Management of Urban Forest in City Community Celje
About this good practice
GP addresses a need for strategic management and sustainable development of forests in urban areas. The reasons are primarily in excessive interventions due to natural disasters, pressure on city forests due to high population density, and growing popularity among visitors. Opportunity of the city is that the forest complexly integrates different natural units into a whole, forming a mosaic of many well-preserved ecosystems and biodiversity.
In 1996, the City Municipality of Celje and local forestry authority initiated sustainable management of forest areas, leading to the adoption of strategies and decrees by the City Council. They have taken measures to protect 17 exceptional trees through a decree, ensuring their preservation and special care. Despite the removal of some trees annually due to poor vitality, the municipality actively plants around 150 new trees and shrubs each year. There was also international project "Forests for Cities - GREEN4GREY" implemented in 2014, enhancing the urban forest with an experiential learning path, children's playground, and a tree house serving as an observatory and forest laboratory.
Key stakeholders include the Local community, Celje Unit of SLO Forest Service, Tourism office, Association for the Sustainable Nature Development. The main beneficiaries encompass international foresters, biologists, ecologists, artists, architects, residents, visitors, pupils and students.
Resources needed
EU funds for the tree house, hiking paths, children playground, ERDF 200.000 EUR (2014)
Local funds: €30,000/year - maintenance of the forest infrastructure and paths
Various stakeholders run the practice: Municipality of Celje, Forest Service-forest pedagogy, Celeia Celje–organization of events
Evidence of success
94 ha of forest area preserved,
12 well-maintained with total length of 14 km equipped forest/walking trails, representing the largest area of public green space
1 Adopted Strategy on forest management, protection and conservation
2 Decrees on the protection of plant species
1 Educational multi-purpose observatory - tree house
The number of visitors to the forest is increasing year by year: 15,000 in 2000 and 65,000 in 2018 (The Slovenia Forest Service)
Potential for learning or transfer
In 2011, the Celje City Forest was selected as one of five European examples of good practice. It can be transferred to different environments and regions, in particular in the following areas:
- adapted forest management,
- model regulation and tenure issues,
- innovative development of recreational infrastructure
- educational content to raise awareness of the benefits of forests and biodiversity; and
- the particularly successful cooperation between the public forestry service and the local community
In addition to the specific contents, the GP can also be transferred in terms of practical approach, behaviour change, strong commitment and identity of residents and stakeholders in local community, smooth change from some damaged trees to sustainable green area of different tree species with strong educational moto.
This example is followed by other municipalities in Slovenia, such as Kranj and Ljubljana, and there is also potential for transfer to other European cities.
Further information
Images
Website
Good practice owner
You can contact the good practice owner below for more detailed information.