On March 11th 2021, the MienTrung Institute for Scientific Research (MISR) together with its project partners Humboldt University Berlin (HUB), the Independent Institute for Environmental Issues (UfU), the Hue Institute of Development and Studies (HueIDS), and the Faculty of Architecture of the Hue University of Science (HUSC) successfully implemented the Closing Workshop of the Definition Phase of the Project »GreenCityLabHue – Nature-Based Solutions to strengthen climate resilience of urban regions in Central Vietnam«. Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the workshop was hosted virtually. The closing of the project’s Definition Phase however does not mean that activities regarding effects of nature-based solutions on Hue’s environment and the quality of life of its citizens will end. On the contrary, the project’s four years Research and Development Phase (R&D Phase) follows directly, starting in April 2021. In the R&D Phase research, education, networking, and collaboration in the context of Green-Blue Infrastructure (GBI) development in the city of Hue will be continued and intensified with the aim of making this beautiful city even more liveable by making it greener and more resilient against adverse impacts of climate change.
During the 3-hours online workshop, the results of the Definition Phase (September 2019-March 2021) and the plans for the next project phase, the Research and Development Phase (April 2021 to July 2024) were presented. Patrick Konopatzki (UfU) and Jessica Jache (HBU) presented results from the project’s Status Quo Analysis, including current trends regarding Green-Blue Infrastructure and Nature-Based Solutions in Hue, that will form the basis for future research activities in the city. Prof. Dr. Dagmar Haase (HUB) presented concepts and methods of the scenario modelling process that her team implemented to demonstrate possible future developments regarding Green-Blue Infrastructure development. Hoang Thi Binh Minh (MISR) presented the results of the first stakeholders workshop that was implemented in 2020 to start the project’s participatory co-creating process regarding Green-Blue Infrastructure planning. Finally, Fabian Stolpe (UfU) closed the workshop with an outlook on future project activities that will follow in the next months and years during the R&D Phase. Beside further development of scenarios and the assessment of possible impacts of Green-Blue Infrastructure development on ecosystem services, in the R&D Phase, the project is going to implement small pilot projects on four selected sites within Hue with the scale of 25ha to demonstrate positive environmental and social effects of nature-based solutions for climate adaptation and making the GreenCityLabHue Project visible in the city.
34 stakeholders from different institutions from the sectors administration, science, civil society and the public from the Thua Thien Hue province and experts of the GreenCityLabHue project team from Germany and Vietnam participated in the workshop, including the Department of Planning and Investment, the Thua Thien Hue Intelligent Operations Center; the Green Tree Center, the Institute of Resources and Environment, the Hue University, the Institute for Community Health Research, the Hue University of Pharmacy and Medicine, the Thua Thien Hue Bee Association, the organisation Peaceful Bamboo Family, and the People’s Committees of An Dong ward, Phu Hoi ward, Tay Loc ward, Thuan Hoa ward, Thuy Bieu ward.
Furthermore, on behalf of MISR, the Vietnam Academy of Science and Technology (VAST) and the whole project consortium, Assoc. Prof. Pham Hong Thai expressed his gratitude to the International Corporation Committee of VAST; the Thua Thien Hue People’s Committee, the Departments; People’ Committee of An Dong ward, Phu Hoi ward, Tay Loc ward, Thuan Hoa ward, Thuy Bieu ward and other specialists for their support and collaboration during the Definition Phase, and especially expressed his thanks to the German Federal Ministry of Education and Research (BMBF) for funding of the project. The GreenCityLabHue project consortium will continue and intensify the collaboration with the Thua Thien Hue Provincial Departments and local stakeholders in the subsequent phases of the project.