PROJECTS

Framework

Pressing challenges such as climate vulnerability, biodiversity loss and spatial fragmentation call for new solutions, that is, to rethink of space in terms of its liveability and as an inclusive place of health and wellbeing. Biodiversity & Green in Mediterranean Historic Cities (B_Green) proposes an interdisciplinary and integrated approach meeting the EU strategy for Biodiversity that intends to "Bring nature back into our lives", and to combat biodiversity loss through naturalisation measures in urban space. B_Green examines four Mediterranean historical settings (Cuenca, Naples, Coimbra and Nicosia) through transparent, inclusive, multidisciplinary and reliable assessment methods that will enable the development of data-driven, innovative solutions.

Objectives

B_Green aims to explore how the urban morphology of old urban areas of recognised heritage value and their use influence animal habitats and biodiversity, to ensure that these areas conserve biodiversity and a diversity of species, and to create a set of innovative measures to increase biodiversity in these areas. It adopts a multidisciplinary approach, supported by innovative digital tools and a participatory diagnosis and planning process. The aim is for these innovative measures to be easily implemented by local authorities, in a replicable and scalable way, promoting the improvement of biodiversity and the conservation of the environment and heritage value, contributing to the quality of urban space and local well-being.    

Project activities and expected results

WP1 - U_Bio Framework

The main objectives of this WP is to: 1) set up a set of reliable indicators based on three parameters: biodiversity and environment (UJI), characteristics and shape of buildings (Itecons) and urban space, NBS and social practices (UNINA) and understand the interdependencies between spatial conservation, social awareness, and sustainable development; 2) develop an inclusive procedure to understand better the meaning of urban indicators and their transposition to the environmental assessment and characterization of HC in Europe

WP2 - B_Green Living Labs, Action Plan & Demos

Starting from the tools set up in WP1, this WP intends to realise a shared knowledge framework to support the co-creation of a NBS Action Plan for each test HC (Napoli, Coimbra, Cuenca and Nicosia as a multiplier case). Then the expert knowledge based on each city application of the Indicator framework set up in WP1 will be mixed to bottom up knowledge acquired through Urban Living Labs, This shared knowledge will be the basis of a co-design activity leading to the 4 HC NBS Action Plans. Some of the actions defined in these Plans will be chosen as Demonstrators and realised in the 4 HCs. All the activities of WP2 will be supported by B_Green LLabs.

WP3 - Digital enablers of transition and virtual testing

The objective of this WP is to enable and cater for all transversal data operations across the Project activities that will both facilitate knowledge documentation, representation, visualisation, access and sharing across the disciplines, scales and LL participants, as well as it will help the partners to develop the set of tools (functioning via a ‘Platform’) that will foster collaboration and co-creation in the LL. Finally the WP will assess the capacity of these tools for replicating the B_Green method and Action Plan virtually.

WP4 - Cross-Evaluation and Sustainability Exploitation through the DUT Knowledge Hub

This WP aims to: 1) define a general strategy that will allow the consortium to develop all the activities related to measure the impacts of all the activities; 2) monitoring all the activities during the lifetime of the project; 3) aggregate the main results of the project and facilitate its transfer to practitioners and enhance the links between the different actors (cities, stakeholders, researchers); 4) cluster activities and exchange results and activities with other funded projects.

WP5 - Communication and dissemination

The main objective of WP 5 is to: 1) enable continuous and structured cooperation between the four strands pursuing new mindsets in a complementary and coordinated way; 2) foster capacity building and co-creation, and to nurture societal impact by involving local experts on each one of the topics.

WP6- Coordination and management

This WP aims to: 1) ensure an efficient, timely, and successful coordination and implementation of the B_Green project activities through an effective decision-making and consortium governance with the highest quality of results; 1.1) setting out exchanges and cooperation within and across WP in operational, scientific and methodological terms;  1.2) raising awareness about the project and maximising its outcomes; 2) make sure that the economic and personnel resources are spent according to the contractual obligations; ensuring the legal, reporting and financing requirements by the European Commission; 2.2) ensure the liaison with the funding agency and corresponding administrative and financial issues; 2.1) safeguard data protection and exploitation.

Financial support awarded to Itecons 94 554,00€