World Forum on Urban Forests

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28 November 2018 to 1 December 2018
Event Type: 
Partner Event
Location: 
Mantova, Italy.

On 28 November - 1 December 2018, the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO), the Municipality of Mantova, the Italian Society of Silviculture and Forest Ecology (SISEF) and the Politecnico di Milano are hosting the World Forum on Urban Forests in Mantova, Italy. 

The World Forum on Urban Forests will bring together representatives of national and local governments, research and academic institutions, non-governmental organizations (NGOs), urban planners, urban foresters, arborists, landscape architects and designers and professionals from many other sectors to exchange experience and lessons learned, and discuss possible long-term collaboration on the development of urban forestry strategies and the identification of nature-based solutions towards a greener, healthier, and happier future.

Regional discussions have been ongoing in Europe and North America for a number of years and more recently have started in Asia-Pacific and Latin America. The growing participation in the virtual forum “Trees for the cities” as well as in other forums, groups and blogs on urban forests, green infrastructure and related issues, suggests that the time is ripe to initiate a global process to enhance communication and networking among practitioners, scientists, and decision-makers concerned with the environmental aspects of urban and peri-urban landscapes and particularly the urban forest and green infrastructure issues.

The key reasons for launching a periodical global appointment on urban forests and green infrastructure are:
  • Supporting the process of the New Urban Agenda and optimizing actions related to urban ecosystems and green spaces.
  • Creating an international appointment (through periodic worldwide meetings) for the urban forest and green infrastructure actors and stakeholders.
  • Strengthening the already existing international networking by creating concrete opportunities to meet and exchange experiences and build partnerships.
  • Launching a Mantova Green Cities Challenge towards a better quality of life in world cities.
The aim of this first Forum is to highlight positive examples of planning, design and management approaches of cities with diverse cultures, forms, structures and histories, which have used urban forestry and green infrastructure to develop economic and environmental services and to strengthen social cohesion and public involvement.
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