News & Media

Blog, Nature-based solutions, Urban trees

Introducing the CLEARING HOUSE Spatial Impact Assessment and Classification tool – making trees benefits visible

By Sebastian Scheuer, Corina Basnou, Dagmar Haase

If you have followed the journey that is the CLEARING HOUSE project, you will already know or have learned that trees have manifold benefits for our cities, and therefore, for us. They help us to bring more biodiversity in our cities. They help us fight climate change by sequestering and storing carbon. They make our air healthier to breathe by removing both gaseous pollutants and particulate matter. On hot days, trees help to cool our cities. Have you noticed that you may feel a little better when you see trees out of your window? Do you feel more relaxed and better when you have visited a forest?

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Blog, Nature-based solutions, Urban trees

“A living street and not just green”: Public preferences and concerns regarding nature-based solution implementation in urban streets

Greening urban streets presents an opportunity to expand and complement the ecosystem services provided by parks, delivering these services to spaces urban dwellers frequently encounter. But what do urban dwellers think about having a greener street? In an article recently published on Urban Forestry & Urban Greening, CLEARING HOUSE colleagues of the Vrije Universiteit Brussel (VUB) provide some answers to the question. 

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Blog, Nature-based solutions, Urban trees

Insights from our Science-Policy Symposium “Regreening Cities with Nature-based solutions in EU and China”

Marking the culmination of the CLEARING HOUSE and REGREENN projects, the conference “Regreening Cities with Nature-based solutions in EU and China – Bridging Science, Policy, and Practice” brought together experts and stakeholders to explore the critical question of enhancing urban resilience through Nature-based solutions (UF-NBS), particularly within the context of Urban Forests. The sessions unveiled a plethora of ideas, strategies and collaborative endeavours aimed at addressing pressing challenges of our age such as climate change mitigation, biodiversity loss and the need for opportunities to access nature for health and wellbeing.Read more

Blog, Nature-based solutions, Urban trees

Nurturing Urban Greenery: Insights from the CLEARING HOUSE meeting in China

The CLEARING HOUSE conference held in China last September has brought to light groundbreaking initiatives and insights into the role of urban forests and green spaces in shaping sustainable, liveable cities. This gathering of experts and researchers provided a platform for the exchange of knowledge and ideas, emphasizing the global importance of integrating nature into urban planning. The conference’s first day showcased remarkable trends, projects, and outcomes that promise to transform the urban landscape. This broader global collaboration from both continents highlighted the growing recognition of the universal significance of green spaces.

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Blog, Nature-based solutions, Urban trees

Caring Cities: The Green Revolution

In an increasingly urbanized world, the concept of caring cities has taken center stage. Caring cities, in essence, are urban communities that prioritize the well-being and quality of life for their residents while simultaneously demonstrating a profound commitment to environmental sustainability and responsibility. These cities embrace practices that enhance the natural environment, reduce their ecological footprint, and foster a sense of collective care for the planet.

The concept of caring cities is closely intertwined with the growing importance of nature-based solutions, which have become essential for the construction of resilient cities capable of tackling the challenges of climate change and enhancing the quality of life for their inhabitants.

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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 Holz), 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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