Recognising that arid landscapes are not barren but home to resilient ecosystems, the International Association of Horticultural Producers (AIPH) has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with Earthna, a member of Qatar Foundation, to strengthen plant-centred urban development in dryland cities through Earthna’s Arid Cities Network.
The partnership will support the adoption and application of the AIPH Green City Standard in regions facing water scarcity and high temperatures. The AIPH Standard is the world’s first plant-centred global framework for urban greening, designed to help city governments plan, measure, improve, and communicate their urban nature strategies across all aspects of city form and function.
Rather than prescribing a single approach, the AIPH Standard supports cities in understanding what they are already doing well, identifying opportunities for improvement, and sharing practical knowledge that can be adapted to different environmental and social contexts.
By combining a structured global framework with the regional expertise of the Arid Cities Network, the collaboration between AIPH and Earthna aims to demonstrate how plant-centred solutions can strengthen health, liveability, and climate resilience in arid environments.
Earthna’s Arid Cities Network is a platform for dry cities and experts on urban sustainability to come together to tackle the environmental challenges specific to arid climates. With a focus on both innovation and traditional practice for sustainability, the ACN facilitates knowledge sharing, capacity building, thought leadership and advocacy for arid cities around the world.
Urban Greening in Arid Cities
Urban greening is about more than “green”. In arid regions, it is not about imposing lush, water-intensive landscapes, but about valuing and integrating the native biodiversity. Though often perceived as barren, arid ecosystems are highly adapted and resilient. By working with climate-appropriate species and thoughtful design, cities can bring plants back into the urban environment to reduce heat stress, manage scarce water resources and positively impact the mental and physical health of citizens.
Jennifer Dunn, AIPH Green City Associate, commented: “Urban greening makes places healthier and more liveable. We have done so many things to make our lives more comfortable, so why can’t we have plants in the city? Strategic greening, using the right plants in the right place, ensures that people can get the most benefit from it.”
Cities that share a common environment can share successes and challenges. Learning from others is a powerful method – it is the experience of others that provides the evidence that gives confidence to adopt new ideas or techniques. Through this partnership, AIPH and the Arid Cities Network will promote the adoption of the AIPH Green City Standard in arid regions. Data collected will be shared for academic research, building an evidence pool to further support intelligent urban greening in arid cities.
“We want to build a bank of resources where all cities can see themselves represented,” Jennifer added. “We recognise that diverse city types, be that climate, style of governance, or the level of resource available, will have diverse urban greening solutions. What are arid states doing? And what can be learned from them?”
A Greener World for All
“AIPH welcomes this collaboration with Earthna and the Arid Cities Network,” said Leonardo Capitanio, AIPH President. “This collaboration is an important step in the launch of the AIPH Green City Standard, which gives cities a clear and proven framework to plan, measure, and improve their greening efforts. The AIPH Standard will support the Arid Cities Network in identifying effective greening practices and sharing them amongst the network for a green, resilient future for all. We look forward to building a greener, healthier world for all.”
This MOU reflects AIPH’s commitment to connecting knowledge, supporting sustainable horticultural practice, and reinforcing the essential value of plants in urban environments worldwide. By combining structured assessment with academic collaboration, the partnership will help ensure that even in the most water-scarce regions, cities can measure, strengthen, and communicate the impact of their greening strategies.
Dr Gonzalo Castro de la Mata, Executive Director of Earthna, said: “This partnership with AIPH strengthens our commitment to support greener, more resilient arid cities. By combining our expertise, we aim to advance practical, scalable solutions that improve liveability across some of the world’s most climate-challenged regions.”
Cities, partners, and industry stakeholders can learn more about the AIPH Green City Standard via the AIPH Website.
Or stay informed on global green city initiatives via the monthly AIPH Global Green City Update and the Arid Cities Network Forum.
