The General Assembly of COST CA23148 – European Network for an Integrative Approach to Urban Forestry (INTUF) took place in Bratislava on March 10-11, 2025. The event welcomed 110 participants from across Europe, with 38 attending in person and 72 online. This hybrid meeting marked a significant step forward in promoting collaboration and research in urban forestry.
Day 1: Preparations and Discussions
The meeting began on March 10 with speeches by the President of the Slovak Academy of Sciences, Prof. Šajgalík, and the Director of the Institute of Geography, Dr. Michniak. Following the official welcome, there was a presentation and discussion with representatives from the Department of Urban Greenery of the Bratislava City Council on the topic “Inventory of Public Greenery in Bratislava.”
The Action Chair, Dr. Dieter Anseeuw, presented the goals of COST CA23148. Participants shared their expertise, national priorities, and expectations from the network. A key decision was the adoption of the FAO definition of urban forests: “networks or systems comprising all forest stands, groups of trees, and individual trees located in urban and peri-urban areas.”
Day 2: Lectures and Working Groups
The second day began with two exceptional lectures. Prof. Francesco Ferrini from the University of Florence highlighted the importance of urban biodiversity for city resilience and climate change adaptation. Dr. Martin Mokroš from University College London presented advanced technologies for monitoring and understanding forest ecosystems, including LiDAR, photogrammetry, and satellite imagery.
Participants then divided into working groups:
- Working Group 1 (WG1), led by Kieron Doick, focused on creating an inventory of indicators and assessment methods for urban forests.
- Working Group 2 (WG2), led by Cengiz Yücedağ, focused on developing urban green space management policies tailored to city sizes.
- Working Group 4 (WG4), led by Sonila Papathimiu, focused on information dissemination and creating promotional materials.
Next Steps and Opportunities
Participants left energized and committed to continuing work on impactful outcomes, whether through publications, innovative tools, or practical guidelines for urban forest management.
For more information, contact the action team at urbanforestrynetwork@googlegroups.com.
Text: Tomáš Goga | Photo: Matej Pok | Source: Slovak Academy of Sciences
