Advancing Green Infrastructure in Small and Medium Cities

Programme 2021 - 2027 Interreg VI-B EURO Mediterranean (EURO MED)

Date of latest update: 2025-10-02

Description

Description (FR):

Le projet répond aux défis territoriaux communs des 1) La croissance des zones urbanisées au détriment des espaces verts, associée aux fréquentes vagues de chaleur et aux événements météorologiques extrêmes, entraîne des conséquences indésirables, telles qu'une surmortalité pendant les mois d'été, une moindre qualité de l'air, des effets d'îlot de chaleur urbain, des inondations urbaines et une fragmentation de l'habitat. 2) Les espaces verts et d'activités communautaires se raréfient en quantité et/ou en qualité 3) L'inventaire des plantes subit un stress dû aux changements de température et aux régimes de précipitations, ce qui affaiblit le système immunitaire de la plante et augmente par conséquent la sensibilité aux ravageurs et aux agents pathogènes. 4) Les espaces verts dégradés ne peuvent plus remplir leur rôle de régulation du (micro)climat urbain, d’atténuation de l’effet d’îlot de chaleur urbain et de captation de quantités excessives d’eau de pluie. 5) Les autorités locales des petites et moyennes villes ne disposent pas des compétences et des outils nécessaires pour faire face à l’urgence climatique et verdir les espaces de vie Objectif : L'objectif global du projet UrbanGreenLeap est de permettre au secteur public et aux entités associées d'impliquer efficacement les citoyens et d'accroître leur engagement à résoudre conjointement les problèmes du changement climatique. Les zones urbaines fonctionnelles encourageront les changements et déclencheront des changements vers des formes durables de planification et de conception d'espaces verts urbains, point crucial pour l'adaptation de l'environnement urbain aux défis actuels du changement climatique et pour minimiser les risques de catastrophes. Pour atteindre ses objectifs, le projet utilise les connaissances existantes pour concevoir une stratégie de sensibilisation (O1.1) qui sera utilisée par les partenaires pour élaborer des plans naturels urbains. (O2.1), qui décrira les plans à long terme et les actions de démonstration. Cela fait partie de la stratégie pour la biodiversité - afin de ramener la nature dans les villes et de récompenser l'action communautaire - la Commission a appelé les villes Européennes d'au moins 20 000 habitants à «...élaborer des plans urbains ambitieux pour la nature comprenant « des mesures visant à créer une biodiversité et forêts, parcs et jardins urbains accessibles ; fermes urbaines ; toits et murs verts ; rues bordées d’arbres ; prairies urbaines ; et les haies urbaines. Ce sera une nouveauté pour les petites villes non Européennes de préparer ce type de plan. En utilisant les leçons des projets pilotes, le partenariat développe et diffuse des solutions (O4.1) adaptées au groupe cible. Pour intensifier les résultats du projet, les partenaires élaborent et recommandent des interventions spécifiques ainsi que des propositions politiques accompagnées d'une lettre d'engagement signée (O4.2). Approche : UrbanGreenLeap a été conçu pour fournir des solutions intégrées, innovantes et pratiques à ces défis. Premièrement, le projet contribue à repenser les espaces verts pour les gens en améliorant les connaissances et les capacités du personnel concerné des autorités locales et en mettant à disposition une gamme d'outils et de méthodes (à développer, tester et valider dans le cadre du projet). . Deuxièmement, il aide les praticiens de la ville à changer le comportement des citoyens en leur proposant des solutions spécifiques qu'ils peuvent utiliser. Enfin, le projet s'attaque également au troisième obstacle – l'engagement limité des décideurs – en aidant les villes à sensibiliser leurs décideurs locaux. Aspects innovants : Nous appliquons une approche véritablement intégrée en abordant simultanément plusieurs défis entravant la transition vers une adaptation durable de l’environnement urbain aux défis actuels du changement climatique. UrbanGreenLEap entend développer des solutions spécifiquement destinées aux villes petites et moyennes des pays Non-EU.

Description (EN):

UrbanGreenLeap helps cities, especially small and medium ones, address climate change by protecting and expanding green spaces. The project supports local governments in creating Urban Nature Plans that include parks, green roofs, and urban forests, promoting nature-based solutions. It also empowers citizens to take part in improving their environments and raises awareness among decision-makers about the importance of green spaces for climate resilience.

Expected Achievements (FR): / / / /

Expected Achievements (EN):

Craft a strategy (1) with clear goals and targets aimed at building new knowledge and skills, raising increasing awareness and improving the capacities of public sector actors to improve resistance to climate changes, preserve biodiversity and empower the transformation of urban environments in small and medium cities using innovative concepts of nature-based solutions (NBS), green (and blue) infrastructure (GI, GBI) and following values of the Biodiversity Strategy - in order to bring nature back to cities and reward community action. Increase the level of cooperation between public sector actors (municipal officials and professional service) and the citizens to implement innovative concepts Urban Natural plans (6) and with this improve the outcomes of overall urban green space management. Experiment with innovative approaches (3) capable of tackling and improving the situation in green living areas and developing the cities' green transition to mitigate climate changes. Elaboration of innovative solutions (mechanisms for planning, managing and greening living areas) with specific attention to support local entities ( focus on small and medium cities) and citizens to operate more effectively within the cities in which mitigation and adaptation actions are taken and improve policy instruments that address local governance challenges in greening the cities and more sustainable design of urban environments.

Project outputs: Capacity Building Strategy (EN)
/(FR)
Urban Nature plan(s) (EN)
/(FR)
Solutions for planning and managing UGI in small and medium cities.(EN)
/(FR)
Position paper with a "letter of commitment" (EN)
/(FR)
Website: https://urbangreenleap.interreg-euro-med.eu/

Thematic information

Innovation capacity and awareness-raising Urban development Climate change and biodiversity

Priority: (VI-B_EM_2) Greener MED

Priority specific objective: RSO2.4. Promoting climate change adaptation and disaster risk prevention and resilience, taking into account eco-system based approaches

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: 060 Adaptation to climate change measures and prevention and management of climate related risks: others, e.g. storms and drought (including awareness raising, civil protection and disaster management systems, infrastructures and ecosystem based approaches)

Partners (10)

Lead Partner: Mestna obcina Celje

PIC (Participant Identification Code): 936708631

Partner’s ID if not PIC: SI56012390 | SI120000017

Department: European Affairs Department, Office of the Mayor

Address: Trg celjskih knezov, 3000 Celje, Slovenia

Department address: Trg celjskih knezov, 3000 Celje, Slovenia

Legal status: public

Organisation type: Local public authority

Website: https://moc.celje.si/

Total budget: EUR 440 000.00

Partner’s programme co-financing: EUR 352 000.00

Partner’s programme co-financing rate: 80.00%

Partner contribution: EUR 88 000.00

Sveučilište u Zagrebu Fakultet šumarstva i drvne tehnologije

Name: Sveučilište u Zagrebu Fakultet šumarstva i drvne tehnologije

PIC (Participant Identification Code): 999892879

Partner’s ID if not PIC: HR07699719217 | HR120000032

Address: Svetosimunska cesta , 10000 Zagreb, Croatia

Legal status: public

Organisation type: Higher education and research organisations

Website: https://www.sumfak.unizg.hr/

Total budget: EUR 224 000.00

Partner’s programme co-financing: EUR 179 200.00

Partner’s programme co-financing rate: 80.00%

Partner contribution: EUR 44 800.00

Centro de Investigación Ecológica y Aplicaciones Forestales

Name: Centro de Investigación Ecológica y Aplicaciones Forestales

PIC (Participant Identification Code): 998880005

Partner’s ID if not PIC: Q5850011G | ES499000036

Address: CREAF. Campus UAB. Edifici C. , 08193 Bellaterra (Barcelona). Spain, Spain

Legal status: public

Organisation type: Higher education and research organisations

Website: https://www.creaf.cat/ca

Total budget: EUR 235 000.00

Partner’s programme co-financing: EUR 188 000.00

Partner’s programme co-financing rate: 80.00%

Partner contribution: EUR 47 000.00

Ambiente Italia Srl

Name: Ambiente Italia Srl

PIC (Participant Identification Code): 998322449

Partner’s ID if not PIC: 11560560150 | IT220000032

Address: Via Carlo Poerio, 20129 Milan, Italy

Legal status: public

Organisation type: SME

Website: http://www.ambienteitalia.it

Total budget: EUR 240 950.00

Partner’s programme co-financing: EUR 192 760.00

Partner’s programme co-financing rate: 80.00%

Partner contribution: EUR 48 190.00

OPŠTINA BUDVA

Name: OPŠTINA BUDVA

Partner’s ID if not PIC: 2005409 | ME120000004

Address: Trg Sunca , 85310 Budva, Montenegro

Legal status: public

Organisation type: Local public authority

Total budget: EUR 186 450.00

Partner’s programme co-financing: EUR 149 160.00

Partner’s programme co-financing rate: 80.00%

Partner contribution: EUR 37 290.00

Општина Ѓорче Петров / Opsthina Gjorce Petrov

Name: Општина Ѓорче Петров / Opsthina Gjorce Petrov

PIC (Participant Identification Code): 919526924

Partner’s ID if not PIC: 4030994251881 | MK120000004

Address: Ul. Gjorce Petrov, 1000 Skopje, North Macedonia

Legal status: public

Organisation type: Local public authority

Website: https://opstinagpetrov.gov.mk/

Total budget: EUR 190 055.00

Partner’s programme co-financing: EUR 152 044.00

Partner’s programme co-financing rate: 80.00%

Partner contribution: EUR 38 011.00

Consorzio Oltrepò Mantovano

Name: Consorzio Oltrepò Mantovano

PIC (Participant Identification Code): 947456910

Partner’s ID if not PIC: 93012120205 | IT120000025

Address: Piazza Gramsci, 46020 Borgo Mantovano, Italy

Legal status: public

Organisation type: Local public authority

Website: http://www.oltrepomantovano.eu

Total budget: EUR 210 000.00

Partner’s programme co-financing: EUR 168 000.00

Partner’s programme co-financing rate: 80.00%

Partner contribution: EUR 42 000.00

Parkovi d.o.o.

Name: Parkovi d.o.o.

Partner’s ID if not PIC: 72672225843 | HR120000031

Address: Hallerova aleja , 42000 Varaždin, Croatia

Legal status: public

Organisation type: Infrastructure and (public) service provider

Website: http://www.parkovi.eu

Total budget: EUR 215 100.00

Partner’s programme co-financing: EUR 172 080.00

Partner’s programme co-financing rate: 80.00%

Partner contribution: EUR 43 020.00

Δήμος Ιωαννιτών

Name: Δήμος Ιωαννιτών

PIC (Participant Identification Code): 927679871

Partner’s ID if not PIC: 997908926 | EL120000037

Address: Andrea Papandreou Square, 45221 Ioannina, Greece

Legal status: public

Organisation type: Local public authority

Total budget: EUR 210 000.00

Partner’s programme co-financing: EUR 168 000.00

Partner’s programme co-financing rate: 80.00%

Partner contribution: EUR 42 000.00

IPoP – Inštitut za politike prostora

Name: IPoP – Inštitut za politike prostora

PIC (Participant Identification Code): 948242901

Partner’s ID if not PIC: SI89408489 | SI220000005

Address: Tržaska cesta, 1000 Ljubljana, Slovenia

Legal status: private

Organisation type: Interest groups including NGOs

Website: https://ipop.si/

Total budget: EUR 237 000.00

Partner’s programme co-financing: EUR 189 600.00

Partner’s programme co-financing rate: 80.00%

Partner contribution: EUR 47 400.00

Partners map

Partners and Projects info

University of Zagreb Faculty of Forestry and Wood Technology

Advancing Green Infrastructure in Small and Medium Cities

Partners and Projects info

Center for Ecological Research and Forestry Applications

Advancing Green Infrastructure in Small and Medium Cities

Partners and Projects info

Ambiente Italia srl

Advancing Green Infrastructure in Small and Medium Cities

Partners and Projects info

MUNICIPALITY OF BUDVA

Advancing Green Infrastructure in Small and Medium Cities

Partners and Projects info

Municipality of Gjorce Petrov

Advancing Green Infrastructure in Small and Medium Cities

Partners and Projects info

Consortium Oltrepò Mantovano

Advancing Green Infrastructure in Small and Medium Cities

Partners and Projects info

Parkovi d.o.o.

Advancing Green Infrastructure in Small and Medium Cities

Partners and Projects info

Municipality of Ioannina

Advancing Green Infrastructure in Small and Medium Cities

Partners and Projects info

IPoP - Institute for Spatial Policies

Advancing Green Infrastructure in Small and Medium Cities

Partners and Projects info

Municipality of Celje

Advancing Green Infrastructure in Small and Medium Cities

Lead partner

Project partner

Summary

Project name (FR): Faire progresser les infrastructures vertes dans les villes petites et moyennes

Project name (EN): Advancing Green Infrastructure in Small and Medium Cities

Project acronym: UrbanGreenLeap

Project ID: Euro-MED0401245

Project start date: 2025-04-01

Project end date: 2027-12-31

Project status: ongoing

Relevant linked projects:

CARDIMED (HEurope 2024) (EN), / (FR) | Project introduces a framework of NBS to build Climate Resilience in the Mediterranean biogeographical region, unifying individual efforts of regions and communities across different countries and continents.We will use knowledge and data from partner CREAF-who is involved in the project and share them with the partners. (EN), / (FR), CLEARING HOUSE (H2020, 2019;) (EN), / (FR) | The project aims was to provide evidence and tools that promote the potential of urban forests as nature-based solutions (UF-NBS) for rehabilitating, reconnecting and restoring urban ecosystems. We will use knowledge and data from partner CREAF-who is involved in the project and share them with the partners. (EN), / (FR), CLEVER Cities - Co-designing Locally tailored Ecological solutions for Value added, socially inclusivE Regeneration in Cities (Horizon 2020-2018-2023) (EN), / (FR) | CLEVER Cities applied a city-centric approach, starting with key urban regeneration challenges and employing strong local partner clusters, to foster sustainable and socially inclusive urban regeneration locally, in Europe, and globally. The project co-created, implemented, and managed locally tailored NBS to deliver tangible social, environmental, and economic improvements for urban regeneration. It was committed to making the interventions in front-runner cities (EU capitals and metropolitan cities). The knowledge will be transfer by partner AMBIT who was partner in the project and responsible for -
-Awareness-Raising Campaigns: developing and running campaigns to increase public knowledge about the benefits of green roofs and walls.
-Co-Design and Implementation: AMBIT led the co-design phase of green roofs and walls, coordinating public calls and facilitating collaboration between stakeholders.
(EN), / (FR), GreenScape CE (Interreg Central Europe -2023 – 2026) (EN), / (FR) | GreenScape CE paves a way for integrating NBS and green infrastructure (GI) in the grey infrastructure in 5 CE urban areas, significantly affected by aggravating urban heat island effect.The GreenScape CE results will support the development of NBS projects beyond the pilot areas through active engagement of potential replicator cities during the project and disseminating findings to improve policy learning. AMBIT is involved in the whole project implementation and will share the knowledge with the partnership. Additional to ensure coordination and avoid overlaps, our partnership will get in touch with the partnership of GreenScape project and consult with them about their results. (EN), / (FR), GreenerSites (Environmental Rehabilitation of Brownfield Sites in Central Europe) – Interreg Central Europe (2016-2019) (EN), / (FR) | Project worked on improving environmental management of unused or underused industrial areas. The project defined the tools and strategies based on sustainable, integrated approach to make functional urban areas cleaner, healthier and more liveable. One of the outputs of the project was geo-information tool that we will learn from in the current project while developing the online app (mapping green spaces and trees). We will use knowledge and data from partner City municipality Celje-who is involved in the project and share them with the partners.
(EN), / (FR), Cities@Heart (Urbact (2023 – 2025) (EN), / (FR) | Cities@Heart brings together ten European urban areas with diverse profiles but with one common goal: achieving a balanced and inclusive city centre for all users. By gathering relevant indicators and using a common methodology, this network aims to create a holistic policy framework for lasting and meaningful change in the heart of the city. Working hand in hand with local stakeholders and users, Cities@Heart is going to develop tools that foster happy, healthy and harmonious places. Interreg, Urbact (2023 – 2025). The LP is learning about good practices in other European cities and will use these to make the partnership and pilots even more innovative and sustainable. (EN), / (FR), Uforest (Ersamus +): (EN), / (FR) | Educational material as additional support for training and curricula, best practices (green your city), discover case studies related to urban forestry.We will use knowledge and data from partner CREAF-who is involved in the project and share them with the partners. (EN), / (FR)

Total budget/expenditure: EUR 2 388 555.00

Total EU funding (amount): EUR 1 910 844.00

Total EU funding (co-financing rate): 80.00%

Co-financing sources:

Investments, deliverables, policy contributions

(bullets are inserted automatically and may be incorrectly placed)

Infrastructure investments:

I3.1 - LP-Demostrations--G3-heat mitigation - EUR 20 000.00 - country: Slovenija (SI), town: Celje, street: , , postal_code: 3000, Vzhodna Slovenija (SI03), Savinjska (SI034)
I3.2 - / - EUR 20 000.00 - country: Elláda (EL), town: Ioannina, street: /, /, postal_code: 45221, Ipeiros (EL54), Ioannina (EL543)
I3.3 - PP4-Demostrations--G1-enhancing biodiversity - EUR 10 000.00 - country: Hrvatska (HR), town: Varaždin, street: /, /, postal_code: 42000, Sjeverna Hrvatska (HR06), Varaždinska županija (HR062)
I3.4 - / - EUR 30 000.00 - country: Italia (IT), town: Municipality of Suzzara, street: /, /, postal_code: 46029, Lombardia (ITC4), Mantova (ITC4B)
I3.5 - / - EUR 30 000.00 - country: Severna Makedonija (MK), town: Skopje-Municiplaity Gjorcev Petrov, street: , , postal_code: 1000, Severna Makedonija (MK00), Skopski (MK008)
I3.6 - PP7-Demostrations--G32-urban flood mitigation. - EUR 50 000.00 - country: Crna Gora (ME), town: Budva, street: , , postal_code: , Crna Gora (ME00), Crna Gora (ME000)

Deliverables:

Baseline study (1)
/
Good practice catalogue (1)
/
Training materials (1)
/
Methodology for the collection or beta data (1)
/
Roll up of Urban Nature Plan(s) of testing action (6).
/
Dissemination materies for the Med academy
/
TOOL 1: Mechanisms for public and stakeholder engagement in planning and managing of GI (1)
/
TOOL 2: Co-create urban NBS/GI projects with citizens (1)
/
Project Package Pitch and policy position paper (7)
/
Final Brochure (1)
/

Contribution to wider strategies and policies:

EUStrategyAdriaticIonianRegion EUSAIR covers six countries of the UrbanGreeenLeap consortium (Croatia, Italy, Slovenia, Greece, Nort Macedonia and Montenegro) and leans on promoting sustainable economic and social prosperity in the region while preserving the environment and ensuring healthy and balanced marine and coastal ecosystems. This will be achieved through cooperation between countries with shared history and geography. Theroject shares the EUSAIR strategy objectives such as investing in GI and collaborating with cross-border stakeholders to restore natural capital and work together on common challenges in AIR and regions encompassed by other macro-regional strategies.
EUStrategyAlpineRegion Like other macro-regional strategies, EUSALP accentuates the commitment to develop ecological connectivity in the whole EUSALP territory – of which Italy and Slovenia are part – as well as to continue promoting GI and ecological corridors. The strategy and action plan outline the need to define GI at a regional level and to create stronger links between the core area and the surroundings through spatial planning and integrating the issue in a wider territorial scale and a cross-sectorial approach. The UrbanGreenLeap projects build on this by advocating the inclusion of NBS and GI in spatial plans, better coordination across different sectors and applying a multi-level approach to ensure consistent implementation of EU policies.
MediterraneanSeaBasin Project partially addresses the initiative- with goal 1- A safer and more secure maritime space with actions such as enhancing anti-pollution (OPRC) response emergency planning of coastal administrations as a supporting element in sustainable development.
EuropeanGreenDeal /
TerritorialAgenda2030 UrbanGreenLeap contributes to A GREEN EUROPE, offering sustainable green solutions to urban challenges of area of EURO MED. Our project is in coherence with the ‘sustainable connections’ aim of the Agenda. Good practices of new socially and environmentally progressive models will be included in the project implementation in order to cooperate on multimodal and environmentally friendly accessibility of urban areas. We aim to use the already existing knowledge of experts and with tailor-make them to support the societal transitions in towns of EURO MED area.
Other The New European Bauhaus is a creative and interdisciplinary initiative that connects the European Green Deal to our living spaces and experiences. The New European Bauhaus initiative calls on all of us to imagine and build together a sustainable and inclusive future that is beautiful for our eyes, minds, and souls. With the project, we will tackle principles of sustainability, inclusiveness and aesthetics in climate-neutral urban transformation.
Other Reversing the loss of biodiversity and reaching the goals of the 2030 EU Biodiveresity Strategy requires a new approach to city planing. To support this process, Urban Greening Plans are a framework for municipalities and cities to bring nature (back) into cities. It provides urban areas with a tool to better understand, what they already have and what are the gaps that need to be filled to provide a better space for biodiversity. It is a step by step approach to reach better results for people and for nature.
"As part of the Biodiversity Strategy - in order to bring nature back to cities and reward community action - the Commission called on European towns and cities of at least 20,000 inhabitants to “..develop ambitious Urban Greening Plans” (now called Urban Nature Plans) including “measures to create biodiverse and accessible urban forests, parks and gardens; urban farms; green roofs and walls; treelined streets; urban meadows; and urban hedges.”
Other URBAN AGENDA FOR THE EU- GI and NBS solutions are appointed as one of the new intervention to establish a more effective integrated and coordinated approach to EU policies and legislation with a potential impact on urban areas and also to contribute to territorial cohesion by reducing the socioeconomic gaps observed in urban areas and regions.
Other DG CLIMA Project Adaptation Strategies of European Cities-Participatory approaches are needed in urban green infrastructure planning and in the design, implementation and assessment processes of NbS. Engaging with different stakeholders enhances knowledge transfer between actors, while addressing potential social or institutional barriers is crucial to enhancing societal acceptance of these solutions and finding the best option that takes local socio-political context into account. The main adaption priority is part of the project aproach.

Programme Common Output Indicator:

RCO 116 - Jointly developed solutions, Measurement unit:
RCO 083 - Strategies and action plans jointly developed, Measurement unit:
RCO 087 - Organisations cooperating across borders, Measurement unit:

Programme Common Result Indicator:

RCR 104 - Solutions taken up or up-scaled by organisations, Measurement unit:
RCR 079 - Joint strategies and action plans taken up by organisations, Measurement unit:

Programme Result Indicator:

PSI1 - Organisations with increased institutional capacity due to their participation in cooperation activities across borders, Measurement unit: organisations

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

EUSALP Priority (Policy) area / Horizontal action:

EUSALP Degree of compliance:

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

EUSAIR Priority (Policy) area / Horizontal action:

EUSAIR Degree of compliance:

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

Financing programme

2021 - 2027 Interreg VI-B EURO Mediterranean (EURO MED)

Last month that data in keep.eu was retrieved from the Programme's website or received from the Programme

2025-10-02

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

78 / 78 (100%)

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

733 / 733 (100%)

Notes on the data

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Advancing Green Infrastructure in Small and Medium Cities

Description

Thematic information

Partners (10)

Partners map

Summary

Investments, deliverables, policy contributions

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

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