EFUF 2023 – Book of Abstracts – Urban Forests as Nature-Based Solutions
Book of Abstracts
The Book of Abstracts for EFUF2023 is now available.
Follow this link to see and download your copy.
We need your contribution to EFUF2024 – call for abstracts
EFUF 2024 – Urban Forests for All – 22 to 24 May 2024, Zagreb (Croatia)
The 26th European Forum on Urban Forestry (EFUF) invites researchers and professionals dealing with urban forests and green spaces to submit abstracts for a wide range of contributions. EFUF emphasises the connection of practice and scientific knowledge, encouraging a variety of possible formats to contribute to the conference. We welcome practice-oriented contributions, research contributions as well as proposals for workshops and demonstrations.
Deadline for submission of abstracts: 31 January 2024 23:59 CET (Brussels time) through this form: https://ec.europa.eu/eusurvey/runner/EFUF2024_abstracts.
31 Jan 8:00 (CET) – Due to a technical problem with the provider of the submission platform, it is impossible to submit abstracts since 3:00 this morning. We apoligise for this and are monitoring the situation. If needed, the deadline will be extended with a few days.
Update 10:00 – the system is up and running again.
Abstract Topics
Contributions to the 26th European Forum on Urban Forestry will explore these aspects.
Theme 1: Urban Forests for People and Society
This theme will explore how urban forests and urban green spaces are important for people and society. Abstracts should cover the social aspects of urban forests and urban green space planning and management aimed at enhancing the happiness and health of citizens.
- Inclusive urban forests and green spaces – how to make urban forests and green spaces just, safe, and inviting for all societal groups (regardless of gender, age, ethnicity, etc.)
- Role of urban forests and green spaces in human health
- Role of urban forests and green spaces in nature education (teaching and learning in nature)
- Role of urban forests and green spaces as tourist attractions and in city branding
- Stakeholder engagement and communication – Participatory approaches, co-management, co-governance, urban forest and green space stewardship, citizen science, stakeholder communication
Theme 2: Urban Forests for a Sustainable Tomorrow
This Forum theme will explore how to achieve well-performing urban forests and urban green spaces. Abstracts to be submitted under this theme should focus on the assessment of environmental conditions of urban forests and urban green space to support their planning and managing, with long-term provision of benefits to ecosystems and society in mind.
- How to plan urban forests and green spaces for sustainable cities (for instance, and not exclusively in the context of climate change and biosecurity)
- How to govern urban forests and green spaces in the context of sustainable cities
- How to manage and maintain urban forests and green spaces (urban forestry and arboricultural practices)
- Assessment and valuation of urban forest and green space benefits and negativities (monetary and non-monetary approaches)
- Role of urban forests and green spaces in circular urban bioeconomy (Biocities)
- How to safeguard urban forests and green spaces in the context of urbanisation and competing land use, legal and policy aspects of urban forests
Theme 3: Urban Forests for All Living Beings
Contributions under this theme will explore urban forests and urban green spaces as habitats – for people and other beings. The abstract submitted under this theme should look into the assessment and evaluation of urban biodiversity and the planning and management practices that aim to preserve and enhance it.
- Biodiversity assessment (plants, insects, birds, mammals, etc.)
- Management and maintenance of urban forests and green spaces in the context of biodiversity
- How do we attract and keep pollinators in urban areas?
- Invasive alien species – friends or foes?
- Management of birds and other animals in urban areas – coexistence with humans
- Planting material of tomorrow in the context of climate change – what to plant and where?
Abstract Submission
Abstracts (maximum 2000 characters, spaces included) are only accepted in English. They must not include figures, tables or attachment.
Deadline for submission is 31st of January 2024, 23:59 CET (Brussels time).
The programme committee will determine whether a work will be accepted for presentation, considering the significance and/or the innovative character of the contribution.
Authors will be informed on the acceptance of their contribution by the 23th of February 2024.
At least one of the authors should register for the conference, and should have their fee settled by 30 April 2024. If this is not the case, the organisers can withdraw selected contributions from the programme.
The language of the forum is English.
For any questions related to the abstract submission process, please contact rik . devreese @ efi . int.
EFUF 2022 – Book of abstracts
The Book of Abstracts for EFUF2022 is available for download at EFUF 2022 Book of abstracts.
The Green4C Business Innovation Challenge
A unique opportunity to make green care innovative ideas growing
Co-funded by the Erasmus+ of the European Union, Green4C is a Knowledge Alliance project promoting nature-based solutions for health, wellbeing, and social inclusion. Bringing together universities, businesses, and organisations, Green4C wants to provide interdisciplinary skills and encourage innovation and entrepreneurship in Green Care.
The term Green Care refers to a “range of activities that promotes physical and mental health and well-being through contact with nature”. In the last few decades, a growing body of research is demonstrating the benefits of the contact with nature on health and wellbeing. Green Care can improve mental and physical health, representing an efficient tool for public health issues. In addition, activities such as social farming or community gardening can promote social inclusion and address other social issues.
Recognising the central role of nature for the development of a healthier and more sustainable future, Green4C seeks to foster Green Care as an efficient answer to environmental, health, and social concerns.
To stimulate the creation of innovative Green Care initiatives, the Green4C team has produced an interesting new opportunity, the Business Innovation Challenge (BIC). The BIC is a free competition for anyone with innovative ideas involving nature, health, and wellbeing. Participants will compete by presenting their business or projects ideas to promote the health and social benefits of nature. Ideas can involve one or more Green4C thematic sectors, i.e., Forest-based care, Urban green care, Social agriculture, and Green care tourism.
Winners of the BIC will gain access to the Green4C Summer School. The Summer School is a high specialisation course taking place in Italy (from the 20th of June to the 8th of July 2022), at the Agripolis campus of the University of Padova. Top European experts in Green Care will be sharing knowledge and best practices on entrepreneurship, forestry, nature-based solutions, health, and much more. The aim of this course is to give students all the necessary tools to realise innovative Green Care initiatives. Only 25 participants will be selected for the Summer School.
The deadline to participate in the BIC is the 3rd of April 2022, at 23.59 CEST. To apply, participants must fill out the application form, which includes the presentation of their business or project idea in Green Care. Learn all the details about the BIC on .
Official announcement #EFUF2022
Have a sneak preview on #EFUF2022 in Belgrade (🇷🇸). Join the official announcement on Thursday 1⃣4⃣October at 1⃣2⃣:3⃣0⃣CEST.
Join through ➡️https://efuf.org/programme/ (select the event for the link) or via the #myEFUF app.
More information in the Save-the-Date at https://efuforg.wordpress.com/2021/06/22/save-the-date-24th-european-forum-on-urban-forestry-efuf-city-of-belgrade-serbia-17-21-may-2022/.