Last updated: October 2024
The Green Wall of Tomesti was an initiative launched by the commune of Tomesti to combat air pollution from the nearby city of Iasi, which often drifted into the area (1, 2). The municipality decided to implement this solution after consulting specialists on how to address pollution from the main urban area. It was also integrated into the objectives of their 2014 General Urbanistic Plan, which aimed to transform Tomesti into a "modern, clean, and ecological area" (1, 2, 5). In addition to mitigating air pollution, the forest wall was expected to help lower local air temperatures (1). The municipality purchased seedlings and planted the trees at the end of 2019, near the D.D. Patranascu school (1-3). While the overall goal was to protect the entire commune and improve the health of Tomesti's residents, particular attention was given to safeguarding the school closest to Iasi (1, 2). Before planting, the organizers called for volunteers to help with the plantation (3). In total, approximately 1,500 trees were planted (linden, acacia, oak and willow), with a space of 1,5 m between each other (2). The action also follows on a 20-year national plan to increase forest walls to improve the quality of the air in the country (6).
Seedlings planted in area of implementation
https://www.ziaruldeiasi.ro/stiri/tomestiul-va-fi-protejat-de-poluare-printr-o-perdea-forestiera-de-1500-de-copaci--237700.html#google_vignette
Overview
Nature-based solution
- Parks and urban forests
- Other
Key challenges
- Climate action for adaptation, resilience and mitigation (SDG 13)
- Climate change adaptation
- Environmental quality
- Air quality improvement
- Green space, habitats and biodiversity (SDG 15)
- Green space creation and/or management
- Health and well-being (SDG 3)
- Improving physical health
- Social justice, cohesion and equity (SDG 10)
- Social justice and equity
Principal problems in Functional Urban Area (FUA)
- Climate-Related Hazards
- Heat stress & Extreme temperatures
- Environmental Degradation
- Air pollution
- Health, Well-being and Social cohesion
- Physical health harm (from pollution, wildfire, extreme temperature)
Key priorities
Climate action (adaptation and/or mitigation), Social Justice and community
Focus
Creation of new green areas, Creation of large parks and urban and peri-urban forests, Ecological restoration of ecosystems, Remediation activities of sites with very poor environmental quality
Project objectives
To reduce the amount of pollution arriving from nearby urban areas, making the commune a cleaner place to live for all its inhabitants (1-3, 5).
To lower local temperatures and prevent the urban heat island effect (1).
To improve the health of the commune's citizens and follow up with the local strategy that aims to improve the quality of life of the inhabitants
To create a forest curtain at the edges of the commune by planting several tree species
To re-qualify a vacant space and give it a new functionality (1-3, 5).
Implementation activities
The development of a general municipal plan included specific indicators on air pollution to ensure the most effective solution could be implemented to address the issue (5). As part of this initiative, 1,500 trees (including linden, acacia, oak, and willow) were planted around the commune's school with the help of volunteers (1, 2). Prior to this, a consultation with a commission of specialists was conducted to determine the best way to manage air pollution. The experts recommended the creation of a forest wall and provided guidance on the optimal planting locations and the types of trees best suited for the area (1).
Climate-focused activities
Climate change adaptation:
- Increase urban vegetation cover to reduce urban heat island effect
Communities vulnerable to environmental hazards or climate change impacts
Yes
Specification of climate or environmentally vulnerable communities
Communities near industrial areas
Main beneficiaries
- Citizens or community groups
- Young people and children
Governance
Management set-up
- Government-led
Type of initiating organisation
- Local government/municipality
Participatory approaches/ community involvement
- Taskforce groups
- Joint implementation (e.g. tree planting)
Details on the roles of the organisations involved in the project
The municipality of Tomesti started the initiative by consulting experts on the best solution to deal with air pollution coming from the city of Iasi (1). It also bough the trees and planted them in joint collaboration with volunters from the commune of Tomesti (1 to 3). Experts advised on solutions, location and type of trees to plant (1).
Project implemented in response to ...
... an EU policy or strategy?
Unknown
... a national policy or strategy?
Yes
(Legea nr. 289/2002 „Programul national de realizare a perdelelor forestiere pentru protectia autostrazilor si drumurilor nationale” (National programme for the development of forest walls for the protection of national roads) (6). )
... a local policy or strategy?
Yes
(Plan Urbanistic General al comunei Tomeşti (5)/ General Urban Plan of Tomeşti commune)
Type of enablers
Unknown
Financing
Total cost
Unknown
Source(s) of funding
- Public local authority budget
Type of funding
- Earmarked public budget
Non-financial contribution
Type of non-financial contribution
- Provision of labour
Who provided the non-financial contribution?
- Citizens (e.g. volunteering)
Impacts and Monitoring
Environmental impacts
- Climate change
- Lowered local temperature
- Expected lowered local temperature
- Environmental quality
- Improved air quality
- Expected improved air quality
- Green space and habitat
- 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 liveability
- Expected improved liveability
- Health and wellbeing
- Improved physical health
- Expected improved physical health
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.
Moftescu, I. (2018 ). ReporterIS - Tomeştiul se apără de Iaşi cu un zid verde. ReporterIS, Accessed on August 27, 2024, [Source link];
2.
Ziarul de Iasi (2019 ). Tomestiul va fi protejat de poluare printr-o perdea ferestiera de 1-500 de copaci. Accessed on August 27, 2024, [Source link];
3.
Primaria Comunei Tomesti (2019 ). Joi și Vineri, 24 - 25 octombrie, așteptăm toți tomestenii să ne sprijine, în vederea plantării celor 1000 de copaci. . Facebook , Accessed on August 27, 2024, [Source link];
4.
S.C. Euro Consulting S.R.L. (2022 ). Strategie de dezvoltare locala a comunei tomesti . Primaria Comunei Tomesti , p. 21 to 24. Accessed on August 27, 2024, [Source link];
5.
Primaria Comuna Tomesti (2016). Plan Urbanistic General al comunei Tomeşti. p. 95 & 121 Accessed on October 9, 2024, [Source link];
6.
Regia Nationala a Padurilor (n.d.). Legea 2002 perdele forestiere . Accessed on October 9, 2024, [Source link];
Seedlings planted in area of implementation
https://www.ziaruldeiasi.ro/stiri/tomestiul-va-fi-protejat-de-poluare-printr-o-perdea-forestiera-de-1500-de-copaci--237700.html#google_vignette
Tomesti
https://www.ziaruldeiasi.ro/stiri/tomestiul-va-fi-protejat-de-poluare-printr-o-perdea-forestiera-de-1500-de-copaci--237700.html#google_vignette
Tomesti
https://www.ziaruldeiasi.ro/stiri/tomestiul-va-fi-protejat-de-poluare-printr-o-perdea-forestiera-de-1500-de-copaci--237700.html#google_vignette
Tomesti
https://www.ziaruldeiasi.ro/stiri/tomestiul-va-fi-protejat-de-poluare-printr-o-perdea-forestiera-de-1500-de-copaci--237700.html#google_vignette
Tomesti
https://www.ziaruldeiasi.ro/stiri/tomestiul-va-fi-protejat-de-poluare-printr-o-perdea-forestiera-de-1500-de-copaci--237700.html#google_vignette
Information about this nature-based solution was collected as part of the Naturescapes project funded by the European Union under Grant Agreement No 101084341.