Medellín Green Corridors
Since 2016 the city of Medellín has turned roads, stream banks and hillsides into planted green corridors. The EU HOPE heatwaves project counts more than 30 corridors, 2.5 million plants and 880,000 trees by 2021, and an average fall of 2°C in corridor areas, with some close to 4°C.
Inside the project
The Alcaldía reported in October 2024 that about 1,200,000 square metres of green corridors in streams and hills had been worked that year, with a goal of 2,000,000 square metres a year.
In January 2026 the city counted 92,131 square metres of urban gardens across 26 maintained corridors, with eight new corridors added under its current development plan, Medellín Te Quiere.
The programme won an Ashden Award in 2019.
Objectives
- Reduce the urban heat island effect along main roads and streams
- Intervene 2,000,000 square metres of green corridors a year
- Improve air quality and ecological connectivity for urban wildlife
Approach
- Native and functional species are planted along roads, stream banks and hills to shade streets and cool the air through evapotranspiration.
- The corridors receive monthly maintenance, with permanent gardening staff on the busiest routes.
Sources
Inspect 3 sources
- medellin.gov.co ↗https://www.medellin.gov.co/es/sala-de-prensa/noticias/avanza-el-plan-para-reverdecer-a-medellin-se-han-intervenido-cerca-de-1-200-000-metros-cuadrados-de-corredores-verdes-en-quebradas-y-cerros/
- medellin.gov.co ↗https://www.medellin.gov.co/es/sala-de-prensa/noticias/medellin-continua-con-la-expansion-de-sus-corredores-verdes-y-suma-mas-de-92-100-metros-cuadrados-de-jardines-urbanos/
- hope-heatwaves.eu ↗https://www.hope-heatwaves.eu/hope/'corredores-verdes'_medellin-green-corrdiors_colombia
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