Florence launches Custodians of Green for urban climate action

The City of Florence has launched a new citizen-led programme aimed at protecting urban green spaces, reducing the impact of heatwaves and strengthening biodiversity across the city’s neighbourhoods.

The initiative, called Custodi del Verde (Custodians of Green), is part of the city’s new Green and Open Spaces Plan, known as IRIS, and was developed within the wider Florence for the Climate process. It involves the Comune di Firenze and all five city districts, with the goal of turning climate adaptation into a shared civic effort.

The project stems from proposals put forward by Florence’s Climate Assembly, which called for stronger citizen participation in the care and monitoring of public green areas. Under the new scheme, residents, associations and informal groups will be able to take an active role in looking after gardens, tree-lined streets and planted areas close to where they live.

Citizens at the centre of climate action

According to the city administration, the Custodians of Green are intended to support Florence’s path towards climate neutrality by improving everyday environmental conditions, particularly during increasingly frequent heatwaves. The programme links environmental protection with public health, social interaction and neighbourhood wellbeing.

The five city districts will play a central role in coordinating the initiative locally, building on existing community experiences and encouraging new ones through civic engagement and care for shared spaces.

How the programme works

The project will officially start on 4 February and will develop in several stages. A public call, open until spring 2026, allows individuals, associations and informal groups to apply through an online form available on the Florence for the Climate website and on the websites of the five districts.

In collaboration with the Società Toscana di Orticultura, the city will organise meetings, training sessions and neighbourhood workshops, alongside social media content offering practical advice on plant and garden care. An online calendar will also collect events promoted by local organisations, helping to build a citywide green community.

A dedicated communication strand will focus on the concrete effects of the IRIS plan on daily life, addressing issues such as urban heat islands, tree planting and soil permeability.

What Custodians of Green do

Becoming a Custodian of Green means joining a citywide task force that collaborates with municipal services. Participants will help observe natural areas and report issues such as unusual flowering, pest attacks or other changes affecting urban vegetation, contributing to the monitoring of biodiversity.

Custodians will also be involved in simple maintenance activities in flowerbeds, gardens and tree-lined streets within their district, as well as in social initiatives such as urban walks and collective care events, turning green spaces into places for meeting and shared wellbeing.

No prior experience is required, only a willingness to take part in hands-on activities for the city.

Next steps

The programme will culminate on the afternoon of 15 April 2026 with a public event at Le Murate, where formal collaboration agreements between the city and participating citizens or associations will be signed. On that occasion, the areas to be cared for will be officially assigned and the network of Custodians of Green will be presented to the city.

Applications and full details are available at the Firenze per il clima website.

The initiative is being developed in collaboration with LAMA Impresa Sociale and the Società Toscana di Orticultura, continuing work carried out within the Florence for the Climate framework.

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