The document outlines a project called VEG-GAP that aims to develop strategies for urban air quality plans (AQPs) that consider the role of urban vegetation. The project will assess how vegetation impacts air pollution levels, temperatures, and quality in cities like Bologna, Madrid, and Milan. It will create tools to analyze vegetation's effects on key pollutants and temperatures to help these cities develop measures to meet air quality standards. The project also seeks to better understand risks and benefits of different vegetation approaches and encourage the inclusion of vegetation in urban planning to improve both air and climate.

1. Vegetation for Urban Green Air Quality Plans
VEG-GAP
LIFE 18 PRE

2. LIFE 18 PRE
Associated beneficiaries:

3. Life VEG-GAP- VI ARIANET DAY, 31 gennaio 2019, Milano
Main objectives
The main objective: develop a strategy for providing new reliable information in support
of designing urban Air Quality Plans (AQPs) considering the urban
ecosystems/vegetation characteristics.
The new information will regard the assessment of:
1) the contribution of vegetation ecosystems both as a source and sink of air pollution in
urban areas;
2) the urban vegetation ecosystems' effects on air temperature (urban heating and
cooling patterns) and
3) its impact on air quality for the most relevant pollutants.

4. Life VEG-GAP- VI ARIANET DAY, 31 gennaio 2019, Milano
VEG-GAP cities
Bologna
-had a population of 390,294
-an area of about 140,8 square kilometres
Madrid
-had a population of 3 141 991
-an area of about 604,3 square kilometres
Milano
-had a population of 1,372,810
-an area of about 181,7 square kilometres

5. Life VEG-GAP- VI ARIANET DAY, 31 gennaio 2019, Milano
Specific objectives
-develop and implement for the first time a framework of instruments (guidelines, support tools and information
platform) that consistently consider the linkages between air pollution and vegetation characteristics in the development
of effective control strategies and, consequently, in recommendations to improve the legislation aimed to maintain and
improve air quality in Europe.
-the application of VEG-GAP tools in areas recording air quality exceedances (O3 and PM10 in particular), will support
the three partner authorities (Madrid, Milan, Bologna) in defining measures to attain concentration limits.
-will foster the consideration of the role of urban vegetation ecosystem to attain compliance with the national and EU
environmental legislation on Air Quality. Therefore, the project will provide recommendations and indications for the
possible revision of air quality legislation .
- outcomes will provide bases for testing environmental solutions such as green infrastructures, urban agriculture, urban
green belts fostering an integrated view in space and time of pollution and urban vegetation capable to support local
authorities’ decisions, considering present and future environmental, social and economic needs at local, regional and
European scales.

6. Life VEG-GAP- VI ARIANET DAY, 31 gennaio 2019, Milano
Other objectives
-will allow a better understanding and evaluation of the possible risks and benefits for human health and ecosystems
themselves associated with air pollution changes induced by vegetation/ecosystems changes. At present, the local
governance authorities and policy makers lack of relevant information on the amount of vegetation, which species/type
to use and how to distribute them in order to maintain or improve air quality in urban areas.
-will provide evidence and incentivize the consideration in a more comprehensive way of vegetation ecosystem in the
spatial structure of the city (urban development open space and land-use planning) as measures in the short and long
term AQPs finalised to improve air quality (avoid new pollution hot spots, decrease air pollution levels, etc.) and urban
climate (reducing temperature and improve urban wellbeing by greening the streets, roofs, etc).
-as a first step, VEG-GAP will provide an overview of previous projects and initiatives regarding the relationships
between air pollution and vegetation. The applicability of the main outcomes from these projects will be analysed to
build a clear view of the lessons learnt so far and to better define the for VEG-GAP implementation. It will also be a
base for shaping future projects and funding programmes at local, national and European levels.

7. Life VEG-GAP- VI ARIANET DAY, 31 gennaio 2019, Milano
VEG-GAP actions

8. Life VEG-GAP- VI ARIANET DAY, 31 gennaio 2019, Milano
Future events
1 day Conferences&Networking events:
Bologna
Madrid
Milano
1.5 days Demonstrative VEG-GAP days:
Bologna
Madrid
Milano
Roma

9. Life VEG-GAP- VI ARIANET DAY, 31 gennaio 2019, Milano
Vegetation-Air Quality interactions
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