Last updated: October 2024
"Adopt a linden tree" is a project that involved the planting and adoption of linden trees in the city of Iași, spanning from 2019 to 2023 across three editions (1 to 8). The campaign was spearheaded by the National Athenaeum of Iași, in collaboration with the Mihai Eminescu Association from Vienna (2). This initiative was launched in celebration of the Athenaeum's 100th anniversary, and it specifically chose the linden tree because of its deep-rooted symbolism in the city of Iași. The tree is not only a natural landmark but also carries cultural and historical weight, as it is closely associated with Romania’s national poet, Mihai Eminescu, who is known for his love of linden trees. In 2019, 100 linden trees were planted, a number that was repeated in 2020. In the 2023 edition, 50 trees were added, bringing the total number of trees planted through this project to 250 (1 & 4 & 5). An important and unique aspect of the initiative is the "adoption" of the trees by volunteers who participated in the campaign. These volunteers not only lent their names to the trees but also took on the responsibility for their care, ensuring the trees' survival and growth until they reached maturity . Volunteers were encouraged to participate, and the campaign was supported by donations from individuals, businesses, and public institutions. The municipality of Iași also contributed by providing funds, approving the initiative, and preparing the land through its subsidiary, Servicii Publice Iași S.A., reflecting strong public-private collaboration. Beyond its cultural significance, the campaign aimed to achieve several other objectives. These included enhancing the city’s aesthetics, promoting community engagement, and improving the quality of life in Iași by contributing to cleaner air and a healthier environment . The initiative also aimed to raise environmental awareness among residents and foster a stronger sense of responsibility toward the natural world. (1-8)
Adopta un tei
https://www.ateneuiasi.ro/adopta-un-tei/
Overview
Nature-based solution
- Grey infrastructure featuring greens
- Alley or street trees and other street vegetation
Key challenges
- Climate action for adaptation, resilience and mitigation (SDG 13)
- Climate change mitigation
- Environmental quality
- Air quality improvement
- Green space, habitats and biodiversity (SDG 15)
- Green space creation and/or management
- Regeneration, land-use and urban development
- Promote natural styles of landscape design for urban development
- Cultural heritage and cultural diversity
- Preservation of historic traditions
- Health and well-being (SDG 3)
- Improving physical health
- Inclusive and effective governance (SDG 16)
- Inclusive governance
- Social justice, cohesion and equity (SDG 10)
- Sense of community and community engagement
Principal problems in Functional Urban Area (FUA)
- Environmental Degradation
- Air pollution
- Land use and Socio-economic change
- Rapid urbanization
- Health, Well-being and Social cohesion
- Physical health harm (from pollution, wildfire, extreme temperature)
- Disconnection from nature
- Poor community engagement
Key priorities
Climate action (adaptation and/or mitigation), Social Justice and community
Focus
Creation of new green areas, Creation of any other green urban spaces, Improved governance of green or blue areas, Establishment of inclusive governance mechanisms involving local communities
Project objectives
To improve the aesthetics of the city.
To involve, engage and empower the community in decision making processes, and activities that required planting and maintenance of trees
To create a healthy environment for future generations by improving air quality.
To preserve and promote the city's cultural and historical heritage through symbolic actions.
To raise awareness about the importance of green spaces in the city.
To combat CO2 and air pollution by planting trees that store CO2 and release oxygen. (1-8)
Implementation activities
The initiative involved the planting of a total of 250 linden trees over the course of three editions, with volunteers playing a key role in the process, alongside the leading NGO that implemented the action. The NGO issued a call to civil society, inviting proposals for planting locations in different parts of the city. Following this, the team approached the mayor's office, obtained the necessary approvals, and focused their efforts on the Tătăraşi cultural axis, including the Tătăraşi neighborhood where the National Athenaeum of Iași is located, extending up to the pedagogical high school and Copou, creating the Tătăraşi-Copou cultural axis. Institutions that supported the project joined in the effort to beautify the city. The trees were planted along the streets of Iași after the terrain was prepared in accordance with procedures set by public institutions. Each tree was named after the volunteer who planted it, fostering symbolic connections between the participants and the trees, while also entrusting the volunteers with their care to ensure the trees reach maturity (requiring periodic checks and reporting any needed cleaning, toileting, or treatments to the NGO). Crowdfunding events were also organized to raise the necessary funds and ensure the project’s success. (1-8)
Climate-focused activities
Climate change mitigation:
- Increase the availability of green urban space for carbon storage (street tree cover)
- Raise public awareness of behaviours, lifestyle and cultural changes with mitigation potential
Main beneficiaries
- Non-government organisation/Civil Society
- Citizens or community groups
Governance
Management set-up
- Led by non-government actors
Type of initiating organisation
- Non-government organisation/civil society
Participatory approaches/ community involvement
- Co-planning (e.g. stakeholder workshops, focus groups, participatory mapping)
- Crowd-sourcing/Crowd-funding/Participatory budget
- Joint implementation (e.g. tree planting)
- Co-management/Joint management
- Citizen monitoring and review
Details on the roles of the organisations involved in the project
The project was initiated by the National Athenaeum of Iași in collaboration with the Mihai Eminescu Association from Vienna. The partners selected the tree species to plant, organized crowdfunding efforts, and arranged events for planting. The municipality of Iași approved the initiative, partially funded the project, and designated spaces for planting through its subsidiary, Servicii Publice Iași S.A. Support came from various organizations, including the I.S.U.J. Iași (Inspectoratul pentru Situaţii de Urgenţă al jud. Iaşi) and the military brigade Brigada 15 Mecanizată „Podu Înalt,” which contributed through volunteer efforts. The private transportation company Teisa also provided financial support. To promote the campaign, the municipal museum „Regina Maria” assisted in outreach. Citizens were encouraged to suggest locations for planting spots and could "adopt" trees, allowing them to name the trees and take responsibility for their care and maintenance. (1-8)
Project implemented in response to ...
... an EU policy or strategy?
Unknown
... a national policy or strategy?
Unknown
... a local policy or strategy?
Unknown
Type of enablers
NGOs/Community groups driving the implementation, Governance innovations (such as public private partnerships)
Financing
Total cost
Unknown
Source(s) of funding
- Public local authority budget
- Corporate investment
- Crowdfunding
Type of funding
- Earmarked public budget
- Direct funding (grants, subsidies, or self-financed projects by private entities)
- Donations
Non-financial contribution
Type of non-financial contribution
- Provision of land
- Provision of goods
- Provision of labour
- Provision of expertise
Who provided the non-financial contribution?
- Public authorities (e.g. land, utility services)
- Citizens (e.g. volunteering)
Impacts and Monitoring
Environmental impacts
- Climate change
- Enhanced carbon sequestration
- Expected enhanced carbon sequestration
- Environmental quality
- Improved air quality
- Expected improved air quality
- Green space and habitat
- Increased green space area
- Achieved increased green space area
- Increased number of species present
- Achieved increased number of species present
Economic impacts
- Generation of other type of work opportunities (e.g. voluntary, work for rehabilitation)
- Achieved generation of other type of work opportunities (e.g. voluntary, work for rehabilitation)
Socio-cultural impacts
- Social justice and cohesion
- Improved social cohesion
- Expected improved social cohesion
- Improved liveability
- Expected improved liveability
- Increased involvement of locals in the management of green spaces
- Achieved increased involvement of locals in the management of green spaces
- Health and wellbeing
- Improved physical health
- Expected improved physical health
- Improved prevention of respiratory problems
- Expected improved prevention of respiratory problems
- Cultural heritage and sense of place
- Increased sense of place identity, memory and belonging
- Achieved increased sense of place identity, memory and belonging
Type of reported impacts
Presence of formal monitoring system
Yes
Presence of indicators used in reporting
Yes
Presence of monitoring/ evaluation reports
No evidence in public records
Availability of a web-based monitoring tool
No evidence in public records
Potential risks of implementation and trade-offs
Unknown
References
1.
IasiTV Life (2019). Adopta un tei-100 de arbori vor fi plantati intr-o singura zi. Accessed on March 23, 2024, [Source link];
2.
Ateneul National din Iasi (n.d.). Adoptă un TEI - Ateneu Iași. Accessed on September 23, 2024, [Source link];
3.
inOras.ro (2019). ADOPTĂ UN TEI - In Oras - Iasi. Accessed on September 23, 2024, [Source link];
4.
inOras.ro (2023). ADOPTĂ UN TEI - a 3-a ediție - In Oras - Iasi. Accessed on September 23, 2024, [Source link];
5.
IasiTV Life (2023). Adopta un tei Facebook. Facebook , Accessed on September 23, 2024, [Source link];
6.
Coronovici, A. (2019 ). Adoptă un tei! - Radio România Internațional. Radio Romania International , Accessed on September 23, 2024, [Source link];
7.
Paleu, A. (2023). IAȘI_ Campania Adoptă un tei, la a treia ediție . Radio Vacanta , Accessed on September 23, 2024, [Source link];
8.
Salut Iasi (2023). Un oraș în verde - Campania „Adoptă un tei” transformă peisajul urban. Accessed on September 23, 2024, [Source link];
9.
Inter Imobiliare (2020). Prezentare cartier Tătăraşi. Accessed on September 23, 2024, [Source link];
10.
STORIA (n.d.). TRAI Storia Tatarasi Sud . Accessed on September 23, 2024, [Source link];
11.
UAT Municipiul Iasi (2020). STRATEGIA INTEGRATĂ DE DEZVOLTARE URBANĂ A MUNICIPIULUI IAȘI ȘI A ZONEI METROPOLITANE 2021 - 2030. p. 146 & 148 Accessed on September 23, 2024, [Source link];
Adopta un tei
https://iasitvlife.ro/stiri/adopta-un-tei-100-de-arbori-vor-fi-plantati-intr-o-singura-zi/
Plot for the tree sapling
https://www.facebook.com/photo/?fbid=663050416005018&set=pcb.663050576005002
Tree sapling recently planted
https://www.facebook.com/photo/?fbid=663050416005018&set=pcb.663050576005002
Information about this nature-based solution was collected as part of the Naturescapes project funded by the European Union under Grant Agreement No 101084341.