[Valentina Formica]

Dear all,
I am writing on behalf of the Department of Agriculture, Food and Environment (Di3A) of the University of Catania, Italy, to express our interest in joining a consortium within the Interreg Euro-MED Green Living Areas Mission.

Our research group, coordinated by Prof. Daniela Romano, Full Professor of Horticulture and Floriculture, has extensive scientific and applied experience in Mediterranean landscape and urban horticulture, ornamental and Mediterranean plant species, sustainable management of green areas, and plant responses to abiotic stresses.

Our expertise includes, in particular:
• selection and evaluation of ornamental and Mediterranean plant species for urban green spaces and climate-resilient landscapes;
• physiological and productive responses of plants to water scarcity, salinity, shading and other environmental stresses;
• water-use efficiency and identification of species suitable for low-input and water-limited environments;
• planning and sustainable management of parks, gardens and Mediterranean green areas;
• use and valorisation of native plant biodiversity for urban and peri-urban greening;
• research on medicinal and aromatic plants, including essential oils, plant extracts and their potential applications also in urban horticulture;
• development and evaluation of plant-based solutions contributing to biodiversity conservation, climate adaptation and ecosystem services.

The research group has long-standing experience in national and European research projects addressing sustainable horticulture, plant biodiversity, Mediterranean production systems, urban green infrastructure and plant adaptation to environmental constraints.
Within a transnational consortium, the University of Catania could contribute to the scientific design, testing and monitoring of nature-based and plant-based solutions, species selection for Mediterranean environments, assessment of plant physiological responses and ecosystem performance, as well as the development of pilot activities and transferable guidelines for resilient urban green areas.

We would be very interested in connecting with municipalities, public authorities, universities, research organisations and other partners developing proposals related to green infrastructure, nature-based solutions, biodiversity, climate-resilient urban landscapes and sustainable management of Mediterranean green areas.
We would be pleased to discuss potential synergies and opportunities for cooperation.
Kind regards,

Valentina Formica
University of Catania
Department of Agriculture, Food and Environment (Di3A)
Catania, Italy

[aleksadra pejovic]

Dear Valentina,

I am writing on behalf of the Municipality of Herceg Novi(Montenegro) beautifully situated at the entrance to the Bay of Kotor (Boka Bay).
Discover the Bay of Kotor – official Montenegro tourism website
Discover Herceg Novi – official Tourism Organisation website

Thank you for presenting the University of Catania’s expertise on MED partner search . We see a strong opportunity for cooperation with Herceg Novi within the Green Living Areas Mission.
We would be interested in joining a consortium as a pilot municipality and demonstration site, focusing on climate-resilient Mediterranean horticulture, biodiversity and the valorisation of horticultural heritage.Herceg Novi offers a particularly distinctive setting. Its rich plant heritage is closely connected to its maritime history, as local sailors historically introduced Mediterranean and exotic plant species to the city. This legacy is still visible in our gardens, parks and public green spaces, while the city is particularly known for its mimosa and traditional Mimosa Festival.

We could offer several pilot locations,and a potential pilot could focus on documenting and valorising this plant heritage while testing selected Mediterranean species and nature-based solutions for more climate-resilient and water-efficient public green spaces.
From our side, we could provide the pilot sites, local coordination and stakeholder involvement. We would particularly value the University of Catania’s scientific support in species selection, testing, monitoring and evaluation, and in developing results that could be transferred to other Mediterranean cities.

If this fits your concept, we would be very interested in discussing how Herceg Novi could become a partner within the consortium.

Aleksandra Pejović
Project administrator
e mail: medjunarodna.saradnja@hercegnovi.me

[Katarina Polajnar Horvat]

Dear Valentina,
At ZRC SAZU, Anton Melik Geographical Institute, we are currently implementing the research project BLUE – The Role of Urban Blue Spaces in Improving Human and Environmental Well-being, which focuses on the role of urban blue spaces in supporting wellbeing, restoration, social interaction and environmental quality. Our work combines spatial analysis, observation, surveys, stakeholder consultations and participatory approaches, and we are also developing nature-based and social interventions for selected pilot locations.
From this perspective, I believe it could be very interesting to connect green infrastructure with blue spaces and blue-green infrastructure, especially in Mediterranean environments where water scarcity, heat stress, biodiversity and quality of public space are closely interconnected.
A joint concept could therefore look not only at resilient green areas, but at the interaction between vegetation, water elements, microclimate, biodiversity, human wellbeing and the way residents actually use and perceive these spaces.
Our team also has experience from numerous European projects, also Interreg MED: WETNET, TUNE UP, MEDFEST and I am currently leading the Interreg Danube Region project TRANSDINARICA2. Across these projects, we have extensive experience with participatory approaches, stakeholder engagement, cooperation with municipalities and local communities, and formal cooperation agreements with local and regional actors.
I therefore see potential complementarity between your expertise in plant selection, plant physiology and Mediterranean green infrastructure and our expertise in blue spaces, human wellbeing, spatial analysis, participatory methods and stakeholder engagement.
It could be worth exploring whether this blue-green dimension could be integrated into a common Interreg Euro-MED Green Living Areas proposal.
Kind regards,
Katarina Polajnar Horvat, PhD
ZRC SAZU – Anton Melik Geographical Institute
katarina.polajnar@zrc-sazu.si

[Martina Kmet]

Dear Valentina,

thank you for sharing the expertise of the University of Catania. We see strong complementarities with our work and would be very interested in exploring potential cooperation within Interreg Euro-MED Call 8 – Green Living Areas.

Agroeduka is a small specialised Croatian non-profit association focused on professional horticultural advisory services, practical implementation and education in sustainable plant management and urban green spaces.

Our expertise is strongly practice-oriented and includes field-based plant assessment and diagnostics, plant selection, sustainable management of ornamental and Mediterranean plants, water-efficient irrigation and nutrient management, biodiversity, climate-resilient planting, and practical education related to the establishment and long-term maintenance of green spaces.

Within a consortium, Agroeduka could contribute particularly to translating scientific and nature-based solutions into practical horticultural applications: supporting pilot implementation, assessing plant performance under real field conditions, developing practical maintenance and water-management protocols, demonstrating sustainable horticultural practices, and transferring project results into applicable guidance and training for municipalities, green-space managers and local communities.

We believe this practical horticultural and knowledge-transfer role could complement the scientific expertise of the University of Catania, as well as the expertise of pilot municipalities and other research partners already expressing interest in cooperation.

We are currently looking to join a consortium under the Green Living Areas Mission and would be very pleased to explore possible synergies and contribute to the further development of a joint concept.

Kind regards,
Martina Kmet
Agroeduka
Croatia
agroeduka@gmail.com

[Valentina Formica]

Dear all,
We are available to join a consortium as a scientific partner and contribute actively from the proposal development stage, bringing our expertise to defining project objectives, designing scientific activities and methodologies, and planning pilot actions addressing green infrastructure, nature-based solutions, biodiversity, and climate-resilient Mediterranean urban landscapes.
If you are interested in collaborating and building the proposal together, please don’t hesitate to contact us.
Thank you in advance,
Best regards

Valentina Formica
valentina.formica@phd.unict.it

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