EFUF2024 | European Forum on Urban Forestry

Livia Shamir has been granted the Young Urban Forester of 2024 Award

by Rik De Vreese | Jul 9, 2024 | EFUF2024, YUFA

Livia Shamir, Director of the Research Department at Stefano Boeri Architetti, has been awarded the European Young Urban Forester Award 2024! The award panel in particular noted her outstanding contribution to the World Forum on Urban Forestry held in the United States last year. Moreover, Livia is involved in other urban forestry projects in Italy, such as Forestami, Parco Italia, and the Uforest ERASMUS+ project.

The award was started in 2010 by EFUF to recognise an individual’s outstanding contribution to the field of urban forestry in Europe. The award is been given on an annual basis to a person who is at the time of the award under the age of 40.

The European Young Urban Forester of the Year is sponsored by MD² Consulting Ltd and the scientific journal Urban Forestry & Urban Greening (published by Elsevier).

EFUF2024 – Highlights

by Cecil Konijnendijk | Jul 1, 2024 | EFUF2024

After a very successful 26^th European Forum of Urban Forestry under the overall theme ‘Urban Forests for All’ in Zagreb, with 170 delegates, a few highlights come to mind. I have organised these according to 10 keywords.

It was good to see many new faces, young people at this year’s Forum. We need new energy, new ideas, to keep developing. I hope you enjoyed it and will return.
We spoke a lot about the need to keep our urban forests healthy and resilient, for example through proper tree planting and collaboration with the nursery sector. Keith Sacre’s keynote comes to mind but also Sharon Durdant-Hollamby’s keynote that focused on trees and development.

The Forum is becoming increasingly global, with participants from 4 continents this year. It is great to see the interest and contributions from colleagues from countries like Australia, Canada, China, Japan, New Zealand, the Philippines, the United States.
Extending beyond a European focus will foster more mutual learning and exchange of ideas.

Once again, I will leave EFUF feeling very inspired, coming home with many new ideas. I hope you feel the same.
Robert Hostnik’s keynote address was a great example. Robert showed how past EFUFs have inspired him and his colleagues in his innovative work in Celje, Slovenia. He showed some great examples of collaboration, branding, using storytelling and art. They even have their own urban forest poet!

The Forum gives us confirmation that what we do is important and helps build a better world. We heard so many examples, success stories.
We can sometimes feel a bit ‘lonely’ or isolated in our day-to-day work. The Forum shows us that we are part of a strong community of like-minded professionals.

Many great examples were presented of putting research into innovative practice.
We learnt about the possibilities offered by technology, AI, mapping, the assessment of the many benefits of urban forests, tree equity, innovations in design, planning, management. We also worked with topics like biosecurity, building novel governance and partnerships, and test areas such as urban climate arboreta.
Developing new policies, legislation, governance, metrics are all important innovation. Colleagues from Zagreb showed how spatial planning, landscape professions, and foresters can collaborate to build a strong framework for urban forestry.

Quite some attention was given to engaging with residents, communities, other professionals, and how to do this in meaningful ways. We also learnt that when done right, participation is not easy.
Tree agency and the role of trees as actors was a new topic this year. We need the participation of trees and to find ways of speaking for the trees. Sharon Durdant-Hollamby stressed the importance of giving trees a name to stress their importance, for example in urban development processes.
Through engaging with urban residents, as shown by Silvija Krajter Ostoić and Wendy Chen in their keynotes, we can learn about expectation, different perceptions and preferences.

It is important to develop clear visions and directions for our urban forests. Here we have to take a long-term perspective and describe the desired urban forests of the future.
Metrics and tools like the Tree Equity Score and the 3+30+300-rule for greener and healthier cities can provide guidance for these strategic efforts.
We also need to discuss how we see the wider contributions of urban forestry in a time of climate and ecological crises and the development of healthier and more resilient cities. Concepts like that of Biocities, as presented by Giuseppe Scarascia-Mugnozza can help with this.

Connections are crucial forest urban forestry. Connections between people and trees, communities and nature, research and practice, between different disciplines and professions.
At this forum we spoke quite a bit about the need to strengthen connections between arboriculture and urban forestry, as shown by Stefania Gasperini when she introduced the European Arboricultural Council.
Of course EFUF is also about building connections between all of us!

Because of climate change, public health, and other challenges, attention for urban forests is growing. With this, expectations from the urban forest and urban foresters, as expressed by politicians, urban communities, other professionals, and others is growing too. We need to be ready for this.
We have to be professional and apply the best knowledge and practices available to us, while also continuing to advance these. EFUF can help.

EFUF 2024, as every EFUF, is also a time of celebration. Of urban forestry, of urban trees, of ourselves.
Let’s not forget to celebrate our successes and achievements, big or small. It is easy to forget this.
We have a lot to celebrate, even when there are many challenges. Contributing to a better world, to better cities, to healthier and happier people and trees, is quite a rewarding undertaking!

The video below starts at point 6 (Participation).

We apologise for the low audio quality.

Special Issue #EFUF2024 in Arboriculture and Urban Forestry

by Rik De Vreese | Jun 6, 2024 | EFUF2024

The peer-reviewed, fully open-access journal ‘Arboriculture and Urban Forestry’ (published by the International Society of Arboriculture) will compile a special issue with selected contributions from the Forum in Zagreb (May 2024).

Presentations and posters accepted for the 2024 Forum that include original research can be considered for the issue. The journal has different paper formats, including full research papers, review papers, and short communications. Note that all papers will undergo full peer review according to the journal’s usual procedures.

Please consult the author instructions at https://auf.isa-arbor.com/. Here you can also submit your paper online. Please mention ‘EFUF 2024 special issue’ in your cover letter when you submit.

Deadline for submission is 15 September 2024.

EFUF 2024 Book of Abstracts

by Rik De Vreese | May 13, 2024 | EFUF2024

The Book of Abstracts for EFUF2024 is now available.

Follow this link to see and download your copy.

Corrections

page 129 – correction of affiliation for Sitzia, Tomasso: Sitzia, Tommaso | Department of Land, Environment, Agriculture and Forestry (TESAF), Università degli Studi di Padova, Viale dell’Università 16, 35020 Legnaro (PD)

EFUF2024 Venue, travel and accommodation

by Rik De Vreese | Feb 2, 2024 | EFUF2024

What to do and see in Zagreb?

Zagreb is a vibrant city, take the advantage of being in Zagreb to visit some of its highlights – see www.infozagreb.hr/en/ for more information. Since 2023, Croatia is using the EURO as currency. Credit cards are widely accepted.

Conference venue

The conference (including the welcome drink on Tuesday) will take place at the The Faculty of Forestry and Wood Technology of the University of ZagrebAddress: Svetošimunska cesta 23, 10000, Zagreb, Croatia.

https://maps.app.goo.gl/uJdqayFgVbrshdW28

The venue can be easily reached by public transportation. From the city centre it takes about 30 min by tram to reach the venue. Please use Google Maps to find your way to the venue.

Accommodation

These hotels are suggestions, but basically any hotel in or close to the city centre is well connected to the venue.

Canopy by Hilton – Zagreb City Centre
Hotel Dubrovnik
Maistra City Vibes Zonar
Hotel Blue
Garden Hotel
Hotel International

Your hotel booking can support EFUF – use one of the following links to enter Bookings.com or Hotels.com, and a small percentage of your expenses will be returned to EFUF.

Transport

Zagreb is well-connected to the rest of Europe by train, plane or bus.

🚆 Trains

Zagreb’s Main Railway Station in located in the city centre. Day and night trains connect Zagreb with Lubljana, Vienna, Zurich, Munich, Stuttgart, Budapest, Venice … The Man in Seat 61 is a great resource to plan your travel by train to Zagreb.

✈ Flights

Zagreb International Airport: https://www.zagreb-airport.hr/en

The airport is connected with the city center (Main Bus Station) by bus shuttle that leaves every 30 min. One-way ticket costs 8.00 EUR and can be bought online or on the bus. Travel lasts 35-40 min.

For more information and online tickets: https://plesoprijevoz.hr/en/zagreb-croatia/

Timetable: https://plesoprijevoz.hr/time-table/

🚍 Coach

There are many connections from all over Europe to Zagreb.

Public transportation in Zagreb

Zagreb is well-covered by public transportation (trams and buses).

You can buy paper tickets on any kiosk or from the driver (but please prepare coins or small bills). Ticket must be validated while on board (validators for paper tickets are located on the front or the back of the tram). 30-min ticket costs 0.53 EUR and 60-min ticket 0.93 EUR. It costs more when bought from the driver.

When in Zagreb, it is best to use Google maps where you can see public transportation lines in real time.

Weather in Zagreb and Croatia

Croatian Meteorological and Hydrological Agency https://meteo.hr/prognoze_e.php?section=prognoze_metp&param=zgdanas

We need your contribution to EFUF2024 – call for abstracts

by Rik De Vreese | Dec 15, 2023 | EFUF2024

EFUF 2024 – Urban Forests for All – 22 to 24 May 2024, Zagreb (Croatia)

The 26^th 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 26^th 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.