First Interregional Meeting in Santiago de Compostela
The first face-to-face partners' meeting of the Green Infrastructure for Forest and Trees (GIFT) project was held in Santiago de Compostela (Galicia) from June 6 to 8, with the participation of the Regional Government of Västra Götaland (Sweden), the Territorial Agency of Flanders (Belgium), the Provincial Government of Fryslân (Netherlands), the Regional Agency of Leipzig (Germany), the Provincial Government of Rimini (Italy), the Slovenian Forestry Institute, the University of Latvia, the Municipality of Zagreb (Croatia), the Business Support Center of Kranj (Slovenia) and the Instituto de Estudos do Territorio (Spain), lead partner and entity responsible for the event organisation.
Presentation and Roadmap
Partners made a brief presentation of their organisations, as well as those aspects of interest about their region for the rest of the participants. The meeting was also an opportunity to create synergies and discuss certain issues related to the project such as the setting of dates for future project events; the key aspects for the identification of Good Practices and the definition of the different Peer Reviews, the use of the PERFECT methodology for the assessment of public policies related to Green Infrastructure; the active participation of the territorial agents interested in the project (stakeholders), as well as the presentation of key issues related to communication, among other aspects.
Study Visits
4 visits were organised during the meeting:
- The set of parks and green areas that border the historic center of Santiago and various elements of its local green infrastructure, with the aim of raising awareness and enhancing the value of the natural heritage of the city;
- Impulso Verde Building (Lugo + Biodinamico project) with the aim of learning about the planning of a multi-ecological neighborhood as a model of urban resilience;
- 2 recovered areas with native species as an example of green infrastructure that contrasts with the grey infrastructure environment (business park);
- The insular system of the Ínsuas do Miño, of great importance and extension by habitats and species characteristic of continental aquatic ecosystems, among which include various types of flood forests. This visit, integrated in the Terras do Miño Biosphere Reserve, offers natural, scenic and ethnographic values related to water management in Galician culture.
Identification of Good Practices
Partners will continue to work on the exchange of experiences, the identification of needs and the implementation of best practices to achieve the objectives of a Europe more resilient to climate change that enhances biodiversity, ensuring that nature maintains its capacity to provide goods and services to society.
