The Greenkeys projects

The problem of abandoned and devalued urban areas is common among many European cities. The environmental, economic and social decline, which these areas often entail, requires rapid reconsideration and improvements as the lowering of the quality of life may not only spill over to adjacent neighbourhoods, but also the area itself does not need to be relinquished.

The cities are facing difficulties in finding an adequate solution to the main problem of how to apply methods of sustainable rehabilitation to redevelop and enhance the areas in the long term.

The European Commission has started the EU Community Initiative INTERREG III B CADSES (2005-2008), which focuses on increasing the sustainability of cities by initialising the endowment of green spaces. By means of that, local residents and medium-sized enterprises would benefit immediately, but the scientific and practical experiences gained during the projects are equally important as they will promote transnational cooperation in Europe and bring about further projects.

The key question posed by the GreenKeys project is: What are the tools and methods necessary for increasing the sustainability of urban areas by adding green spaces, given the fact that ecological, social and economical conditions are often mutually dependent?
Greenkeys focuses on the improvement of urban green spaces as a step towards more sustainable cities. The three main objectives are

  1. to provide incentives for structural changes in cities by offering opportunities for the enhancement of green spaces. Its 12 partner cities will, together with local stakeholders, develop a strategic approach for the pilot projects to create new or upgrade existing green areas to achieve more accessibility, social and recreational values and ecological efficiency. By the involvement of local activists, the political attention to the benefits of green spaces to urban environments will be increased. GreenKeys will support the implementation/evaluation of pilot projects in order
  2. to develop a “Pool of Green Strategies” (instruments, methods, concepts and good examples) based on the experiences being made to meet the demands of future needs and
  3. to use the synergies to promote the transfer of knowledge by a transnational network and, thus, foster the exchange of the particular national experiences.

In pursuing these goals, GreenKeys brings together 12 cities in 7 countries, 8 scientific supporters, external experts, design studios and NGOs, which participate through their own networks.

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Bulgarian

Union of Parks & Landscape Specialists in Bulgaria (UPLSB)

main activities

The UPLSB was founded in 1991 as an environmental NGO. Its mission is to protect the natural and cultural heritage and to take care of the ecological balance of the environment in order to contribute to improving the quality of life. The fields of its activity are applied science, practice and education. It participates in the elaboration of modern regulatory documents for conservation and sustainable management of urban areas, countryside and wild nature. The urban green spaces issues are one of the priorities of its work. Some of its main activities are directed to creation and maintenance of nature friendly, healthy and beautiful agglomerations, to sustainable development of communities, municipalities and regions, to integration of the nature into people’s everyday environment, to protection of biodiversity and historic gardens. 
 

tasks in greenkeys

UPLSB is responsible for WP 3 “Networking Activities”. This WP refers to the coordination of activities as experts’ colloquia, site visits and workshops. Networking between the partners is of high relevance for the success of the project. To facilitate easily available communication over long distances among the project partners and to support the information and expertise exchange, an intranet will be created at an early stage of the project. Moreover, an internet portal will be established in order to enhance the dissemination of the project goals and results. Periodic electronic newsletters, interim project briefings and face-to-face contacts during the project events and other meetings will guarantee the keeping up of close contacts and continue the exchange of information and views.
 

Further information

The UPLSB belongs to the Community of Sofia citizens associations (CoSCA). Three years ago, more than 30 informal organisations of people living in different administrative districts of Bulgarian capital founded the community in defense of the city's green spaces. As a result, a significant progress in the openness of the local authorities and in the access of public information has been achieved. The CoSCA has begun to participate in the decision making process on local and national level. It has concluded an agreement with Sofia's City Council about the implementation of a detailed programme for preserving and improving urban green system. In 2004 and 2005, the UPLSB presented the activities of CoSCA on the Urban Green Days web site of European Commission.

 

partner contact

Logo UPLSB - Urban Green System Section

UPLSB - Urban Green System Section
POBox 94
1606 Sofia
Bulgaria

Maria Samardjieva
phone: +35 92 9297716
fax: +35929297716

Deljana Bencheva
phone: +35 92 9297716

Daniela Simova

Katinka Mihova