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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N

Natura 2000

Natura 2000 is the centrepiece of EU nature & biodiversity policy. It is an EU wide network of nature protection areas. Its aim is to assure the long-term survival of Europe's most valuable & threatened species and habitats. It is not a system of strict nature reserves where all human activities are excluded. Most of the land is likely to continue to be privately owned and the emphasis will be on sustainable management - ecologically and economically. It fulfills an EC obligation under the UN CBD
Source:
http://ec.europa.eu/environment/nature/natura2000/index_en.htm
User: [Maria Samardjieva]

Natural green space

Land, water and geological features - naturally colonized by plants and animals and which are accessible on foot to large number of residents: sites awaiting redevelopment, land alongside water-ways, transport and service corridors, tracts of ’encapsulated countryside’ such as woodlands, scrub, heathlands, ponds, ditches, rivers, lakes and reservoirs, less intensively managed parts of parks, school grounds, sports pitches, cemeteries, incidental pocket-sized plots along roads etc.
Source:
English Nature Research Reports N 153. Accessible natural green space in town and cities: A review of appropriate size and distance criteria. Guidance for the preparation of strategies for local sustainability, 1995.
User: [Maria Samardjieva]

Natural greenspaces

Natural and semi-natural habitats within or adjoining an urban area
Source:
Greenspace-Scotland http://www.greenspace.org.uk/default.asp?page=4
User: [Maria Samardjieva]

Neighbourhood renewal

Government programme to narrow the gap between rich and poor communities involving physical, economic and social recovery of deprived areas. Most recently reflected in the National Strategy for neighbourhood renewal.
Source:
http://www.ascskills.org.uk/pages/glossary/term/neighbourhood-renewal
User: [Maria Samardjieva]

Non-Governmental Organisation (NGO)

Any voluntary citizens' group that is organized on a local, national or international level. Perform a variety of humanitarian functions, bring citizen concerns to governments, advocate and monitor policies and encourage political participation through provision of information. Some are organized around specific issues, such as human rights, environment or health. They provide analysis and expertise, serve as early warning mechanisms and help monitor and implement international agreements.
Source:
http://www.ascskills.org.uk/pages/glossary/term/non-governmental-organisation-ngo
User: [Maria Samardjieva]

Not-For-Profit Organisation

Any society, association or organisation not carried out for the profit or gain of any member and whose rules do not allow money, property or any other benefits to be distributed to any of its members.
Source:
http://www.ascskills.org.uk/pages/glossary/term/not-for-profit-organisation
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 .