Periurban Parks Improving Environmental Conditions in Suburban Areas

PERIURBAN Spaces are transition spaces between the city and the countryside. They are suburbs of urban areas, or spaces surrounded by a number of urbanised areas with an elevated concentration of residences; Sustainable management and protection of these spaces is notoriously difficult; Some local authorities are turning to concept of PERIURBAN PARKS, to block urban sprawl, reconvert and adapt these areas. Concept of PERIURBAN SPACES

The overall objective of the PERIURBAN project is to use interregional exchange on experiences of periurban parks to improve regional policies on the management of natural periurban areas, with a specific focus on maintaining biodiversity. Overall Project Objective

To undertake territorial analyses that identify and compare initiatives and policies (environmental management / focus on periurban parks); To promote preservation of natural suburban areas (emphasis on compatibility between social use and preservation of biodiversity); To exchange, evaluate and transfer good practices from more to less experience regions; To develop, test and promote a common methodology for creation / management of periurban parks; To define long terms actions on park management and biodiversity protection. Specific Objectives

The PERIURBAN Parks methodology defined to achieve the established objectives consists of 5 connected steps: 1) Regional analysis – currently underway 2) Exchange and comparison – currently underway 3) Development of a common methodology for creation / management of Periurban Parks – by mid ) Methodology Test in 4 pilot areas and peer reviews – starting end ) Development of 13 Local Action Plans – completed by end 2012 These steps are supported by horizontal activities of management and communication, lasting the entire project duration. Activities

Geographical Coverage

Common concerns in the fields of: Funding for park (creation / management) Coordinated planning and management Balance between protection of biodiversity & park utilisation Communication / stakeholder involvement Infrastructure (installation / upkeep / threats) Differences in terms of: Existing parks (operative problems) / Parks in creation/pre- creation phase Typologies of parks (forest, agricultural, leisure, natural, city) Different size and structure of parks Some highly protected areas, other newly created green areas Initial results for the exchange

Partner areas

Lead Partner – Regione Toscana Maria Clelia Mele For further information