‘Down to Earth’ proposes regenerative soil as the foundation of an innovative bio-based region in South Holland, that connects society and economy on all scales while restoring ecological systems. Agricultural Practices that have heavily relied on tilling and the heavy use of chemical fertilizers has reduced the quality of the topsoil compromising both food security and the carbon sequestration capacity of the soil. Additionally, Industries along the port of Rotterdam that is heavily dependent on fossil fuel have polluted the land it is based on and emitted large amounts of carbon. The most powerful technology we have at hand to draw down this carbon load is healthy soil that can support plant life and micro-organisms naturally. The strategy proposed in this report focuses on retaining the economic prosperity of South Holland while remediating the soil that supports it. Based on an understanding of the current land uses in South Holland and the level of disruption it causes to the natural systems within the soil, the region has been abstracted into pixels. Each spatial type would have a specific intervention that focuses on keeping the soil in it open and alive. These interventions are further strengthened by creating links that support the exchange of biodegradable material and clean energy between stakeholders. This would serve as an additional economic incentive to support the pressing need to mitigate environmental damage. The guiding principles that make this transition possible include renewable energy generation, eco-sensitive development, nature-based solutions, valorization of biodegradable waste, and using policies to change consumer patterns and reformulate development trends. The proposal, along with the layers of soil data that support it is a case of why soil remediation through bio-based economic activity is vital to sustainable growth and a vision of what development within planetary boundaries would include.

In response to the need for robust and extensive green infrastructure in Monterrey, Mexico, this thesis will explore the potentialities of upscaling urban forestry and regional afforestation as a solution. The metropolitan area of Monterrey, and it’s urban landscape morphology, is facing severe environmental pressures shaped by a conflict between powerful natural forces, such as extreme weather events and deforestation, and turbulent human activities, such as urban expansion and poor management of natural areas. This results in an inaccessible, fragmented natural landscape. This thesis will define forest types suitable for arid climates, assess which ecosystems services an afforestation plan will deliver, and design strategies for sustainable, long-term green-blue infrastructures. The project’s results contribute to enhancing ecosystem services, defragmenting the natural landscape, and harmonizing the relationship between people and nature. The research also identifies the key challenges and barriers to expanding Monterrey’s green network, by creating a value map, and proposing design interventions for overcoming them. These findings will emphasize the potential of regional afforestation in arid urban landscapes and underscore the significance of ecosystem-based adaptation. Finally, this thesis proposes an evolutionary framework to find the potential capacities to connect Monterrey’s landscape patches with the natural protected areas.