CA23148 - European Network for the Integrative Approach of Urban Forestry (INTUF)

Urban forests have been proposed by European Commission as a strategy to support climate adaptation capacity and sustainable development in the urban areas where over 70% of the EU’s population live. Urban forests produce numerous ecosystem services which reach significant levels when trees reach maturity. Unfortunately, urban trees have an average lifespan of 30 years resulting in failing ecosystems services. Urban forestry is a complex discipline because of the required multidisciplinary, the diversity of stakeholders’ and the long timeframe of trees. It is therefore essential to approach urban forestry from a sustainable and integrative viewpoint. The current approach is unable to fulfill the strategies of the European Commission due to lack of standardisation and scattering networks. New tools and better integration of different knowledge pools are urgently needed.
The Action will bring together a pan-European network of scientists and stakeholders. The network will 1) integrative assess and benchmark the urban forest, 2) develop frameworks for strategic long-term, science-driven management and 3) stimulate stewardship by building cross-sectoral and inclusive management partnerships. The main pillar of attaining the challenges is by knowledge transfer between group members involved and from the Action to the global community. The Action will enhance networking among European scientists and increase the competitiveness of European research by promoting the exploitation of transnational research outcomes (SMEs). Finally, by knowledge creation and sharing, the Action will train young scientists. Career development of Young Researchers and Innovators and research impulses in Inclusiveness Target Countries (ITC) will be considered as a priority in the Action.