Green Infrastructure approach: linking environmental with social aspects in studying and managing urban forests (DTA.AD002.119)

Thematic area

Earth system science and environmental technologies

Project area

Structure responsible for the research project

Research Institute on Terrestrial Ecosystems (IRET)

Project manager

CARLO CALFAPIETRA
Phone number: 0763/374929
Email: carlo.calfapietra@ibaf.cnr.it

Abstract

Green Infrastructure (GI) has recently gained prominence as a planning tool at regional and local levels. GI provides a range of ecosystem services, and new initiatives can build on state-of-the-art research and on delivery mechanisms such as urban forestry (UF). However, greater attention is needed on integrating the environmental and social benefits produced, particularly in the context of climate change adaptation and mitigation. The COST Action aims to: 1) increase the understanding of the role of UF in the context of GI from a scientific and a socio-economic perspective, in terms of the ecosystem services provided to people and to the urban environment; 2) to identify priorities and challenges for future research in the field; 3) to provide indicators and/or thresholds to be included by policy makers in local, national or international regulations about GI and UF; 4) to develop guidelines for GI planners and managers on how to implement GI approaches with an emphasis on linking the environmental and social services of UF.

Goals

The aim of the Action is to increase the understanding on the role of UF in the context of GI in terms of ecosystem services provision.
This ambitious goal will be achieved by bringing together a community of forest scientists with a multidisciplinary profile, ranging from ecology, ecophysiology, modeling, genetics, arboriculture, wood production, social sciences, landscape architecture, and urban planning, and who therefore have the capabilities to be able to study the relationships between UF and environmental and social ecosystem services.
The list of deliverables which will be specified in D include: guidelines for planning and managing UF in order to maximize ecosystem services, including the tree species selection suitable to the different urban sites; measurements, data processing, storage and diffusion; testing and parameterizing present models of tree and UF functioning; scientific papers; results of questionnaires; scientific summaries for policy makers; workshops; an interactive website. The final deliverables list will be prepared by the Management Committee.

Start date of activity

01/03/2013

Keywords

FOREST, URBAN, ....

Last update: 22/05/2025