Integrative Management of Green Infrastructures Multifunctionality, Ecosystem integrity and Ecosystem Services: From assessment to regulation in socio-ecological system

Summary of the project:

Context:

According to the European Commission definition, Green Infrastructure (GIs) is “a strategically planned network of natural and semi-natural areas designed and managed to deliver a wide range of ecosystem services such as water purification, air quality, space for recreation and climate mitigation and adaptation” inside urban areas. With the implementation of its Green Infrastructure Strategy, the EU promotes the implementation of nature-based GI solutions to cope with multiple issues present in cities throughout the continent. Indeed, GI can be approached through the multiple benefits they provide on economic, social, environmental and human health related issues. The IMAGINE project team supports the idea that sustainable territorial management requires a transition from the management of natural resources that degrades the ecological integrity of ecological systems to an adaptive management that preserves it while improving human wellbeing.

Main objective(s) of the project:

Using a multidisciplinary approach across six case study territories spanning a European north-south gradient from the boreal zone to the Mediterranean, the proposed project IMAGINE aims at quantifying the multiple functions, ecosystem services and benefits provided by Green Infrastructures (GI) in different contexts from rural to urban.

Main activities to be implemented:

IMAGINE will conduct its transdisciplinary research activities in close contact with stakeholders (land managers, municipalities, contractors in planning, design and building activities, nature conservation services, NGOs and the wider public as users). We will test our approach on the case study territories with two main gradients: rural-urban gradient within case studies and latitudinal across case studies.

Specific activities for dissemination of the project’s outputs, knowledge transfer and involvement of stakeholders / policy-makers:

The IMAGINE project will have 2 meetings per year to be organised within the Case study sites in order to be able to exchange with stakeholders. The final workshop will aim to build future capacity for implementation with the presentation of a guidance report to Local/ regional stakeholders including land users, beneficiaries of ecosystem services and policy makers (Stakeholders, Policy makers, Citizens, NGOs, experts). We also plan to deliver 3 user friendly guides: How-To Management and Restoration of GI, How-To Ecological Integrity Assessment, How-To ES and EDS Assessment and Mapping for Local Stakeholders.

General information on the project

Partners of the project:

IRSTEA (F), NINA (NO), INBO (BE), ISOE (DE), UniKiel (DE), EMU (EE)

Project coordination:

Dr. Philip K. Roche Research Director at INRAe