NeighbourWoods - Advancing the Quality of Life and the Environment of European Cities Through Socially-inclusive Planning, Design and Management of Urban Woodlands

The main objective of the project was to develop tools to enhance the planning, design and prospective management of urban woodlands, applicable to the diversity of European contexts and inclusive of all stakeholders, so that the contribution such woodlands can make to the quality of urban life and the urban environment is improved. The immediate objectives of the study were:

1. to develop a common theoretical and methodological framework for the study and its case-study approach;
2. to identify and analyse best practises in current planning, design, information provision and decision-support, public education and involvement, and linking planning, design and management with regards to urban woodlands in Europe.;
3. to develop and test a set of tools for the participatory, well-informed planning and design of urban woodlands, which link strategic with tactical and operational aspects of management;
4. to distribute these tools among urban woodland scientists and practitioners, and consequently contribute to the formulation of local, national and European urban woodland policies and plans.

This project was carried out with the financial support from the Commission of the European Communities, DG Research - Quality of Life and Management of Living Resources Programme.