[Katarina Polajnar Horvat]

Dear all,
I am writing on behalf of ZRC SAZU – Anton Melik Geographical Institute, Slovenia, to express our interest in joining a consortium under the Interreg Euro-MED Green Living Areas Mission.
Our research team has extensive experience in European and national projects addressing sustainable urban and rural development, green and blue spaces, nature-based solutions, biodiversity, environmental governance, participatory approaches and community engagement.
Our previous project experience includes AgriGo4Cities, where we worked with participatory urban agriculture and community-based approaches to urban development, as well as projects such as BIOMOT (FP7), WETNET and TUNE UP (Interreg Med), dealing with biodiversity, wetlands, protected areas, ecosystem management and stakeholder participation.
We also have experience with allotment gardens and urban gardening in Ljubljana, including research on their social, spatial and environmental role and their contribution to the quality of urban life.
Currently, we are implementing the research project BLUE – The Role of Urban Blue Spaces in Improving Human and Environmental Well-being. The project investigates how urban blue spaces can contribute to wellbeing, restoration, social interaction and environmental quality. Our approach combines spatial analysis, observation, surveys, stakeholder consultations and participatory methods, while also developing nature-based solutions and social interventions for selected pilot areas.
Our team can contribute to potential Green Living Areas proposals particularly through:
• research and methodological development related to green and blue public spaces;
• participatory approaches and co-creation with local communities and stakeholders;
• assessment of the relationship between public space, wellbeing and quality of life;
• urban gardening and community-based green spaces;
• stakeholder mapping and engagement;
• spatial and geographical analysis;
• development, monitoring and evaluation of pilot interventions;
• nature-based and socially oriented solutions;
• cooperation with municipalities, public institutions and local communities;
• transferability and development of recommendations and guidelines for other territories.
We see particular potential in projects connecting green and blue infrastructure, climate adaptation, biodiversity, human wellbeing and inclusive public spaces.
We would therefore be very interested in joining a consortium as a research partner and contributing our methodological, research and participatory expertise to the development and implementation of pilot activities.
Please feel free to contact me if you are currently developing a proposal and see potential synergies with our expertise.

Kind regards,
Katarina Polajnar Horvat, PhD
ZRC SAZU – Anton Melik Geographical Institute
Ljubljana, Slovenia
katarina.polajnar@zrc-sazu.si

[Author]

Posts