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Green Infrastructure for Forest and Trees (GIFT)

Green Infrastructure for Forest and Trees (GIFT)

Since March 2023, the University of Latvia has started participation in the "Green Infrastructure for Forest and Trees" (GIFT) project of the Interreg Europe programme as the Advisory Partner.

Project goal

GIFT aims to maximize an innovative cross-sectoral approach of green infrastructure (GI) to trees and forests by implementing opportunities for GI in policy documents across different sectors and achieving an integral approach in all policy planning.

About project

GIFT focuses on green infrastructure (GI), especially forests and trees. GI can provide many ecosystem services related to biodiversity, climate, water, erosion, landscape, and animal welfare, energy, health etc.

GIFT aims to maximize an innovative cross-sectoral approach of GI to trees and forests by implementing opportunities for GI in policy documents across different sectors and achieving an integral approach in all policy planning. This requires knowledge of GI, biodiversity, ecosystem services, as well as climate change among those who implement policy documents and the ability to integrate this into their business operations.

GIFT innovative approach aims to improve regional policies by raising awareness that sufficient GI of trees and forests is a prerequisite for halting biodiversity loss and mitigating climate change.

In terms of commitment 5 partners are managing authorities of the addressed policy instruments and 3 associated policy authorities will be involved in the project. GIFT addresses 8 policy instruments.

It is planned to use the experience of Interreg Europe project PERFECT in order to identify policy gaps that need revision. Based on the good knowledge about the complementarity of partnerships, a series of pilot actions could be proposed during the project.

Under the supervision of the University of Latvia, 3 interregional thematic seminars will be organized (2 of them online; 1 – face-to-face in Latvia) to promote the interregional learning process and share knowledge and results of the GIFT project.

Partners

The project involves total of 10 partners from 9 countries:

  • LP01 - Instituto de Estudos do Territorio (Spain - Lead Partner)
  • PP02 - County Administrative Board of Västra Götaland (Sweden - Partner)
  • PP03 - Flemish Land Agency (Belgium - Partner)
  • PP04 - Province of Fryslân (The Netherlands - Partner)
  • PP05 - Aufbauwerk Region Leipzig GmbH (Germany - Partner)
  • PP06 - Provincia di Rimini (Italy - Partner)
  • PP07 - Slovenian Forestry Institute (Slovenia - Partner)
  • AP08 - University of Latvia (Latvia - Advisory Partner)
  • PP09 - City of Zagreb (Croatia - Partner)
  • PP10 - Business support centre L.T.D. “Kranj” (Slovenia - Partner)

Project duration

March 2023 – February 2027

  • Phase 1: 01.03.2023. – 28.02.2026.
  • Phase 2: 01.03.2026. – 28.02.2027.

Funding

The project is co-financed by the European Regional Development Fund. Total funding of the project: 1,971,182.00 EUR (European Regional Development Fund 1,576,945.60 EUR and funds invested by partners 394,236.40 EUR).

More information:

https://www.interregeurope.eu/gift

Jānis Zvirgzdiņš, LU CETS, janis.zvirgzdins@lu.lv