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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Welcome to the web site of the International Conference

URBAN GREEN SPACES - a key for sustainable cities

Sofia, Bulgaria - April 17 - 18, 2008

Here you find resources and information regarding the GreenKeys International Conference on Urban Green Spaces has taken place in Sofia, Bulgaria in April 17-18, 2008.

There is a growing recognition that urban green spaces play a key role for improving the quality of life in urban areas and are an important pillar of sustainable development. But is this importance reflected in an appropriate and stronger political and legal framework?

The aim of the conference was to provide an opportunity for academics, researchers, practioners, policymakers, young professionals and developers from Europe and elsewhere to reflect critically on relevant aspects for the future of cities and urban green spaces.

Worldwide cities are experiencing rapid change. In most countries a strong urbanisation process is at work. In Europe the same process is accompanied by economic and demographic changes (population decline, aging, etc.). These changes - that have significant implications for the natural and urban environment, social composition of the society, infrastructure, etc. - also raise some questions: How can we adequately prepare our cities to be successful in the 21st century? Which are the current and future challenges for planning and managing urban green spaces? Should we rethink our cities and their green spaces? How will the future generation experience the urban environment and what role will urban green spaces play in it? These and other relevant questions have been discussed in Sofia.
 
And why Sofia? This exciting city offered the ideal context for a reflection on urban green spaces. Sofia, with its long history of green space development, is currently faced with difficult challenges in a period of rapid change but also has great potential.
 

For any questions please feel free to contact us at urbangreen_conference@ioer.de

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Conference Reader  

GreenKeys Manual (announcement leaflet)
The manual is one of the main outcomes of the
GreenKeys Project