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Blog, Nature-based solutions, Urban trees

Insights from the CLEARING HOUSE Co-Design Workshop in Gelsenkirchen by Ian Whitehead, European Forest Institute (EFI)

On 15-16 September 2023, I joined and contributed to the third and final CLEARING HOUSE (CH) co-design workshop, which took place in the case study City of Gelsenkirchen. During two days of intense activity, participants from diverse local organisations – including local government, the NRW State Forestry service (NRW Wald und Hölz), NGOs and local citizens’ groups – were able to learn about the outcomes of the CH Project. We also participated in lively discussions on creating a sustainable future for Gelsenkirchen, whilst enjoying convivial company and some tasty, locally produced food. Fortunately, the weather was kind to us as well, with beautiful autumn sunshine blessing both days.

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Blog, Nature-based solutions, Urban trees

Urban forests as nature-based solutions discussed at Brussels Urban Summit 2023

As Susanna Gionfra, Senior Project Officer for Nature-based Solutions at the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) European Regional Office, so aptly put it while presenting at The Brussels Urban Summit in Brussels, Belgium, this June, “Cities are at the forefront of both the causes and impacts of major environmental challenges such as climate change, pollution and biodiversity loss.” Gionfra continued with a note that already “cities have large ecological footprints with 60 to 80% of the world’s energy consumption and 75% of natural resource consumption as well as 80% of anthropogenic CO2 emissions.”

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Blog, Collaborative Learning, Nature-based solutions, Urban trees

Urban Forests in the Time of COVID-19: Visitor Frequencies and Attitudes in Bonn, Germany

Discover this new publication by CLEARING HOUSE partners Jakob Derks, Georg Winkel, Johanna Strieck & Rik De Vreese. The publication focuses on visitors’ frequencies and attitudes towards urban forests and their management, before and during the COVID-19 lockdown. This publication showcases a mixed methods case study in Bonn, Germany.

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