Periurban Parks - Improving Environmental Conditions in Suburban Areas

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PERIURBAN is a regional initiative project, of medium level cooperation intensity, which uses interregional exchange of experiences to improve policies on management of natural suburban areas. PERIURBAN focuses specifically on policy and management solutions to mitigate pressures on biodiversity. The creation and management of parks in natural suburban areas has a positive impact on the environment and on halting biodiversity loss. Focus on such initiatives is in line with European environment policy and redevelopment in suburban areas. PERIURBAN is an integration of 2 European initiatives: GreenLink led by Regione Toscana and CityNature promoted by FEDENATUR. Through cooperation, the leaders of these 2 initiatives saw the potential for real progress in the field on management of suburban areas for better environmental conditions. PERIURBAN brings together 14 partners from 11 EU countries. Partners all have experience in and competencies to manage suburban areas, but are at different stages with periurban parks. While some have long promoted such parks, and currently face management and sustainability concerns, others plan for their implementation and build on different suburban management experiences. Thus, this strong collection of partners representing regional authorities, local authorities, periurban parks and associations of parks, learn from each others' experiences in a continuous process of exchange. Regione Toscana is responsible for management and coordination of the project (Component 1). FEDENATUR, with its vast network of contacts all over Europe, is in charge of Communication and Dissemination of activities and results (Component 2) to a wide and relevant audience. These horizontal activities go alongside the core activities of Exchange of Experiences (Component 3) and Methodology Testing and Action Plans (Component 4). During Component 3 (led by Regione Toscana), partners are involved in participative exchange workshops, thematic seminars and study visits, all of which support them in a territorial analysis (including good practices). These analyses are brought together in a joint report and used to form the basis of a Common Methodology for creation and management of periurban parks. In Component 4 (led by Zografou Municipal Enterprise of Development), partners test the methodology in 4 partner areas and, through intense activities and peer reviews, feed back into the methodology to improve and consolidate it. To ensure long term sustainability of actions promoting suburban management, partners produces action plans for potential future activities, based on the PERIURBAN learning process. Memorandums of Understanding are signed between partners who see potential for future, constructive cooperation (among partners and with external entities involved in activities). The project concludes with an international conference in Tuscany, where the foundations for further steps forward in this field are sealed.

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