Understanding the contribution parks and green spaces can make to improving people’s lives

Posted on: 1 July 2011
By: mackene
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This report, published by GreenSpace,  outlines the many benefits that a diverse range of quality green spaces bring, covering health; communities; economic and environmental value. This document is intended to serve three primary purposes:

• To provide a platform of evidence for all types of green space services at the local level, raising awareness of the inherently unique contribution that they make to the social, environmental and economic fabric of our towns and cities.
• Provide the organisations that manage parks and green spaces teams with a framework for applying this evidence to enable them to position and make the case for the contribution that the service can make to local outcomes in order for them to collaborate more effectively during this period of unprecedented financial difficulty.
• Generating greater understanding of the unique contribution that community management of green spaces can make in developing a sense of ownership and community engagement.   [loaded 1 April 2011]

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Apprenticeships within the housing sector

Posted on: 1 July 2011
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In early 2010 the National Housing Federation was commissioned by the National Apprenticeship Service to produce a report on the level of apprenticeship activity with housing associations. This report sets out our findings with recommendations for future action. The report also contains a series of detailed case studies from across the country which highlight in some detail what members are doing and the areas in which they are recruiting apprentices to include construction, housing management, business administration and horticulture among others.

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Catalogue of scenario studies: Knowledge base for Forward-Looking Information and Services

Posted on: 1 July 2011
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The European Environment Agency has published a report which brings together a review of available scenario studies relevant to environmental assessment and decision making at the European, or sub-European level, and fact sheets of selected 44 case studies using com mon descriptor categories, which enables the user to review existing scenario studies that may be of relevance to their particular interest and benefit from them. The report also provides a contribution to the evolving knowledge base for Forward-Looking Information and Services (FLIS). The aim of FLIS is to introduce forward-looking components and perspectives into existing environmental information systems to create an expanding knowledge base. This living knowledge base will support networking (including the European Environment Information and Observation Network — Eionet); encourage capacity building and exchange of experiences; facilitate institutional change to ensure that appropriate knowledge and information is available and used in environmental policy making; and enable relevant, credible and scientifically sound forward-looking assessments. Overall it is of crucial importance that forward-looking assessments are well designed, supported by appropriate information systems and fit well into existing policy making processes, enhanced by stakeholder participation. It is also important that institutions at all levels develop their capacities to manage these requirements coherently.

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What lasting educational benefits can be created by “mega-events”?

Posted on: 1 July 2011
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The CfBT Education Trust has produced a report that examines what lasting educational benefits can be created from mega events. The report concludes that projects arising from and created by mega events are not in themselves the valuable lasting legacy of education. Rather it is the changing attitudes, values and approaches, and the increased opportunities that create a strong engagement with education among the wider community.

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The canopy. London’s urban forest: A guide for designers, planners and developers

Posted on: 1 July 2011
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This publication offers guidance on the steps to take in order to increase the number of new trees being planted and reverse the decline of existing mature trees. It aims to create healthier, more liveable and more successful places in London.

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Housing: a growing city

Posted on: 1 July 2011
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This latest report in the Focus on London 2010/11 series looks at housing trends in London, from the demand/supply imbalance to the consequences for affordability and housing need.

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The future of road congestion in London

Posted on: 1 July 2011
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This report, published by the London Assembly Transport Committee, highlights that managing the conflicting demands for London’s road network will require new and varied approaches in order to accommodate more people and more economic activity.

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LiFE (Learning in Future Environments)

Posted on: 1 July 2011
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LiFE is the full redeveloped, rebranded and relaunched Universities that Count programme. It is a unique, comprehensive performance management and benchmarking tool developed specifically to help colleges and universities manage, measure, improve and promote their social responsibility and sustainability performance.

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Case studies on sustainable development

Posted on: 1 July 2011
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ICLEI Case Studies profile locally-based projects that support sustainability. Eleven new ICLEI Case Studies, numbers 127-137, demonstrate the ability of local governments to involve stakeholders in improving local biodiversity. The 11 practical examples were collected by ICLEI Japan and ICLEI Southeast Asia in preparation of the local government input to the UN Conference of the Parties on Biological Diversity (COP 10) in Nagoya in October 2010.  The new case studies showcase urban biodiversity projects in Indonesia, Japan, Philippines and Thailand. They cover themes such as the creation of botanical gardens on spoilt lands, mangrove conversation, soil and water conversation, the greening of urban spaces, green tax incentives and coastal management.

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Urban sustainability: learning from the best

Posted on: 1 July 2011
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This report presents a catalogue of best practices of the eight finalists for the European Green Capital Award 2010 and 2011. These eight cities have shown that they can lead the way in environmentally friendly urban living and act as role-models to inspire other cities within the field of sustainable urban development. The eight shortlisted finalists were: Amsterdam, Bristol, Copenhagen, Freiburg, Hamburg, Münster, Oslo and Stockholm. In this catalogue, best practice examples are given within the 10 environmental indicator areas on which the cities were evaluated. The indicator areas are: Local contribution to global climate change; Local mobility and passenger transportation; Availability of local public open areas; Quality of local ambient air; Noise pollution; Waste production and management; Water consumption; Waste water management; Environmental management of the local authority;  Sustainable land use. The aim of this best practice catalogue is to share experiences and visions as well as inspire European cities to introduce measures within these 10 areas to the benefit of their citizens at the same time reducing their impact to local and global environmental problems.

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