An interactive GILL user manual for policymakers on implementing Green Infrastructure on a local level has been launched as a key output of the recently completed ESPON GILL Project.
The digital manual provides a comprehensive overview of the methodology created through the project, and it is designed as a step-by-step guide for users. It is complemented by six case study briefings, providing access to their individual reports as well as to their dashboards, where the key resulting maps and their interpretation are presented.
What is ESPON GILL ?
ESPON GILL developed an evidence-based, robust, scalable, and user-friendly methodology to guide policymakers and practitioners for quantifying the demand for Green Infrastructure at the local level, thus supporting the delivery of Urban Nature Plans (UNPs) and other urban planning instruments. In particular, the Project comes in direct response to Action 1 of the Urban Agenda’s Greening Cities Partnership Action Plan (2024) and also echoes the policy objectives of the EU Biodiversity Strategy 2030, the EU Climate Law and the recent Nature Restoration Regulation (NRR).
The Project was developed through a strategic consortium including TECNALIA Research & Innovation (TEC), the Institute for Urban Excellence (iUE) and the European Forest Institute (EFI). The project aimed to foster resilient, climate-adaptive environments that support biodiversity, ecosystem services (ESS), and sustainable development, contributing to improved urban planning and decision-making. The project was structured into five key tasks:
- Developing a methodological framework for quantifying green infrastructure demand.
- Baseline analysis and data collection in participating territories.
- Method development, including stakeholder engagement and data modeling.
- Pilot case studies in selected urban areas to test the methodology.
- Creating a user manual to support implementation and policy integration.
Outputs of the ESPON GILL Project
The study produced quantitative and qualitative tools for urban municipalities to support climate adaptation, biodiversity enhancement and urban planning, including:
- A standardised methodology for quantifying green infrastructure demand at the local level.
- Case study reports from multiple cities to refine and validate the methodology.
- A user manual for policymakers guiding them in implementing the methodology.
- Digital tools, including maps, dashboards and infographics integrated into the ESPON Portal.
- Policy recommendations to support the use of green infrastructure in urban development.
The methodology proposed for quantifying the demand for GI is based on the concept of GI as defined by the European Commission in its EU Green Infrastructure Strategy. It emphasizes the multifunctional, interconnected, and strategically planned nature of GI. It facilitates the integration of GI and its associated ESS into planning processes by linking biophysical data (e.g., land-use, GI delineation, and characterisation of GI components) with both quantitative and qualitative expert assessments of ESS provision, while also accounting for governance and socio-economic contexts.
The Project was co-developed and tested in six case studies in Romania, Belgium, Finland, Poland, Italy and Croatia, each representing different policy needs and varying levels of data availability. This collaborative approach aimed to demonstrate the applicability of GI and ESS-related information across different contexts.
Who are the Key Stakeholders in the Project ?
Key stakeholders in the Project (including international case study cities) included the following:
- Ministry of Development, Public Works, and Administration (RO)
- Nuovo Circondario Imolese (IT)
- City of Tampere (FI)
- Ministry of Physical Planning, Construction and State Assets (HR)
- Ministry of Development Funds and Regional Policy (PO)
- City of Roeselare (BE)
The project has been supported by the Urban Agenda’s Greening Cities Partnership, with input from DG REGIO, DG ENV and Eurocities to ensure EU-wide applicability.
The interactive GILL user manual and the interactive case-study dashboard of the project can be found on our Portal.