European Network for the Integrative Approach of Urban Forestry (INTUF)

Julia Nerantzia Tzortzi

Urban forests have been proposed by the European Commission as a strategy to support climate adaptation and sustainable development. This is a complex discipline due to the multidisciplinary nature of the work involved, the diversity of stakeholders, and the long timeframes associated with trees. The current approach is unable to meet the European Commission's strategies due to a lack of standardization and the dispersion of networks. The Action will bring together a pan-European network of scientists and stakeholders to assess and compare urban forests, develop frameworks for long-term strategic management based on scientific data, and stimulate responsible management through the creation of cross-sectoral and inclusive management partnerships. The main pillar of the Action is the transfer of knowledge between the group members involved and the global community. The Action will strengthen networking among European scientists and increase the competitiveness of European research by promoting the exploitation of transnational research results (SMEs). Finally, the career development of young researchers and research impulses in target countries of inclusiveness (ITCs) will be considered a priority of the Action.