URBforDAN - Management and Utilization of Urban Forests
About this good practice
Fostering urban forest benefits through integrated and participatory management for improved quality of life in EU cities – a tested and proven good practice.
Resources needed
City-level political, operational and communication support; Team of city experts, forest managers and other relevant experts; Urban Forest pilot area; Local action group composed of key stakeholders; 2-3 years of time and funding. Ljubljana can provide knowledge, tools, experts and experience.
Evidence of success
Ljubljana adopted its Urban Forest Development Strategy 2020-45 and Operational Plans for two (2) pilot areas Golovec and Å marna gora. They were equipped with visitor management infrastructure, which improved recreational, educational and relaxational experience for a diverse set of target groups. As results from Ljubljana were replicated in 6 other cities, management was improved on over 1.200 ha of urban forests. In 2020 project was nominated for REGIOSTARS Award by the Danube Programme.
Potential for learning or transfer
To ensure transferability and replicability of project results, Participatory Planning & UPF Management Guidelines were designed. Their purpose is to attract other cities to urban forestry topic as an awareness raising and methodological tool, as they provide the users with a clear step-by-step guidance–through the process. They also contain numerous links to relevant tools, examples and actual outputs produced by all 7 cities. City of Ljubljana is keen to further evolve the good practice based on bottom up approach and to learn from transfer cities.
This urban forest management approach has already been successfully tested in 6 other cities with a diverse set of environmental, cultural, legal and political conditions, further proving its replicability and transferability. City of Ljubljana has not only developed this good practice, but also has the knowledge, capacity, tools and experience for transfer to other cities.