Forced migration is already at historic levels, with predictions of as many as 1 billion environmental refugees by 2050. This mass displacement is likely to transform social and political processes in Germany and globally. Simultaneously, the global climate emergency demands immediate action to mitigate catastrophic environmental impacts. Recognizing the interconnections between climate change and forced migration, and addressing these dual crises together are essential for developing sustainable solutions.
In response to concerns about climate change, cities are turning to urban gardens to grow produce, create wildlife corridors, increase biodiversity, improve air quality, and mitigate water runoff and noise. In addition to benefiting the environment, urban gardens have far-reaching social and psychosocial benefits, including promoting mental and physical wellbeing and fostering community relations.
Academy in Exile, together with the Smart Urban Areas Project of Spatial Planning at TU Dortmund University, and UA Ruhr partners, is launching a Garden(s) of Refuge project by planting a micro-forest according to the sustainable Miyawaki method on unused urban land adjacent to the Internationale Begegnungszentrum (IBZ) on the TU Dortmund University campus. The initiative draws on the participation of university students and faculty, Academy in Exile members, and community organizations that support environmental and refugee initiatives. Financial support and in-kind donations have been provided by foundations including The Mellon Foundation, Alliance Foundation, Rudolf Chaudoire-Stiftung, and the business community. The Garden(s) of Refuge will be established in three phases, with a formal project duration of three years. The micro-forest is expected to exist in perpetuity.






