“The tool helps local authorities identify where there is a need for green infrastructure”
This new tool will help European local authorities identify and prioritise nature-related needs in cities
TECNALIA is leading the development of a methodology to quantify the demand for green infrastructure at a local level and supporting local authorities plan more sustainable, healthy, resilient towns and cities.
The aim is to provide a practical tool to help local authorities identify where there is the greatest need for green infrastructure and prioritise actions objectively.
A practical methodology for European local authorities
The key findings include the development of a methodology that can be replicated and adapted to different regional contexts.
- The methodology is structured in six modules, adapting the process to the specific needs of each case without necessarily following a linear sequence.
- Its scalability makes it easy to apply in settings ranging from urban to urban-peri-urban environments, while its flexibility makes it suitable for contexts with varying levels of expert knowledge and availability of baseline information.
- An online user manual has been developed (available in English) to make it easier to adopt, which provides step-by-step guidance to local and regional authorities and other entities interested in applying the methodology.
Six case studies to validate the methodology
The methodology has been validated and refined by means of six European case studies representing different urban and regional contexts:
- Târgu Mureș (Romania)
- Jastrebarsko (Croatia)
- Imola (Italy)
- Sopot (Poland)
- Tampere (Finland)
- Roeselare (Belgium)
The results can be viewed via an interactive dashboard and individual reports on them.
Support for Urban Nature Plans and European policies
This tool is particularly useful for drawing up Urban Nature Plans and other urban planning and management tools in which green infrastructure plays a strategic role, such as climate change adaptation, sustainable mobility, accessibility and urban health.
This methodology also supports the implementation of the Nature Restoration Regulation promoted by the European Commission, which provides help in developing and implementing the national restoration plans currently being drawn up by Member States.
By taking part in this initiative, we are reinforcing our commitment to developing innovative solutions that help towns and cities move towards greener, more resilient urban models in line with the European Union’s sustainability and ecological restoration objectives.
*This project is part of the ESPON GILL initiative (Quantifying the Demand for Green Infrastructure at Local Level), involving the European Forest Institute and the Institute of Urban Excellence.