European Urban Forest Week Uforest

In the first week of December 2023, four new urban forest plantings will occur in four major European cities. During the first European Urban Forest Week, Dublin, Milan, Barcelona and Brasov will launch innovative projects to create new green spaces and improve the quality of life of the people who live in them.

The initiative is the result of the work of Uforest, which aims to create a bridge between public bodies, companies and universities to promote innovation and enterprise in urban forestry and contribute to the development of greener, more liveable cities. The collaboration with WOWnature, a platform promoted by project partner Etifor, makes the creation of new forests possible.

The importance of urban forests

By 2050, 84% of the European population will live in urban areas. That is why it is essential to plan more sustainable and liveable cities. Urban forests could effectively solve the many challenges posed by increasing urbanisation and climate change. Benefits include, for example, reducing the heat island effect, improving air quality and increasing biodiversity. However, putting these solutions into practice involves numerous difficulties. The Uforest project was set up to provide more information on urban forests and offer training opportunities to students/staff and foresters. The project has involved more than 1000 people worldwide through events, training opportunities and workshops.

From theory to practice

Uforest is not just theory! What has been developed within the project will be implemented: four new urban forests will grow in four European cities. Each forest is designed to meet the specific needs of local communities in an innovative way.

• The Darndale Donut in Dublin

In Darndale, a district in the north of Dublin, Uforest and Trinity College Dublin wanted to create an urban forest able to provide social and health benefits, and not only environmental ones. The Darndale Donut aims at supporting the local community by improving the wellbeing and health of citizens, while enhancing social inclusion, cohesion and equity. Support the forest and adopt a tree!

The planting event will take place on December 1st, at 10.00 AM, in Dublin at Darndale Park.

• A tiny forest for huge benefits in Milan

Based on the work of the Japanese botanist Akira Miyawaki, tiny forests are small-scale forests that can bring the benefits of large green spaces. By planting many different species very close together, this method can create fast-growing forests in degraded lands: a perfect solution for the area in Cernusco sul Naviglio! In collaboration with the Politecnico di Milano and Forestami, one tiny forest will be planted to provide environmental and health benefits in this highly industrialized area outside of Milan. Discover the project

The project will be publicly presented on Saturday, 2 December, at 10.00 AM, at the Cernusco sul Naviglio Municipal Council Hall. Participants will then walk to the area home to the new tiny forest in Via Lungo Naviglio to plant the first trees.

• Climate refugia in Barcelona  

Heat waves are increasingly hitting Europe, and especially its Mediterranean areas. In this context, cities are particularly vulnerable because of the already known urban heat island effect. Urban forestry solutions can help address the increasing heat in Mediterranean cities, by providing shade and cooling streets. The climatic refugia in Barcelona is developed in collaboration with the Universitat Autònoma de Barcellona and the students of the Uforest Specialization School, as part of the Uforest Innovation Challenge. Divided into groups, students developed their own project for a climatic refugia, responding to the specific needs of the city. 

• Smart tech forest in Brasov

Developed in collaboration with the Transilvania University of Brasov, the Smart-tech forest will be planted in the area surrounding the city of Brasov, in Romania. This new urban forest will contain oaks, maples, ash trees, and wild cherry trees: a natural mix of species that will increase biodiversity and provide shelter and food to many animals. So what makes it a smar-tech forest? Different sensors will be installed to monitor the benefits of trees on air, climate and landscape. The main sensor will be meteorological, pedological and spectral and will provide useful data for the management of the forest.

The European Urban Forest Week marks the beginning of a greener future. While the events will take place only over 7 days, their impact will be prolonged year after year. The new urban forests will remain to their communities, providing environmental, social and health benefits to present and future generations.