Last updated: October 2024
The Bahlui Forest project consists of a tree-planting initiative along the banks of the Bahlui River, which flows over a distance of 11 km through Iasi, practically dividing the city in two (1, 2, 6). The project aims to reduce the high levels of air pollution prevalent in the city, increase green spaces along the river and in the urban area, and enhance the aesthetic appeal of the surroundings, thereby improving the quality of life for local residents (1–3, 8, p. 188). The initiative was planned by the Municipality of Iași in collaboration with the Prut-Bârlad Water Basin Administration, the regional authority responsible for the river’s proper management (1–6). Furthermore, the "Ion Ionescu de la Brad" University of Agricultural Sciences and Veterinary Medicine in Iași provided the technical expertise needed to select and plant appropriate species (1–3, 7). The planting completed in 2024, covers the river section between the Sf. Ioan bridge and the Stone Bridge (3–5). In total, 1,200 native species were planted, including four tree species—Willow, Malin, Red Maple, and Birch—and three shrub species (3–6). This initiative is part of a broader municipal strategy to revitalize the riverbanks and address key issues (8, 9). Due to its natural geomorphology, the river represents a barrier in terms of accesibility between different parts of the city, and infrastructure and improvements need to be carried out to manage this problem (8 & 9). Therefore the areas around the river are sought to be revitalised to fullfil its touristic and recreational potential, ultimately becoming a green corridor and representing a new axis of development for Iasi (8, p. 344). Improving its green surfaces would also support efforts to increase green space sq.m. per inhabitant in the city, which falls short of the national requirement of 26 sq.m. per inhabitant (8, p. 189).
Bahlui copaci
https://www.ziaruldeiasi.ro/stiri/apar-noi-copaci-pe-malul-bahluiului--376669.html#google_vignette
Overview
Nature-based solution
- Blue infrastructure
- Riverbank/Lakeside greens
Key challenges
- 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
- Health and well-being (SDG 3)
- Improving physical health
- Social justice, cohesion and equity (SDG 10)
- Social justice and equity
- Economic development and employment (SDG 8)
- Tourism support
Principal problems in Functional Urban Area (FUA)
- Environmental Degradation
- Air pollution
- Land use and Socio-economic change
- Unequal availability and access to public green spaces
- Health, Well-being and Social cohesion
- Physical health harm (from pollution, wildfire, extreme temperature)
Key priorities
Social Justice and community
Focus
Creation of new green areas, Creation of green corridors (including connectivity between urban and rural ecosystems), Creation of any other green urban spaces
Project objectives
To improve the air quality in the city attributed to the affluence of car traffic and pollution (1 to 3).
To increase the size of green spaces in the riverbeds, as the city has very low levels of green spaces per inhabitant overall and allow the citizens of Iasi access to these spaces (1 & 2).
To increase the aesthetic appreciation for the Bahlui riverbeds (1 & 2).
To increase the touristic appeal of the river and the city (1 & 2).
To improve the livability of the surrounding inhabitants of the river (1 to 4 & 8, p. 188).
To enhance the potential of the Bahlui river to become a blue-green corridor as a new developmental axis for Iasi (8, p. 344 & 9, p. 314).
Implementation activities
The project involves several key actions aimed at enhancing the riverbanks of the Bahlui River. First, a protocol was established between the Municipality of Iași and the Prut-Bârlad Water Basin Administration to secure access to the riverbanks for the initiative (6).
Next, a total of 1,200 trees, including Willows, Raspberries, Maples, and Birches, along with various bush plants such as Cornus alba, Viburnum, and Juniperus, were planted along certain sections of the riverbanks (1–6).
Additionally, a collaboration was established with the "Ion Ionescu de la Brad" University of Agricultural Sciences and Veterinary Medicine to provide expert knowledge on plant health. This partnership includes monitoring the growth of the newly planted saplings and managing their care to ensure their long-term viability (7).
Communities vulnerable to environmental hazards or climate change impacts
Yes
Specification of climate or environmentally vulnerable communities
Riverfront communities
Main beneficiaries
- Citizens or community groups
Governance
Management set-up
- Government-led
Type of initiating organisation
- Local government/municipality
- Non-government organisation/civil society
Participatory approaches/ community involvement
- Co-planning (e.g. stakeholder workshops, focus groups, participatory mapping)
- Joint implementation (e.g. tree planting)
- Co-management/Joint management
Details on the roles of the organisations involved in the project
In 2019, the Moldova Development Movement Association (NGO) proposed to the City Hall of Iași the idea of planting Paulownia trees along the Bahlui River. Although the proposal did not initially gain traction, growing support from civil society led to increasing public calls for planting (1, 2). Eventually, the Municipality of Iași adopted the idea and integrated it into its urban development plans (1, 2).
To carry out the project, the municipality requested access to the riverbanks from the Prut-Bârlad Water Basin Administration, the managing authority (regional). A cooperation agreement was signed between the two entities, granting permission for planting, provided that certain regulations were followed (6). The tree planting occurred in 2024, with support from an on-site officer from the water administration (3–6). The "Ion Ionescu de la Brad" University of Agricultural Sciences and Veterinary Medicine in Iași provided expertise for planting and will monitor plant health (1–3, 7).
Project implemented in response to ...
... an EU policy or strategy?
Yes
(The sources mention standards of green space per inhabitant as per EU standards (8, 9))
... a national policy or strategy?
Yes
(The provisions of Law 24/2007 regarding the regulation and administration of green spaces in the urban area
localities, republished, with subsequent amendments and additions, art. 7 (6). // ORDONANŢĂ nr. 114 din 17 octombrie 2007 for standards of green space per inhabitant in the country (10). )
... a local policy or strategy?
Yes
(Strategia Integrata de Dezvoltare Urbana 2015-2030 (8) // STRATEGIA INTEGRATA DE DEZVOLTARE URBANA A MUNICIPIULUI IASI SI A ZONEI METROPOLITANE 2021-2030 (9) - Integrated Urban Development Strategy 2015-2030 (8) // INTEGRATED URBAN DEVELOPMENT STRATEGY OF THE MUNICIPALITY OF IASI AND THE METROPOLITAN AREA 2021-2030 (9).)
Type of enablers
City network or regional partnerships focused on climate change, sustainability, GI or NBS in the city
Financing
Total cost
Unknown
Source(s) of funding
- Public local authority budget
- EU funds
Type of funding
- Earmarked public budget
- Direct funding (grants, subsidies, or self-financed projects by private entities)
Non-financial contribution
Type of non-financial contribution
- Provision of expertise
Who provided the non-financial contribution?
- Other
Impacts and Monitoring
Environmental impacts
- 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
- Expected increased number of species present
Economic impacts
- More sustainable tourism
- Expected more sustainable tourism
Socio-cultural impacts
- Social justice and cohesion
- Improved liveability
- Expected improved liveability
- Improved access to urban green space
- Achieved improved access to urban green space
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.
Mihat, E. (2022). Pădurea Bahluiului: vor fi plantați copaci (sălcii, mesteceni, arțari, mălini) în lungul râului. APIX , Accessed on August 13, 2024, [Source link];
2.
Agora Press (2022). Padure de mesteceni pe Bahlui! Chirica anunta ca va planta 7 specii de copaci si arbusti in albia Bahluiului. Accessed on August 13, 2024, [Source link];
3.
TeleM Regional (2024). Se planteaza copaci pe malul Bahluiului. Accessed on August 13, 2024, [Source link];
4.
Ziarul de Iasi (2024). Apar noi copaci pe malul Bahluiului . Accessed on August 13, 2024, [Source link];
5.
Apele Române Prut-Bârlad (2024). Astăzi, am dat startul plantării de arbuști pe malurile râului Bahlui din municipiul Iași FB . Accessed on August 13, 2024, [Source link];
6.
Primaria Iasi (2022). HOTĂRÂRE privind încheierea unui protocol între Municipiul Iași și Administrația Bazinală de Apă Prut Bârlad - Sistemul de Gospodărire a Apelor Iași. Accessed on August 13, 2024, [Source link];
7.
Primaria Iasi (2020). HOTĂRÂRE privind aprobarea Acordului de colaborare între Municipiul Iași și Universitatea de Științe Agricole și Medicină Veterinară “Ion Ionescu de la Brad” din Iași. Accessed on August 13, 2024, [Source link];
8.
Primaria Municipiului Iasi (n.d.). Strategia Integrata de Dezvoltare Urbana 2015-2030. Accessed on October 8, 2024, [Source link];
9.
Primaria Municipiului Iasi (2023). STRATEGIA INTEGRATA DE DEZVOLTARE URBANA A MUNICIPIULUI IASI SI A ZONEI METROPOLITANE 2021-2030. Accessed on October 8, 2024, [Source link];
10.
Ministerul Justiției (2007). ORDONANŢĂ DE URGENŢĂ nr. 114 din 17 octombrie 2007pentru modificarea şi completarea Ordonanţei de urgenţă a Guvernului nr. 195/2005 privind protecţia mediului. Accessed on October 8, 2024, [Source link];
Bahlui copaci
https://telem.ro/se-planteaza-copaci-pe-malul-bahluiului/
Planted trees in the Bahlui river bed
https://www.facebook.com/permalink.php/?story_fbid=686132357064029&id=100070018113590&locale=ta_IN
Planted trees in the Bahlui river bed
https://www.facebook.com/permalink.php/?story_fbid=686132357064029&id=100070018113590&locale=ta_IN
Planted trees in the Bahlui river bed
https://www.facebook.com/permalink.php/?story_fbid=686132357064029&id=100070018113590&locale=ta_IN
Information about this nature-based solution was collected as part of the Naturescapes project funded by the European Union under Grant Agreement No 101084341.