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-library

Making contracts work for wildlife:how to encourage biodiversity in urban parks

The guide focuses on the practical aspects of encouraging biodiversity in parks and green spaces. It is for the clients and heads of contract teams, local authority parks officers, ecology officers, gardeners, planners, policy makers, communities groups and anyone interested in encouraging biodiversity in green spaces. The basic idea is: “When you encourage biodiversity, you begin a process that enriches people’s lives”. By integrating biodiversity into traditional forms of green space management users will enjoy healthy, beautiful, fascinating and fulfilling urban green. That vision should include making contracts work for wildlife.
Main brochure’s parts are about values and basics of biodiversity, achieving biodiverse GS, present and future needs and measures, context of biodiversity, making contracts work for wildlife, building blocks of biodiversity, approaches and case studies, legislation and policy documents.
Category: Ecological Functionality
Keywordslist Ecological Efficiency, Green Urban Development, Methodology, Sustainable Urban Development
Type: Brochure

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Making contracts work for wildlife
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What is the e-library?

The e-library has been designed to provide members of GreenKeys with information, access to resources and inspiration on the topics of green spaces development and urban sustainability. GreenKeys' e-library users have the ability to post both printed and online information and resources, search them and, thus, contribute to a transnational exchange of experiences and ideas on these issues.

The e-Library contributions are, as the good practice examples, presented under the following aspects:

  • Ecological Functionality
  • Social Aspects
  • Economic Benefit
  • Public Participation
  • Innovative Funding Strategies

To submit such data please complete the form. Click HERE.