The city of Lima, Peru, has expanded rapidly without proper urban planning, resulting in a concerning shortage of green and open spaces.
This is especially evident in many districts across the capital, and particularly in Independencia, where, according to a 2020 study on urban vulnerability, 41 percent of residents live in self-built housing on steep, high risk hillsides with limited services, reduced green public spaces and significant exposure to environmental hazards.
In Independencia, communities living along the hillsides have long faced the dual challenge of environmental risk and a lack of public green spaces. To address these issues, the Municipality of Independencia, together with community leaders and private organisations, launched the “Greenbelt for My District” programme in 2015. The initiative aimed to prevent informal urban expansion, manage disaster risk and increase green areas across the district.
Through this effort, seven ecotourism forest parks were established, integrating 113 hectares of lomas (fog oasis) into a nearly 400-hectare Greenbelt. Today, this lomas area has been formally recognised as part of the Regional Protection Area “Lomas de Lima” System (MINAM, 2019), and spaces such as Boca de Sapo Forest Park have become public recreational areas for the community.
The Greenbelt now serves as a meeting point for a range of activities, from tree planting to trekking races, guided tours and recreational events. Many of these activities are led not only by the municipality but also by local runners’ groups, research teams and neighbourhood brigades. Together, these initiatives activate the space, strengthen community participation and contribute to both environmental restoration and physical and mental wellbeing, particularly among residents in hillside neighbourhoods.
In 2022, this action was recognised as a Nature-based Solution (NbS), acknowledging its multifunctional value for the city by combining the coastal desert, forested slopes and lomas ecosystem into a living mosaic that supports climate resilience and social inclusion. Community engagement has been key to sustaining these actions, supported by brigades involving residents, universities, the Peruvian Army and civil society organisations.
Co-creating healthier environments
As part of CityMove, and led locally by the Universidad Nacional Agraria La Molina (UNALM), the Independencia Greenbelt is now entering a new phase that integrates physical activity into its environmental goals by activating the space through community events, guided walks, trekking days, sports sessions and environmental awareness activities. This shift expands the original focus on reforestation and environmental management, introducing a more participatory and health centred approach that encourages residents to use and value the Greenbelt.
Throughout 2025, CityMove’s Urban Living Lab workshops are bringing together community representatives, municipal authorities, academia and social organisations to co-create a shared vision for the Greenbelt. These participatory sessions focus on identifying opportunities to promote physical activity in the area and on strengthening both its social and environmental impact. Because physical activity is being used to activate the Greenbelt and increase its visibility among residents, it also encourages community ownership and environmental awareness, supporting the sustainable use and protection of the space.
The first outcome of this process is a pilot initiative in Boca de Sapo Forest Park, one of the Greenbelt’s most emblematic areas. The pilot is led by the Municipality of Independencia in coordination with the actors of the Urban Living Lab, including local community groups, Ciudad Viva, runners’ organisations and the CityMove team. Together they organise outdoor physical activity sessions such as group exercises, dance, aerobics and guided nature walks. These activities strengthen community identity by encouraging local participation and reinforce ecosystem care through environmental awareness and the sustainable use of the Greenbelt.
Building on these experiences, the plan is to expand and replicate actions across other areas of the Greenbelt, creating a network of interconnected parks and trails. This network will offer residents, especially those in vulnerable urban areas, more accessible and safe spaces for daily physical activity, while empowering communities to protect their environment.
From local action to global vision
This action reflects the spirit of CityMove and aligns with the World Health Organization’s Global Action Plan on Physical Activity 2018–2030 (GAPPA), which calls for creating active societies, environments, people and systems. By fostering collaboration among diverse stakeholders and centring community participation, the Independencia Greenbelt is transforming local landscapes into spaces of movement, connection and inclusion.
Within CityMove, and under the leadership of the Universidad Nacional Agraria La Molina, the Greenbelt is generating valuable lessons on how nature based solutions can promote physical activity, environmental awareness and community wellbeing in vulnerable urban areas. These insights will contribute to CityMove’s wider efforts to build evidence and inspire greener, healthier and more inclusive cities across the network.
In the coming months, the CityMove Lima team will continue strengthening collaboration among municipal actors, community organisations, runners’ groups and local partners to develop a shared action plan that guides joint activities promoting physical activity and the sustainable use of the Greenbelt. They will also work to position the Greenbelt as a symbol of local identity through sports, recreational events and environmental awareness activities that foster belonging and encourage residents to value and care for their natural surroundings.
Through these efforts, Independencia is showing how green and open urban spaces can become catalysts for physical activity, environmental protection and social cohesion, while helping shape a healthier and more resilient city for all.
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