UrbanLIFEcircles
Introducing adaptive community-based biodiversity management in urban areas for improved connectivity and ecosystem health for cities of Tartu, Aarhus and Riga
The EU biodiversity strategy for 2030 aims to stop the loss of green urban ecosystems and calls on cities with at least 20 000 inhabitants to develop plans including measures to create biodiverse and accessible urban forests, parks and gardens, tree-lined streets, urban meadows, etc. The strategy also foresees the improvement of connectivity between green spaces.
The UrbanLIFEcircles project will demonstrate a systematic approach to leading a biodiversity-oriented change in the management of urban greenery. The project will improve the condition of biodiversity in participating cities (Tartu, Riga, Aarhus) by creating ‘urban LIFE circles', continuous stretches of restored valuable habitat types and green urban areas supporting biodiversity. Green corridors connecting Natura 2000 sites, valuable grasslands and urban green areas will be designed to allow species to expand their habitats from reserves towards the city centre.
The specific objectives of urbanLIFEcircles are to engage communities in cities to actively participate in conservation, to assist businesses to develop supporting products and services, to establish synergies for biodiversity-oriented governance, to deploy science-based methods for adaptive management, and to demonstrate in practice that system change is possible.
The role of the FinEst Centre for Smart Cities in the project is to support the digital transition of biodiversity governance. FinEst Centre will set up a 3D Green Twin for selected project sites in Tartu including novel 3D models for the represented biodiversity, and develop analytical solutions that enable citizen engagement and improve virtual accessibility of nature values.
FinEst Centre for Smart Cities contact in UrbanLIFEcircles:
Eeva Henna Helena Fabritius
henna.fabritius@taltech.ee