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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S

Senitivity (to climate change)

SENSITIVITY is the degree to which a built, natural or human system is directly or indirectly affected by changes in climate conditions (e.g., temperature and precipitation) or specific climate change impacts (e.g., sea level rise, increased water temperature). If a system is likely to be affected as a result of projected climate change, it should be considered sensitive to climate change.
Source:
Preparing for Climate Change: A Guidebook for Local, Regional, and State Governments University of Washington & King County, Washington & ICLEI, Sept 2007
User: [Maria Samardjieva]

Special Areas of Conservation

English Nature definition: Special Areas of Conservation (SACs) are areas which have been given special protection under the European Union's Habitats Directive. They provide increased protection to a variety of wild animals, plants and habitats and are a vital part of global efforts to conserve the world's biodiversity.
Source:
http://www.naturalengland.org.uk/conservation/designated-areas/default.htm
User: [Maria Samardjieva]

Strategic Greenspace Partnerships

Strategic Greenspace Partnerships (SGPs) bring together local authorities, agencies, organisations and communities to develop a vision and strategic framework for greenspace in their local area. This is about creating the right local conditions for delivering greenspace - shaping more supportive policy and resourcing frameworks which better support and co-ordinate local greenspace action.
Source:
Greenspace Scotland http://www.greenspace.org.uk/default.asp?page=230
User: [Maria Samardjieva]

Sustainable Community

Sustainable community is: well designed and build (featuring quality built and natural environment); fair for everyone; active inclusive and safe (fair, tolerant and cohesive …); well run (with effective and inclusive participation…); well connected (with good services); well served (with services accessible to all); environmentally sensitive (providing places for people to live that are considerate of the environment); thriving (with a flourishing and diverse local economy)
Source:
Academy for Sustainable Communities, UK, a national centre for delivering the skills and knowledge needed to make better spaces: www.askwhatif.co.uk and http://www.ascskills.com/download/general/ASC_Business_Plan.pdf
User: [Maria Samardjieva]

Sustainable use of biological diversity

"Sustainable use" means the use of components of biological diversity in a way and at a rate that does not lead to the long-term decline of biological diversity, thereby maintaining its potential to meet the needs and aspirations of present and future generations
Source:
Convention on Biological diversity, 2000
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 .