BKM Nonprofit Zrt. participated as a partner in the URBforDAN project - “Management and Utilization of Urban Forests as Natural Heritage in Danube Cities”. The aim of the project is the long-term, sustainable management of urban forests, i.e. how to reconcile the economic, social and cultural roles of forests, while ensuring that their natural biodiversity is preserved and contributing to the sustainable development of cities. Our project was implemented in Budapest II. district, Szép Valley.
URBforDAN (DTP2-18-2.2) - “Management and Utilization of Urban Forests as Natural Heritage in Danube Cities”.
Implemented within the framework of the INTERREG Danube Transnational Programme.
BKM Nonprofit Zrt. participated in the Interreg Program URBforDAN project. The aim of the project is to reconcile the economic, social and cultural roles of forests, while ensuring that their natural biodiversity is preserved and contributing to the sustainable development of cities. Within the framework of the tender, a pilot project was implemented in the focus area Szép Valley which is in Budapest II. district.
The area was a neglected area full of garbage. The objective was to reforest the parking lots, for this purpose 1500 tree and shrub seedlings of native origin were planted. Thanks to the new equipment the image of the focus area has changed a lot and became really attractive for the visitors. From the bus terminus information boards drive the visitors to the Birders’ Clearing. The Birders’ Clearing is a bird-hide which can be found in a hidden corner of the clearing. The drinking-pool attracts the birds to the hide where they can not see the birdwatchers sitting behind the reflection glass. It is an exiting place for children and adults alike. In another corner of the clearing is a forest classroom with enough space for 30 children. In good weather families always enjoy the place. A 1,3 km long educational nature trail has been set up in the area. The information panels call attention to the attractions situated close to the boards, but they also show more general relations in the nature. Through the QR-codes visitors can reach additional information related to the environmental message. As an innovation in the focus area there are sizeable information panels who offer destinations which can be reached on the given hiking trail. It means that the educational trail concentrates to the focus area but deals with the surrounding area as well.In the upper end of the focus area there is a forest playground with nice and strong wooden toys, where children can find 5 pieces of specially designed, carved and painted animals, characteristic of the focus area.
Please highlight how the project can be exemplary in this context
Within the total area of 52,500 hectares of Budapest, the forest area exceeds 4,000 hectares, which makes up 8% of the city's area. Some of these forests are planted, but most of them preserve the natural state of the pre-urban period. On the western side of Budapest, there are also forests of 150-200 years old, while on the eastern side there are mainly scattered oak stands, poplar forests and other native woods. The proportion of forests planted with species classified as not suitable for the landscape is low, at around 20% of the total urban forest area.
This is a good example of the high grade of naturalness of Budapest's forests, which serve as a home to a wide range of plant and animal species. Urban forests are also offering good opportunity for outdoor education, raising the public awareness of the environment, and supporting tourism and recreation. These forest habitats are best suited to sensitise urban dwellers to natural values and to raise awareness of their importance. For this reason, we consider it really important that the areas within the municipal forests which are not currently forested would be transformed into biodiverse, natural forests, which serve to enhance the living environment and to shape attitudes.
Fortunately, public forest areas predominate in Budapest, so there is a largely unified treatment approach, regardless of the public actors. It is therefore easily feasible to return to nature the under-utilised unprotected parking lots in the city's II. district, which are located in a Natura 2000 protected forest (HUDI20009). Within the framework of the project, 1500 plants of 16 different native tree species have been planted, which are continuously cared for.
Please highlight how the project can be exemplary in this context
The equipment designs in the area affected by development were finished considering that they would be suitable for the landscape.
The implemented forest playground include unique carved and painted sculptures depicting 5 protected animal species typical in the area. With their design and decorativeness, the sculptures impress not only the target age group, but also the adults, serving the transfer for experience-based knowledge.
It was an also an important aspect that the equipment of the educational trail developed in the sample area would fit into the landscape without expection.
Other urban equipment (forest classroom, benches, tables, bus waiting shelter) purchased were similar to existing objects but their rustic style and their colours were specially tailored to the Szép Valley.
Please highlight how the project can be exemplary in this context
In terms of the indicated inclusions, the developments promote social inclusion by providing free access to the facilities and easy access. The infrastructure in the forest environment offers a good opportunity for outdoor education, environmental awareness, tourism and recreation, and is therefore suitable for raising awareness and sensitising the urban population to the importance of natural assets.
Public participation and engagement has been a priority in the design and implementation of the project. This is evidenced by the fact that, although strict regulations were in place during the COVID epidemic regarding the organisation of community events, we succesfully implemented two waste collection events, one before the COVID, another one after the third wave. In 2019 participants collected from the focus area 10 m³ waste. It was a good chance to speak them about the nature values of the area.
In 2021 was a nice event with volunteers whose clean-up was 13 m³ trash in the bags, but again it was equally important that the volunteers got acquainted with the area.
Now we are planning two main group of activities in the futures:
One the one hand we plan to organize nature trail tours and ‘Birdwatching for beginners’ events. The purpose is to let the people know that it is worthwhile to visit the area. It is especially for schoolchildren, but also for families and even single hikers.
One the other hand the improvement of the area poses additional challenges. Most of the scheduled works – like removing the concrete of the former weekend houses or removing invasive species from the area – has to be completed by professional workers. However there are some other activities – like tree planting on former parking lots, clean-up of some hidden corners – which can be done by volunteer workers. We plan to invite volunteers so that they could feel that the focus area is a common value of us.
Please highlight how this approach can be exemplary
Due to it’s essential nature, the project combines the three core values of the New European Bauhaus, namely sustainability, aesthetics and social inclusion.
The project aims to address the long-term sustainable management of urban forests, i.e. how to reconcile their economic, social and cultural roles while ensuring that their natural biodiversity is preserved and that they contribute to the sustainable development of cities.
For the installations placed in the sample area, it was a particularly important aspect that they were all designed and constructed to fit into the landscape. The elements of the landscape forest playground include unique carved and painted sculptures depicting the protected species of animals typical of the model area. The sculptures are designed and decorative to appeal not only to the target age group, but also to adults, providing an experiential transfer of knowledge.
In terms of the indicated inclusions, this area is one of the most frequent ones for tourists heading to Buda-hills as it is located in the direct neighbourhood of Szépvölgyi residential area easily accessible by public transport, cycling or foot. Whole Hármashatár hill is important for recreation and tourism as it is fragmented by a network of tourist paths. The infrastructure in the forest environment offers a good opportunity for outdoor education, environmental awareness, tourism and recreation, and is therefore suitable for raising awareness and sensitising the urban population to the importance of natural assets.
The solutions applied in the project could serve as a model for other Hungarian and foreign sites for the reconstruction of forests within cities taking into account environmental education aspects.
Our pilot project for the rehabilitation of urban forests is applying in category 1, "Reconnecting with nature". In all aspects, the project fulfils the objectives of the call for proposals, namely to bring individuals and communities closer to nature, to contribute to the restoration of natural ecosystems and to prevent biodiversity loss.
Urban forests are also offering good opportunity for outdoor education, raising the public awareness of the environment, and supporting tourism and recreation. These forest habitats are best suited to sensitise urban dwellers to natural values and to raise awareness of their importance. For this reason, we consider it really important that the areas within the municipal forests which are not currently forested would be transformed into biodiverse, natural forests, which serve to enhance the living environment and to shape attitudes.
The project has used a full range of nature-based materials and solutions that fit into the landscape, which, with their innovative design and decorative features, appeal not only to the primary target age group (children), but also to adults, by serving the transfer of experiential knowledge.
The adaptations also promote social inclusion by making the facilities created accessible to all free of charge and easily accessible by car and public transport. The site will be used for primary school nature education classes, which will greatly help the age group concerned to learn about the amazing world of nature around them in a playful way, thus laying the foundations for the next generation to grow up appreciating and living in harmony with their environment.
Please also explain the benefits that derived from their involvement.
COVID restrictions in Hungary were quite serious therefore during the pandemia we could not organize large-scale events. However we had two waste collection events, one before the COVID, another one after the third wave.
National Clean-up Day, March 23, 2019: In Hungary the voluntary clean-up movement was launched in 2013, and soon it became an important event. Now it is part of the ‘Let’s Clean Up Europe’ international initiative. On March 23, 2019 there were 20 participants in the Szép Valley, they collected from the focus area 10 m³ waste. It was a good chance to speak them about the nature values of the area.
Corporate clean-up action, June 15, 2021: It was a nice event with the dedicated volunteers of the Celanese Ltd. The result of the clean-up was 13 m³ trash in the bags, but again: it was equally important that about 20 volunteers got acquainted with the area.
Thanks to the URBforDAN project the focus area has changed a lot. Now we plan two main group of activities:
Get the stakeholders acquainted with the new chances in the Szép Valley: We plan to organize nature trail tours and ‘Birdwatching for beginners’ events. The purpose is to let the people know that it is worthwhile to visit the area. It is especially for schoolchildren, but also for families and even single hikers.
Community works in the Szép Valley: The improvement of the area poses additional challenges. Most of the scheduled works – like removing the concrete of the former weekend houses or removing invasive species from the area – has to be completed by professional workers. However there are some other activities – like tree planting on former parking lots, clean-up of some hidden corners – which can be done by volunteer workers. We plan to invite volunteers so that they could feel that the focus area is a common value of us.
Based on the objectives of the transnational project URBforDAN, as part of which our project was accomplished, the challenges of urban forests can be summarized as follows:
Todays’ lifestyle in cities is fast and very intense. Therefore, many citizens and visitors actively search for places to relax. Often, there is no time for “the escape from the city”, so they look for alternatives. City inhabitants need their "green lungs"
Traditionally, they find them in urban forests. Their status of “green city lungs” is the main reason why forests in the project partner cities have so- far survived all urbanization pressures mostly intact.
However, the increasing numbers of citizens and their need for outdoor activities) put urban forests under pressure. Even if many of the forests are protected as natural heritage, they are impaired by inappropriate management, overuse and poor coordination between key actors.
The URBforDAN project aims to approach actual needs and challenges linked to sustainable management of natural heritage within urban areas of the Danube Region. That is why a transnational approach is needed in order for those big challenges to be effectively resolved.
URBforDAN is designed to deliver a change in urban forest management and utilization of ecosystem services. The project is intended to keep the current image of urban forests and to make sure that the forest areas become places for socialization, relaxation, recreation and education. Also, a high-quality experience of natural heritage and green tourism for a diverse set of target groups has to be ensured. URBforDAN aims to improve cooperation between key actors to resolve conflicts and improve management of urban forests. At the same time, it aims to enrich “green tourism” in Danube Cities through new and improved services and products.
(Source: interreg-danube.eu)
We believe that what can be called outstanding in terms of innovation in our project is the complexity of the equipment based on the needs of the visitors. Beside that if we go down the list of the equipments in most cases we added something special to the usual solutions. Namely:
- In the forest classrooms there is a teacher’s table, which makes it possible to look at the children and talk to them.
- In the bird-hide there is a reflection glass which is unique in Budapest. There are some bird-hides in Hungary, but this is the only free one.
- The quality of the wildlife sculptures in the forest playground is unique in Hungary. Next to the playground there is also an information panel on which we introduce the portrayed animals – which are characteristic protected species of the focus area. This way we linked two separate investments.
- The type of the drinking fountain is quite widespread in Hungary but following the requests in the stakeholder meetings under the fountains one can find nice and practical dog drinking-trough.
- The educational nature trail presents at least two innovations:
- The trail is meandering all over the place but the small arrow-shaped markers help to find the trail easily.
- At the main crossroads of educational trail and hiking trails there are sizeable information panels. Those boards offer destinations which can be reached on the given hiking trail. It means that the educational trail concentrates to the focus area but deals with the surrounding area as well.
Please provide clear documentation, communication of methodology and principles in this context.
The Interreg programme - within which framework our project was implemented - offers co-funding to regional and local institutions (e.g. public administrations, regional development agencies, educational institutions, etc.) to create networks and share experiences in different fields, and as a result develop effective regional practices at European level. Some of the more experienced networks are seeking to replicate best practice in order to have an immediate positive impact on the development of their region in a particular area.
A key objective of the project is to improve cooperation between key stakeholders, including forest managers and owners, users and visitors, the professional public sector and NGOs. Under the mentorship of the lead partners of the Interreg programme, this cooperation will also serve as a basis for the development of international guidelines and the transfer of best practices to other European cities.
As a result of the above, the results and lessons learned from our Interreg project will be integrated into the practices in the field of expertise at European level.
@BKM Nonprofit Zrt., 2021
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