FRACTAL - FosteRing green infrAstruCTure in the ALps

Programme 2021 - 2027 Interreg VI-B Alpine Space

Date of latest update: 2026-03-17

Description

Description (EN):

FRACTAL is a roll-out project coming from LUIGI (Linking Urban and Inner-Alpine Green Infrastructure - Multifunctional Ecosystem Services for more liveable territories), with the aim of deepening the engagement of alpine communities in the local implementation of Green Infrastructure (GI). FRACTAL will strengthen the mainstreaming of GI in the educational and governance sectors. The Alpine Space is characterized by a mosaic of natural, agricultural, and small urban areas, where the connectivity between natural and semi-natural ecosystems is not always ensured. A fragmented ecosystem is more sensitive to climate change, being unable to supply human population with fundamental ecosystem services (ES), such as local climate regulation. One of the most effective ways to support ES is implementing GI at local scale. Unfortunately, the practical implementation of GI in alpine rural and peri-urban areas is still scattered, mirroring the insufficient level of knowledge on GI. Through a collaborative transnational effort involving three alpine countries, FRACTAL will operationalize the governance and education-related outputs of LUIGI, by i) standardizing the requirements to plan GI at municipality level, thus producing a “GI Pact” that will be signed and adopted by several municipalities throughout the Alps; and by ii) developing and testing an innovative educational toolkit addressed to different education levels, from primary school till high school, that will help reach a widely accepted vision regarding GI and its benefits in the Alpine Space. These outputs and a set of outreach activities will improve the knowledge level and change the mindset of three target groups: 1. young and adult citizens; 2. farmers, future farmers, and beekeepers, and 3. public administrations. The bottom-up participatory approach will ensure a change not only in the well-established network of stakeholders guaranteed by the transnational consortium, but also beyond the project region.

Actual Achievements (EN):

In the last century, human population growth and industrial development have been leading to the depletion of natural resources, to ecosystem degradation and to a worrying change in global climatic conditions. Habitat and ecosystem fragmentation, due to the land use change, is recognized as one of the most striking threats for biodiversity. A fragmented ecosystem cannot provide human population with fundamental ecosystem services. As the negative impacts of fragmentation have become apparent, the importance of maintaining ecological connectivity within ecosystems and landscapes at different levels of naturalness, including between protected areas and at the rural-urban interface, has been increasingly recognized. In the Alpine context, the impact of climate change is more severe, having harsh effects on the vulnerability of natural capital and consequently on that of local communities. One of the most effective solutions to face these challenges is promoting Green Infrastructure at local scale. Green Infrastructure includes natural and man-made elements (such as reforestation zones, green bridges, green urban areas, rain gardens, high nature value farmland and forest areas), that provide a wide array of ecosystem services and support biodiversity. Green Infrastructure should be strategically incorporated into land use planning, recognizing its role in maintaining ecological balance and promoting human well-being. Unfortunately, the practical implementation of Green Infrastructure at local scale in the Alps is still limited. This is because of a lack of communication and knowledge transfer at community level, both in the political and in the educational sectors. The Interreg Alpine Space FRACTAL project promoted the improvement of green spaces connectivity in small urban as well as peri-urban areas. Based on a transalpine cooperation between the Free University of Bolzano-Bozen (Italy), the National Institute of Biology (Slovenia), the National Park Triglav (Slovenia) and the Business Agency Burgenland (Austria), FRACTAL aimed to propel alpine communities into active participation in the local implementation of Green Infrastructure, fostering a transformative connection among nature, education, and governance. The project introduced a groundbreaking approach by standardizing planning requirements for Green Infrastructure at the municipality level, culminating in a "GI Pact" signed and adopted by municipalities across the Alps. Simultaneously, an innovative educational toolkit spanning primary to high school levels instilled a widely accepted vision of Green Infrastructure and its benefits in the Alpine Space. FRACTAL unified the vision of Alpine communities through a standardized planning process. The "transalpine GI Pact" emerged as a collective commitment, creating a shared understanding for sustainable development. By signing the document, each municipality committed itself to implement a specific green infrastructure in a defined time frame. Citizens and associations were also encouraged to sign the Pact, engaging themselves in e.g. improving their private and community gardens. The project pioneered an educational toolkit tailored to diverse age groups, enlightening young and adult citizens, farmers, future farmers, and beekeepers. This holistic approach ensures a broad spectrum of society is not only informed but actively involved in fostering change in the long term. The educational toolkit, translated into 4 languages and easily accessible, aimed at increasing awareness on the role and relevance of GI in supporting ecosystems and their services and it includes a board game, infographics, a short film, and an illustrated booklet. The infographic and the illustrated booklet (9-12 y) guided the reader on a colourful trip to understand what GIs are and why they represent a key solution for our challenging future. The board game (12+) is a serious game focused on highlighting the tight dependence of ecosystem services on GI solutions. FRACTAL also foresaw two large outreach initiatives in each partner country: The “GI Day”: 1 day dedicated to planting GI in your town/village engaging citizens and public administrations in demonstration activities, and the “Re-green festival”: a large 2-day festival dedicated to the multiple benefits of GI with conferences, thematic entertainment for kids, and demonstration activities also with beekeepers and pollinator-friendly farmers. FRACTAL’s participatory methodology and bottom-up approach ensured a ripple effect beyond the immediate project region. The collaborative effort not only transformed the existing network of stakeholders within the transnational consortium but also extended its influence on communities beyond the Alps.

Project outputs: Toolkit for formal and non-formal education on the role of GI(EN)
Transalpine GI Pact(EN)

Thematic information

Rural and peripheral development Infrastructure

Priority: (VI-B_AS_1) Climate resilient and green Alpine region

Priority specific objective: RSO2.7. Enhancing protection and preservation of nature, biodiversity and green infrastructure, including in urban areas, and reducing all forms of pollution

Priority policy objective (Interreg specific objective): PO2 A greener, low-carbon transitioning towards a net zero carbon economy and resilient Europe by promoting clean and fair energy transition, green and blue investment, the circular economy, climate change mitigation and adaptation, risk prevention and management, and sustainable urban mobility

Type of intervention: 079 Nature and biodiversity protection, natural heritage and resources, green and blue infrastructure

Partners (4)

Lead Partner: Libera Università di Bolzano

Partner’s ID if not PIC: IT02232720215

Address: Piazza Università, 39100 Bolzano, Italy

Legal status: public

Organisation type: Higher education and research organisations

Website: https://www.unibz.it/

Total budget: EUR 161 000.00

Partner’s programme co-financing: EUR 120 750.00

Partner’s programme co-financing rate: 75.00%

Partner contribution: EUR 40 250.00

Wirtschaftsagentur Burgenland GmbH

Name: Wirtschaftsagentur Burgenland GmbH

Department: Regionalentwicklung / ARGE Naturparke

Partner’s ID if not PIC: ATU 62149124

Address: Marktstrasse, 7000 Eisenstadt, Austria

Department address: Schlossplatz, 7431 Bad Tatzmannsdorf, Austria

Legal status: public

Organisation type: Regional public authority

Website: https://wirtschaftsagentur-burgenland.at

Total budget: EUR 89 586.00

Partner’s programme co-financing: EUR 67 189.50

Partner’s programme co-financing rate: 75.00%

Partner contribution: EUR 22 396.50

Javni zavod Triglavski narodni park

Name: Javni zavod Triglavski narodni park

Partner’s ID if not PIC: SI 79422837

Address: Ljubljanska cesta, 4260 Bled, Slovenia

Legal status: public

Organisation type: National public authority

Website: https://www.tnp.si/

Total budget: EUR 100 000.00

Partner’s programme co-financing: EUR 75 000.00

Partner’s programme co-financing rate: 75.00%

Partner contribution: EUR 25 000.00

Contractors:

Name: Trajnice Golob-Klančič
VAT registration or tax identification number: SI46125744
Name: Društvo kmečkih žena v Bohinju
VAT registration or tax identification number: 16634349
Name: Ana Jelinčič s.p.
VAT registration or tax identification number: SI43945481
Name: JIB DESIGN d.o.o.
VAT registration or tax identification number: SI62748904
Name: MERCATOR d.o.o.
VAT registration or tax identification number: SI45884595
Name: Prirodoslovni muzej Slovenije
VAT registration or tax identification number: 64821323
Name: TeDi BETRIEBS d.o.o.
VAT registration or tax identification number: SI24838195
Name: ROSJE Mateja Zagošek s.p.
VAT registration or tax identification number: SI86581376
Name: JIB DESIGN D.O.O.
VAT registration or tax identification number: SI62748904
Name: VANDROV'C D.O.O.
VAT registration or tax identification number: SI90191510
Name: Društvo podeželskih žena Trent
VAT registration or tax identification number: SI37167154
Name: Slovensko društvo za netopirje
VAT registration or tax identification number: 25017926
Name: Aljoša Bončina
VAT registration or tax identification number: SI73175536
Name: Maša Legat s.p.
VAT registration or tax identification number: 60040432
Name: Turizem Bohinj
VAT registration or tax identification number: SI84521147
Name: ITAKA, Darja Pretnar s.p.
VAT registration or tax identification number: SI94869952
Name: Medium d.o.o.
VAT registration or tax identification number: SI11732806
Name: GAYA d.o.o.
VAT registration or tax identification number: SI63491095
Name: Jure Vizjak s.p.
VAT registration or tax identification number: 85512834
Name: Milena Pogačnik s.p.
VAT registration or tax identification number: SI26198703

Nacionalni inštitut za biologijo

Name: Nacionalni inštitut za biologijo

Department: Department of Organisms and Ecosystems Research

Partner’s ID if not PIC: SI83534784

Address: Večna pot, 1000 Ljubljana, Slovenia

Department address: Večna pot, 1000 Ljubljana, Slovenia

Legal status: public

Organisation type: Higher education and research organisations

Website: http://www.nib.si/

Total budget: EUR 95 200.00

Partner’s programme co-financing: EUR 71 400.00

Partner’s programme co-financing rate: 75.00%

Partner contribution: EUR 23 800.00

Partners map

Partners and Projects info

Burgenland Business Agency

FRACTAL - FosteRing green infrAstruCTure in the ALps

Partners and Projects info

Triglav national park

FRACTAL - FosteRing green infrAstruCTure in the ALps

Partners and Projects info

National Institute of Biology

FRACTAL - FosteRing green infrAstruCTure in the ALps

Partners and Projects info

Free University of Bolzano-Bozen

FRACTAL - FosteRing green infrAstruCTure in the ALps

Lead partner

Project partner

Summary

Project name (EN): FRACTAL - FosteRing green infrAstruCTure in the ALps

Project acronym: FRACTAL

Project ID: ASP0400273

Project start date: 2023-04-01

Project end date: 2024-09-30

Project status: closed

Relevant linked projects:

LUIGI (Interreg Alpine Space) (EN) | Specific outputs and deliverables of LUIGI will be capitalized:
- Uptake of baseline knowledge from O.T1.2. and from all deliverables of WP1.
- Act.1.1: uptake and expansion of LUIGI brochure and factsheets content
- Act.1.2: uptake of O.T4.1.1 and test and enhancement of teaching modules and courses (D.T.4.2.1, D.T.4.2.2, D.T4.2.4, D.T4.4.1)
- Act.1.3: uptake of O.T3.1. Expansion of the methodology for setting up the participatory process (D.T3.1.1, D.T3.3.1, D.T3.3.2, D.T3.4.1, D.T3.4.2.). (EN), LOS_DAMA! (Interreg Alpine Space) (EN) | From LOS DAMA! project FRACTAL will employ the educational toolkit (governance game), which will be used for the Activity 1.2, particularly for youth engagement. FRACTAL will also employ the “Policy recommendations for local level” for the Activity 1.3. (EN), MaGICLandscapes (Interreg Central Europe) (EN) | From MaGICLandscapes project FRACTAL will mostly make use of two tools: the GI handbook for standardizing terms and definitions (O.T1.1) at the beginning of the project to acquire baseline knowledge and compare it with that of LUIGI, and the manual for creating evidence-based GI strategies and action plans (O.T3.2) – particularly in Activity 1.3, to set the most suitable GIs according to the different local areas of the project. (EN), PaNaNet+ (Interreg AT-HU) (EN) | From PaNaNet+ FRACTAL will take over some of the successfully developed materials for the nature park schools (worksheets, nature calendar app, insect primer, and so on) and the examples of the successful development of action days with schools (Day of Biodiversity, Day of the Meadow Orchard). (EN)

Relevant mentions and prizes:

Total budget/expenditure: EUR 445 786.00

Total EU funding (amount): EUR 334 339.50

Total EU funding (co-financing rate): 75.00%

Co-financing sources:

ERDF: Amount, EUR 334 339.50. Co-financing rate, 75.00%.

Investments, deliverables, policy contributions

(bullets are inserted automatically and may be incorrectly placed)

Deliverables:

Brochure for the GI Day
GI-friendly small-scale solutions
Formal/non formal education for GI in the Alps: lessons learned.
Report: the state of art of local GI implementation in the Alps.

Contribution to wider strategies and policies:

EUStrategyAlpineRegion FRACTAL is in line with the objectives of the Action Group 7 on GI, of which WAB is member. WAB will ensure a constant exchange with EUSALP. Participation in the EUSALP AG7 sessions is planned from the beginning of the project (presentation of FRACTAL at the AG7 session on the 4th-5th May 2023).
By capitalizing the outcomes of LUIGI, FRACTAL will contribute to implement the EUSALP political declaration of Alpine States and Regions on Alpine Green Infrastructure (2017).
Other FRACTAL is fully aligned with the Green Infrastructure Strategy (EU 2013) by the enhancement of GI as an essential part of territorial development with a bottom-up approach, and by boosting citizenship participation to the local planning of GI.
Other FRACTAL contributes the EU Green Deal by working for the revert of biodiversity loss through GI enhancement.
Other FRACTAL contributes to the Biodiversity Strategy for 2030 by improving knowledge on biodiversity and working on the governance level.
Other FRACTAL is fully aligned with Alpine Biodiversity Board (Alpine Convention) and will establish fruitful contact and exchange with the board from the very beginning of the project.

Programme Common Output Indicator:

RCO 121 - Area covered by protection measures against climate related natural disasters (other than floods and wildfire), Measurement unit:

Delivered output indicator(s):

Other: 2.0

Programme Common Result Indicator:

RCR 098 - SMEs staff completing training for skills for smart specialisation, for industrial transition and entrepreneurship (by type of skill: technical, management, entrepreneurship, green, other), Measurement unit:

Delivered result indicator(s):

Other: 2.0

Project part of European Union Macro-Regional or Sea Basin Strategy: EUSALP

EUSALP Priority (Policy) area / Horizontal action:

EUSALP Degree of compliance:

Information regarding the data in keep.eu on the programme financing this project

Financing programme

2021 - 2027 Interreg VI-B Alpine Space

Latest month of project-partner-call data publication

2026-03

No. of projects in keep.eu / Total no. of projects (% of projects in keep.eu)

47 / 47 (100%)

No. of project partnerships in keep.eu / Total no. of project partnerships (% of project partnerships in keep.eu)

467 / 467 (100%)

Notes on the data

Languages

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FRACTAL - FosteRing green infrAstruCTure in the ALps

Description

Thematic information

Partners (4)

Partners map

Summary

Investments, deliverables, policy contributions

Information regarding the data in keep.eu on the programme financing this project

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