ESPON-GILL. Methodology for Quantifying the Demand for Green Infrastructure at Local Level

ESPON-GILL Methodology for Quantifying the Demand for Green Infrastructure at Local Level Rik De Vreese, European Forest Institute (EFI) Urban Greening and NNLT, De Wijnaert, Gent (BE), 9.12.25 ESPON // Green Infrastructure definition: a strategically planned network of natural & semi-natural areas (…) designed and managed to deliver a wide range of ecosystem services. It incorporates green spaces (or green & blue spaces) and other physical features in terrestrial and marine areas. On land, GI is present in rural and urban settings.” EU Green Infrastructure Strategy (2013) What is (Urban) Green Infrastructure? Hansen et al. (2017). Urban Green Infrastructure Planning: A Guide for Practitioners. https://www.researchgate.net /publication/319967102_Urba n_Green_Infrastructure_Planni ng_A_Guide_for_Practitioners Urban Greening and NNLT, De Wijnaert, 9.12.25 ESPON // PowerPoint template 16:93 12/9/2025 https://www.meristemdesign.co.uk/blog/urban-green-infrastructure/ Urban Greening and NNLT, De Wijnaert, 9.12.25 ESPON // Why do we need Green Infrastructure? IGNITION project http://ontheplatform.org.uk/article/why-do-we-need-urban-green-space -https://gmgreencity.com/projects-and-campaigns/ignition/ ESPON // ESPON GILL5 https://www.uforest.eu/news/insights/trees-can-help-reduce-deaths-attributed-to-the-urban-heat-island-effect/ https://www.thelancet.com/journals/lancet/article/PIIS0140-6736(22)02585-5/abstract Urban Greening and NNLT, De Wijnaert, 9.12.25 ESPON // Green Infrastructure vs Urban Nature Planning •EU Biodiversity Strategy 2030 •in order to bring nature back to cities and reward community action - the Commission called on European towns and cities of at least 20,000 inhabitants to “…develop ambitious Urban Urban Nature Plans including “measures to create biodiverse and accessible urban forests, parks and gardens; urban farms; green roofs and walls; treelined streets; urban meadows; and urban hedges.” •Nature Restoration Regulation Article 8. Restoration of urban ecosystems •No net loss of urban green space and urban tree canopy cover by 2030 in urban ecosystem areas •Beyond 2031, an increase in area of urban green space, including through the integration of urban green space into buildings and infrastructure in urban ecosystem areas •Beyond 2031,an increase of urban tree canopy cover, until a satisfactory level is reached •(preambule 48). In order to ensure that urban green spaces continue to provide the necessary ecosystem services, their loss should be stopped and they should be restored and increased, inter alia by integrating green infrastructure and nature-based solutions, such as green roofs and green walls, in the design of buildings. Such integration can contribute to maintaining and increasing not only the area of urban green space but also, if trees are included, the area of urban tree canopy cover Urban Greening and NNLT, De Wijnaert, 9.12.25 ESPON // https://www.urbanagenda.urbaninitiative.eu/partnerships/greening-cities Greening Cities Partnership unites diverse partners to ▪advance green infrastructure, ▪foster transformative change in urban environments, and ▪empower cities to lead on climate adaptation, biodiversity restoration, and improved quality of life. ESPON // ESPON GILL Project OBJECTIVE ***Action No.1 of the Greening Cities Partnership: - Deliver an evidence-based, scientifically robust, scalable, and user-friendly methodology to guide policymakers and practitioners in quantifying the demand for green infrastructure at the local level. -At its core the ESPON GILL methodology aims to map the gap between ecosystem service supply and human / ecosystem needs. - The ESPON GILL methodology should tell where nature is “working” for the city, and where the city needs more nature to “work” for it. Urban Greening and NNLT, De Wijnaert, 9.12.25 ESPON // ESPON GILL Partners and stakeholders Italy Imola Finland Tampere Belgium Roeselare Romania Târgu Mureș Croatia Jastrebarsko Poland Sopot Urban Greening and NNLT, De Wijnaert, 9.12.25 UNP+ Enhanced Urban Nature Plans for Biodiversity Mainstreaming in Society Horizon Europe Project, 2024-2026 UNP+ Explained UNP+ proposes a next generation Urban Nature Plan framework for European Cities. This is a forward-looking, systemic, integrated, and inclusive planning instrument capable of realising meaningful and lasting impacts in bending the curve of biodiversity loss. 18 Urban Greening and NNLT, De Wijnaert, 9.12.25 What are the 10 UNP Steps ? UNP Framework: European Commission and ICLEI Europe 19 UNP - 10 key steps are: Phase 1. Preparation ●Step 1: Secure a long-term political commitment ●Step 2: Establish a working structure ●Step 3: Establish a co-creation process Phase 2. Action Planning ●Step 4: Develop a long-term vision and goals ●Step 5: Analyse the current state of nature and biodiversity ●Step 6: Set indicators and targets ●Step 7: Agree on priorities, actions, responsibilities, timelines, and financing ●Step 8: Develop a communication, education, and public awareness strategy Phase 3. Implementation and Monitoring ●Step 9: Establish a monitoring, reporting, and evaluation system ●Step 10: Adopt, publish and implement the plan Urban Greening and NNLT, De Wijnaert, 9.12.25 What‘s the PLUS? 20 UNP+ Promote the existing Process Propose integration strategies Develop further tools Foster co-creation Overcome departmental silos Support coordination and collaboration between levels of government Urban Greening and NNLT, De Wijnaert, 9.12.25 UGPplus is funded by the European Union (Grant Agreement No. 101135386). Views and opinions expressed are however those of the author(s) only and do not necessarily reflect those of the European Union or the European Research Executive Agency (REA). Neither the European Union nor REA can be held responsible for them. 21 https://urbannatureplans.eu/ UNPplus EU Thank You for Your Attention! Green and Grey Infrastructure in BaiYun District, GuangZhou, China © Rik De Vreese THANK YOU Urban Greening and NNLT, De Wijnaert, 9.12.25