In November 2018, the first World Forum on Urban Forests with the title »Changing the nature of cities: the role of urban forestry for a green, healthier and happier future« was held in Mantova, where the good practices of Ljubljana were presented by our colleagues in the City of Ljubljana and our public company Snaga.

Ljubljana as a city in a forest

Representatives of the City of Ljubljana, the public company Snaga Ljubljana and the Tivoli, Rožnik and Šiška Hill Landscape Park were taking part in the forum with their presentation titled »Ljubljana – City in a Forest« and the European project URBforDAN – Management and Utilization of Urban Forests as Natural Heritage in Danube Cities.

700 delegates from around the world have shown great interest in Ljubljana’s care for the city forests. Our representatives surprised them with the data on the above average surface of publicly accessible green areas, especially parks and forests in the City of Ljubljana.

Their presentation was supported by photos of the green Ljubljana which impressed the participants. Selected excerpts from the history of the Tivoli, Rožnik and Šiška Hill Landscape Park have convinced the audience of a rich culture of preservation and management of nature and culture in the city centre. The understanding of the municipality for directed actions in city forests was presented through the URBforDAN project and the foreseen activities at the Golovec Hill.

They also proudly presented the new service of the Tivoli, Rožnik and Šiška Hill Landscape Park operating under the public company Snaga Ljubljana, and emphasized their achievements in including private forest owners in managing the park. They also livened up the presentation with two prize quiz questions, and the symbolical promotional gifts given by the Tivoli, Rožnik and Šiška Hill Landscape Park Service left a strong impression on the audience demonstrating the diversity of tree species in the forest and the surface it covers in the capital city.

Ljubljana’s measures as good practice

The aim of the World Forum on Urban Forests is to highlight positive examples of planning, design and management of city forest and green infrastructure in cites with different cultural, design, structural and historical bases. The good practices, among them are also measures of the city of Ljubljana, show how the presented activities lead to an efficient development of commercial and environmental services in these areas and enhance the inclusion of the public towards greater social cohesion.

Its participants are representatives of national and local governments, research and academic institutions, non-governmental organizations and experts in urban planning, urban forest management, arborists, landscape architects and designers and professionals from many other sectors who try to find opportunities for long-term cooperation in developing urban forestry strategies and are searching for solutions for a greener, healthier and happier future.