges, coastal and inland flooding and reduce people’s exposure and vulnerability to these hazards. At the same time, aiming to provide direct livelihood benefits to targeted households and stakeholders in the project.

• Uplands: Reduce erosion in upland areas through
  • improved soil management of 6.5 ha of sustainable vetiver production, which also increases economic benefits.
  • establishment of tree nurseries with a capacity of 137,000 seedlings of coastal, forestry and fruit trees;
  • 25,380 trees planted on 137 ha near riverbanks to reduce upland erosion and sedimentation.
• Shore: Create natural coastal buffers through re-vegetation of 3.82 ha of coastal areas (0.66 ha in rivermouths and 3.2 ha in shorelines)

Sea: Create resilient and sustainable fishing through strenghening the fishers association in Port Salut and responding to some of their needs to reduce nearshore fishing.

Field surveys were undertaken to map the extent of marine and terrestrial ecosystems, develop an ecological baseline and identify areas and measures for ecosystem-based interventions. Field surveys also identified locations of infrastructure exposed to river flooding. Remote sensing and GIS modelling provided complementary data and were used to assess exposure of the population to storm surges and flooding under current and future conditions. The InVest coastal vulnerability model was used to assess coastal exposure under different ecosystem management scenarios.

A planning and feasibility study for coastal restoration was also undertaken.

The project invested significantly in capacity building at the local and nation level through awareness raising on EbA/Eco-DRR, hands on field learning activities and training workshops. The project ensured that women were among those trained in all activities.

Local capacity building targeted mainly the five villages where the interventions took place but also involved representatives from villages who were involved in up-scaling the project interventions to a larger area of the wadi in the upstream section.  Awareness raising promote dialogue on dryland ecosystems and disaster risk management issues. 

Farm extension agents (2 in each village) were trained due to limited presence of the Government in the villages to provide agricultural extension support services. Moreover, eight community animal health workers also referred to as “paravets”, were trained on animal husbandry, treatment, animal drugs, feeding, and vaccination, through theoretical and practical sessions. The "paravets" also monitored the re-seeded pasture areas.

A national and a state-level training on Eco-DRR were also undertaken.