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Koninklijke Vereniging van Hoveniers en Groenvoorzieners

VHG

Koninklijke VHG behartigt de belangen van de hoveniers- en groenvoorzienersbedrijven in Nederland.

Lobbying Activity

Response to Communication on the future of research and innovation and the European Research Area

13 Jul 2020

Branchevereniging VHG welcomes the initiative to strengthen research and innovation as a key to a more sustainable European society. Besides social and economic transitions, we feel that ecological challenges should have specific priority. Climate change and loss of biodiversity are from our point of view crucial threats for our wellbeing and the functioning of our economy. Besides technical innovations within this domain, it is important to have an extra focus on the benefits of nature based solutions. The European Commission had launched a specific strategy on nature based solutions under Horizon 2020 a few years ago and this has lead to several succesfull research programs within a broad cooperation of scientific and governmental institutions and businesses. We want to plaid strongly, also compliant to the European Green Deal, for the continuation of European initiatives on research and innovation on nature based solutions. VHG is, supported by the European Landscape Contractors Association (ELCA), willing to help defining research topics and to support the creation of European research coalitions.
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Response to 2030 Climate Target Plan

15 Apr 2020

Nature Based Solutions for greener cities One of the biggest societal challenges is climate change. We more and more experience the consequences of sea level rise, heavy rainfall and drought that lead to financial, economic and social damage. In 2030 about 60% of our population will live in the city and this percentage will grow further in the future. On a relatively small surface lots of functions have to be combined. This challenge can not only be solved by technical solutions. For sure, they are more effective when a combination with the nature based solutions is made. Greenery is no longer to be considered as decoration. We are, based on scientific research, aware of the values and benefits of greenery linked to climate change, biodiversity, health of people and in the circular economy. A few years ago the European Commission developed, supported by VHG, the Nature Based Solutions in renaturing the city Strategy under Horizon 2020. It made clear that greenery can no longer be left out as an option in creating liveable cities and it is important to involve greenery at the beginning of the planning and design process. Meanwhile new coalitions have been formed on national and local level in which specific policies and innovative best-practices are developed. Green solutions How can we make a liveable green environment and green sustainable buildings? VHG, the Dutch Landscape Contractors Association with 1.100 members and member of the European association ELCA, has developed the concepts of The Living Garden and The Living Building. Both concepts contribute to a sustainable and healthy living environment. In The Living Garden, based on 18 elements of sustainability, new ideas are offered for the design, creation an maintenance of private gardens, schoolyards, gardens at health institutions, commercials areas and in public spaces. For every target group there is a mind map which indicates precisely what the benefits of greenery are for them. We know for example that children learn better after that they have plaid at a green schoolyard. Research has shown that patients recover better in a hospital where they have a view on greenery. In the concept of The Living Building there is a lot of inspiration on how to make buildings greener. We can add greenery on the roof, at the façade or indoors. This concepts contains 19 elements of sustainability. The 19th is Energy. Roofs are a perfect place to set up electricity. When we place the solar panels on a green roof, they deliver more energy and last longer. The concept of The Living Building offers good opportunities and inspiration for different types of buildings and multifunctional usage of roofs. More information of both concepts can be found under these links: https://www.vhg.org/flippingbook/de-levende-tuin https://www.vhg.org/kennisbank/het-levende-gebouw/digitaal-het-levende-gebouw-bladerbaar Greenery is part of the answers to the great societal challenges that we face in keeping our world liveable. In 2013, the European Commission has issued a Communication on Green Infrastructure with the aim to encourage investments in green spaces in cities and in the countryside. It considers Green Infrastructure to be a network of healthy ecosystems which often provides cost-effective alternatives to traditional 'grey' infrastructure and offers many other benefits for both EU citizens and biodiversity. The EU promotes, specifically mentioned in the new European Green Deal, the use of nature-based green infrastructure solutions. The green sector welcomes this and wants to contribute actively in realizing this aim.
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