MaGICNEWS no. 2 06/2018 interreg-central.eu/MaGICLandscapes | facebook.com/CEMaGICLandscapes MaGICLandscapes
IN THIS ISSUE: Designing a transnational framework for green infrastructure assessment | Page 1 From transnational level towards GI alongside the River Kyjovka | Page 2 Investigating the Green and Blue Infrastructure of the Italian Piedmont region | Page 4
DESIGNING A TRANSNATIONAL FRAMEWORK FOR GREEN INFRASTRUCTURE ASSESSMENT The Leibniz Institute for Ecological Urban and Regional Development (IOER) is coordinating the framework design for Green Infrastructure assessment. It aims to identify the specific needs regarding Green Infrastructure (GI) at all spatial levels and how GI management approaches can support territorial policy objectives. The second aim is to develop a remote sensing-based methodology for the assessment of GI in Central Europe.
REFLECTIONS ON GREEN RU LT INFRASTRUCTURE IN LAWS AND POLICIES Where is GI currently stated BY within national laws and policies of the MaGICLandscapes partner NL countries? Is GI already mentioned PL in EU regulations and programmes? DE If yes, in which context? Not DÜBENER HEIDE only was the simple reference of TRI-BORDER AREA CZ-DE-PL KARKONOSZE/KRKONOŠE the term “Green Infrastructure” BE decisive for the inventory of laws UA CZ and policies. It was also analysed KYJOVSKO to what extent single elements of THAYATAL GI are already considered and at SK best managed by the respective WALD-/WEINVIERTEL sectors. FR AT The result is a comprehensive HU compilation of GI-relevant laws, CH RO policies and regulations for each partner country and the SI UPPER PO HR PO HILLS European level. It demonstrates PLAIN the relationships between the GI AROUND CHIERI IT approach and existing planning policies and strategies and how BA CS multiple sector objectives can be achieved using the GI approach. NUTS / Administrative boundaries: GISCO - Eurostat (European Commission) STAKEHOLDER CONSULTATIONS ± © EuroGeographics AL MK ON ASSESSMENT NEEDS Overview of MaGICLandscapes case study areas | Map: IOER The MaGICLandscapes partners consulted stakeholders in their across Central European territories. • to promote the linkage between respective countries to identify Therefore, the benefits of the GI green and ‘grey’ infrastructure specific needs for the assessment and the multifunctional approach (e.g. green spaces around of GI. The term and concept of GI, of this concept towards more settlements, streets, railway lines already well established in the UK sustainability need to be further etc.), and elswhere, is not very well- promoted. Stakeholders also • to focus more on GI in (peri-) known by administrative bodies mentioned the need urban areas and
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• to plan and assess GI land use class: Is it GI or not? After policies as well as EU regulations independently of administrative that, they compared the CORINE or programmes. Furthermore, it boundaries (and bodies). data with the satellite images will cover the needs for a GI from the EU’s Earth Observation approach in general and especially ASSESSMENT OF SPECIFIC GI Programme Copernicus. To test in the respective regional or local ELEMENTS VIA GIS AND REMOTE that the land cover and land use contexts of our partner regions. information derived from CORINE SENSING As next steps of Work Package 1 and satellite images is really The transnational assessment the responsible partner IOER will the same as on the ground. The of GI is carried out by means of make the large-scale transnational partners also tested the results by GIS (Geographical Information assessment of GI also applicable visiting selected areas in the field System). All partners investigated for the regional and local level. (ground-truthing). CORINE Land Cover data (CLC) A practice-oriented manual from 2012 as a basis for the Currently a transnational Handbook will guide the user through the identification of GI. CORINE stands for GI assessment is being assessment of the structure and for “Coordination of Information compiled. Beside basic definitions types of GI. Within the manual case on the Environment” and allows of “Green Infrastructure” or studies demonstrate the methods for the application of a consistent “Ecosystem Services” it will provide used and results gathered. and comparable dataset in the practice-oriented information MaGICLandscapes partner countries. about the relationship of GI to The project partners defined each national and regional laws or
FROM TRANSNATIONAL LEVEL TOWARDS GI ALONGSIDE THE RIVER KYJOVKA: 2ND PARTNER MEETING IN KYJOV (CZ) ON 16TH AND 17TH MAY 2018 The MaGICLandscapes project partners experienced two full days of interesting and constructive discussions about Green Infrastructure (GI) in Central Europe and about its visualisation and communication on regional and local level on their recent meeting in South Moravia.
The Leibniz Institute for Ecological Urban and Regional Development (IOER) is coordinating the transnational assessment of Green Infrastructure which is the central objective of the first work package (see page 1). The partners presented their progress and experiences gained so far within the GI assessment of their case study areas. It became obvious that GI is defined and classified differently in these areas. In some cases the CLC class is not describing the “actual” land cover type detected in the field during the ground-truthing that was The 2nd MaGICLandscapes partner meeting took place in Kyjov (CZ) carried out to check the detected Photo: Ashis K. Saha GI elements in the field. Dübener Heide Nature Park over were outlined and the task sharing The consortium has developed a the Karkonosze Mountains to the Po among the partners discussed. catalogue of CLC classes which Hills around Chieri near Turin have describe GI in the respective case been produced. The University of Vienna provided study areas. Thus, some classes an approach of assessing the definitely represent GI in this STARTING IN SUMMER 2018: WORK functional values of certain GI region but in the other regions this PACKAGES 2 AND 3 elements by means of three class is not considered to be GI – it During the partner meeting in staged key-factors: classification is dependent on the local context Kyjov the upcoming functionality regarding broader habitat and pre-conditions. Regional maps and public benefit assessment of types, determination of the showing the network of GI from the GI and the strategy development hemerobic status and the
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Left: Libor Ambrozek, former Czech Minister of the Environment and currently working for the White Carpathians protected landscape area, presented valuable GI elements in and around Kyjov to the project partners; right: Sheep and goats grazing on extensively managed grasslands with fruit trees | Photos: Anke Hahn provision of ecosystem services. (ENEA) introduced the tasks and needs (strengths, weaknesses, This assessment approach will deliverables within the public threats, opportunities) for green be tested out in each case study benefit assessment of GI and infrastructure investment. area. The partners are requested development of a strategy/action During conversations in small to compile a regional catalogue of plan on how to implement GI on working groups and face-to-face biotope types of their case study local level. the MaGICLandscapes project area and to view the appropriate The first step is to develop a draft partners have developed more geodata they want to use for the tool to assess the public benefits of detailed working steps in their functionality analysis in their green infrastructure which could case study areas. On a field trip case study area. The assessment be, for example, more space for from the neighbouring village approach will be tested in the case recreation, improved air quality Bohuslavice back to Kyjov study areas during the summer. The and shade during hot summer the partners viewed the local test results and experiences will days or reduction of flooding green infrastructure network be discussed at the next partner risk etc. This draft tool will be of hedgerows,arable lands and meeting on 7th and 8th November presented to and tested with extensively used meadows 2018 in the National Park Thayatal. regional stakeholders in each case connected to the river Kyjovka as The Italian National Agency for study area. In the end the public important elements of local green New Technologies, Energy and benefit assessment tool should and blue GI. Sustainable Economic Development help to identify local specific
The MaGICLandscapes Partner consortium | Photo: Anke Hahn
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How and from what is the current Green Infrastructure (GI) along the River Po comprised? Where are the biodiversity hot spots and where are localities where ecological functionality needs to be improved? What are the strengths, weaknesses and opportunities of the existing GI network in this region? The Italian project partners of MaGICLandscapes are striving for the answers to these questions. This article is describes the Italian case study areas which are both covering valuable parts of the blue and green infrastructure network along the River Po, the major river of the Piedmont region and Northern Italy.
MAKE PEOPLE AWARE OF THE network that passes through agricultural exploitation are the ECONOMIC VALUE OF ECOSYSTEM rural areas, woodlands, wetlands, main factors that adversely affect SERVICES orchards, vineyards and centuries- ecosystem services,” he stated. “I In 2015 the Metropolitan City old cultivations, hedge and tree believe that MaGICLandscapes can of Turin (CMT) replaced the rows, urban parks etc. A number of help to find ways of communicating previous Province of Turin and protected areas and Natura 2000 and raising awareness of the need thus covers all tasks on provincial sites are central elements of local to improve ecological functionality, level, especially adopting and GI.” landscape and habitat quality.” updating the annual Metropolitan During the GI assessment CMT is For Ceppi the added value of the Territorial Strategic Plan. The cooperating intensively with the project would be an initial process Department for Planning and town administration of Chieri and of recognising the economic value Management of the (Metropolitan) other associated institutions like of ecosystem services that GI is Ecological Network, Protected the protected areas along the River providing. Areas and for Environmental Po near Turin (Italian: Aree protette Monitoring is actively involved in del Po Torinese) and the Piedmont RECOMMENDATIONS FOR THE the MaGICLandscapes project and region. INTEGRATION OF SUSTAINABLE TOURISM AND ENVIRONMENTAL is examining the GI inventory and ”Together with our associated PROTECTION NEEDED functionality assessment in the partners and local stakeholders case study area around the town of we are trying to identify a method The Italian Agency for New Chieri and the Upper Po river near of evaluation, maintenance and Technologies, Energy and Turin. enhancement of GI in order to Sustainable Economic Development (ENEA) is a public research body The town of Chieri is surrounded integrate it to the territorial with particular expertise in the by a hilly landscape mostly covered and urban planning process,” planning of ecosystem recovery and by vineyards. with around 36,000 Paola Vayr reiterated their wish the protection of areas with a high inhabitants the city is part of the to actively involve external risk of environmental damage. larger Metropolitan area of Turin. stakeholders in the GI strategy Because the researchers from Paola Vayr, architect at CMT, development within the project. Saluggia are assessing GI along described the major elements Massimo Ceppi, Assessor of the the River Po in the provinces of of GI in the case study area as Chieri Council, is one of the local Alessandria, Vercelli and parts of follows: “The River Po and its stakeholders collaborating withAbbiategrasso the Metropolitan City of Turin, they system includes the minor river CMT. “Land consumption and are working very closely with the Vercelli Vigevano Metropolitan City of Turin.
PO HILLS UPPER PO The network of protected areas AROUND is part of the River Po ecosystem Chivasso Po PLAIN CHIERI and includes the landscape mosaic Settimo Venaria Reale Torinese Casale of the Vercelli rice fields. It is Rivoli Monferrato Collegno Torino designated to protect threatened Grugliasco habitats and species typical of Orbassano Moncalieri Chieri Po lowland and fluvial environments, Nichelino Voghera e.g. alluvial forests of black alder, Po European ash and oak as well
Asti Alessandria as the habitats of several heron Tortona Carmagnola species. “For me the River Po corridor with its diverse habitats is the major GI elements in this Novi Ligure area together with woodlands, Background: GioLand/VeryHighResolution 2012, © EEA; Rivers/ 0 5 10 20 Bra km Lakes: European Catchments and Rivers Network System 2012, marshes, natural elements of Alba ± © EEA; Cities: © ISTAT- Istituto Nazionale di Statistica, Italy 2011 EEA the rice fields and other rural MaGICLandscapes case study areas “Po Hills around Chieri“ and “Upper Po Plain“ areas,” Simone Ciadamidaro, in the Italian Piedmont region | Map: IOER
Page 4 MaGICNEWS no. 2, 06/2018 MaGICNEWS no. 2, 06/2018 researcher at ENEA, stated. Vercelli rice plain. Rice fields and view of sustainable economic “Together with our associated large poplar plantations represent activities and the improvement of partners and stakeholders we will the dominant farming activity in local environmental conditions: investigate how to improve this the lowland section. “It would be good to get some local yet regionally significant recommendations for the ecological network (…) and how to Dario Zocco, director of the River evaluation and implementation reconcile the realisation of certain Po Park Alessandria-Vercelli, one of of sustainable tourism projects structural elements of the Po ENEA’s associated partners, knows in our area, in particular for the plain.” that the high pressure on the Po realisation of the cycleway ‘VenTo In the upstream section of the plain ecosystems is mainly from one’ from Venice to Turin alongside Po, woodlands, extensively used intensive agriculture. According to the River Po.” meadows and vineyards of the him the main need for improving Monferrato hills contrast with the the GI network is the integrated
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5 6 7 (1) The centre of Chieri viewed from St. George’s church | Photo: Xavier Caré/Wikimedia Commons/CC-BY-SA 4.0; (2) The river Po from above | Photo: C. from above | Photo: The river Po 4.0; (2) Commons/CC-BY-SA Xavier Caré/Wikimedia church | Photo: The centre of Chieri viewed from St. George’s (1) Roberto Hills around Chieri” | Photo: naturale della Collina di Superga) is part of the case study area “Po (Parco The Superga Hills Nature Park Lenti; (3) A. Miola; (5) Ricefield of the | Photo: Turin one of the municipalities belonging to Metropolitan City Torinese, in Pino Adventure Park The (4) Pascal; 5-7: Simone Ciadamidaro river and it‘s gravel bed | Photos The Po plain with poplars behind; (6) Marshland; (7) Po
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NEWS Communication Management MaGIC [email protected] Published by TU Dresden, Chair +49 (0)351 463 32812 of Remote Sensing, Prof. Dr. Project Coordination Elmar Csaplovics, Lead Partner of [email protected] MaGICLandscapes Interreg Central Europe Project +49 (0)351 463 37563 MaGICLandscapes Editorial staff:Anke Hahn, Christopher MaGICLandscapes is implemented Marrs by the Interreg Central Europe Programme co-financed by the For any suggestions, requests or for European Regional Development Fund unsubscribing the newsletter please (ERDF). feel free to contact us:
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