Partners of FORSAID present at the EcoForum “Arbori et Urbi – 2026: Trees in the Urban Ecosystem”
The Ukrainian National Forestry University (UNFU) in Lviv, a consortium member of the FORSAID project, hosted the EcoForum “Arbori et Urbi – 2026: Trees in the Urban Ecosystem” between 28 and 30 May 2026. The event proved itself a meeting point for scientists, ecologists, arborists, local government representatives and urban greening specialists from Ukraine and beyond. They benefited from a rich programme of keynote lectures, panel discussions, practical workshops and field excursions that spotlighted leading experts and recent insights.
More specifically, the following topics were in focus: the role of trees in creating sustainable urban environments, the conservation of ancient trees, the development of urban green infrastructure and modern approaches to urban ecology. Particular attention in this context was afforded to environmental policies and the integration of nature-based solutions into modern city planning and management.
Numerous UNFU researchers affiliated with FORSAID actively contributed to the EcoForum through presentations and in panel settings:
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Iryna Matsiakh was responsible for the talk “Citizen Science: From Public Participation to Effective Monitoring”. Her showcase attracted considerable interest from participants and helped initiate discussions on expanding citizen science approaches for monitoring the spread of the emerald ash borer (one of FORSAID’s target species) and the condition of ash trees in Ukraine.
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Volodymyr Kramarets delivered the presentation “Ancient Trees as Centres of Life for Fungi and Insects”, highlighting the ecological importance of veteran trees for biodiversity conservation.
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Lyubov Kondratyuk introduced attendees to virtual tours developed at UNFU, demonstrating their value as tools for inclusive green infrastructure, environmental education and public engagement.
All in all, the event served as an important platform for professional dialogue, knowledge exchange and the development of novel solutions for creating greener cities defined by environmental sustainability. Moreover, the involvement of the aforementioned experts complements FORSAID’s aspiration to remain at the forefront of innovations in the forestry sector. Further contributions of UNFU in the context of the project may be explored here.