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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e-glossary

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A

Adaptive capacity (for Climate change)

ADAPTIVE CAPACITY (for the climate change) describes the ability of built, natural and human systems associated with a given planning area to accommodate changes in climate with minimum disruption or minimum additional cost.
Source:
Preparing for Climate Change: A Guidebook for Local, Regional, and State Governments University of Washington & King County, Washington & ICLEI, Sept 2007
User: [Maria Samardjieva]

Agglomeration

A densely populated, highly urbanised region

Amenity greenspace

1. Amenity green space (most commonly, but not exclusively in housing areas) … includes informal recreation spaces, green spaces in and around housing, domestic gardens and village greens. 2. This type of open space is most commonly found in housing areas. It includes informal recreation spaces and green spaces in and around housing, with a primary purpose of providing opportunities for informal activities close to home or work or enhancing of the appearance of residential or other areas.
Source:
1. Planning Policy Guidance 17: Planning for open space, sport and recreation. Department for Communities and Local Government, 2006, Website: www.communities.gov.uk 2. Open Space Study – Salisbury District Council; Open Space, Sport and Recreation Study – Spelthorne Borough Council; Sport and Recreation Audit and Assessment – Purbeck DC. www.purbeck.gov.uk/pdf/_7_%20Amenity%20Greenspace.pdf
User: [Maria Samardjieva]

Areas of Outstanding Natural Beauty (AONB)

Natural England definition: Areas of Outstanding Natural Beauty (AONB) have been described as the jewels of the English landscape. Areas are designated solely for their landscape qualities for the purpose of conserving and enhancing their natural beauty (which includes landforms and geology, plants and animals, landscape features and the rich history of human settlement over the centuries).
Source:
http://www.countryside.gov.uk/LAR/Landscape/DL/aonbs/index.asp
User: [Maria Samardjieva]

What is the e-glossary?

The e-glossary is a free, collaboratively written collection of words or phrases covering the issues of green spaces development and urban sustainability in the broadest sense. Anyone who is within the GreenKeys network can edit the e-glossary. Its purpose is to create common definitions and make them available as a quick reference for both the public and members of GreenKeys.

Do you have a term or phrase that has to be clarified? It’s easy to add a contribution to our e-glossary. Just fill in the form provided
 here .