1. General information
Location and description of the intervention
City or FUA
Iaşi (FUA)
Region
Europe
Native title of the NBS intervention
Padurea Bahluiului
Short description of the intervention
The Bahlui Forest project consists of a tree-planting initiative along the banks of the Bahlui River, which flows over a distance of 11 km through Iasi, practically dividing the city in two (1, 2, 6). The project aims to reduce the high levels of air pollution prevalent in the city, increase green spaces along the river and in the urban area, and enhance the aesthetic appeal of the surroundings, thereby improving the quality of life for local residents (1–3, 8, p. 188). The initiative was planned by the Municipality of Iași in collaboration with the Prut-Bârlad Water Basin Administration, the regional authority responsible for the river’s proper management (1–6). Furthermore, the "Ion Ionescu de la Brad" University of Agricultural Sciences and Veterinary Medicine in Iași provided the technical expertise needed to select and plant appropriate species (1–3, 7).
The planting completed in 2024, covers the river section between the Sf. Ioan bridge and the Stone Bridge (3–5). In total, 1,200 native species were planted, including four tree species—Willow, Malin, Red Maple, and Birch—and three shrub species (3–6).
This initiative is part of a broader municipal strategy to revitalize the riverbanks and address key issues (8, 9). Due to its natural geomorphology, the river represents a barrier in terms of accesibility between different parts of the city, and infrastructure and improvements need to be carried out to manage this problem (8 & 9). Therefore the areas around the river are sought to be revitalised to fullfil its touristic and recreational potential, ultimately becoming a green corridor and representing a new axis of development for Iasi (8, p. 344). Improving its green surfaces would also support efforts to increase green space sq.m. per inhabitant in the city, which falls short of the national requirement of 26 sq.m. per inhabitant (8, p. 189).
Implementation area characterization
Address

Bulevard Chimiei
Iași
Romania

Area boundary (map-based)
NBS area image
Source of NBS area image
Source image: https://www.google.com/maps/place/Old+Stone+Bridge/@47.1585511,27.5860293,6168m/data=!3m1!1e3!4m6!3m5!1s0x40cafb74965cfdff:0x2b81b9ce78e6072c!8m2!3d47.1573879!4d27.5751122!16s%2Fg%2F1vv2qrnf?entry=ttu&g_ep=EgoyMDI0MTAxNC4wIKXMDSoASAFQAw%3D%3D
Total area
90000.00m²
Area description
Timeline of intervention
Start date of the intervention (planning process)
2022
Start date of intervention (implementation process)
2024
End date of the intervention
2024
Present stage of the intervention
Objectives of the intervention
Goals of the intervention
To improve the air quality in the city attributed to the affluence of car traffic and pollution (1 to 3).
To increase the size of green spaces in the riverbeds, as the city has very low levels of green spaces per inhabitant overall and allow the citizens of Iasi access to these spaces (1 & 2).
To increase the aesthetic appreciation for the Bahlui riverbeds (1 & 2).
To increase the touristic appeal of the river and the city (1 & 2).
To improve the livability of the surrounding inhabitants of the river (1 to 4 & 8, p. 188).
To enhance the potential of the Bahlui river to become a blue-green corridor as a new developmental axis for Iasi (8, p. 344 & 9, p. 314).
Implementation activities and NBS focus
Implementation activities
The project involves several key actions aimed at enhancing the riverbanks of the Bahlui River. First, a protocol was established between the Municipality of Iași and the Prut-Bârlad Water Basin Administration to secure access to the riverbanks for the initiative (6).
Next, a total of 1,200 trees, including Willows, Raspberries, Maples, and Birches, along with various bush plants such as Cornus alba, Viburnum, and Juniperus, were planted along certain sections of the riverbanks (1–6).
Additionally, a collaboration was established with the "Ion Ionescu de la Brad" University of Agricultural Sciences and Veterinary Medicine to provide expert knowledge on plant health. This partnership includes monitoring the growth of the newly planted saplings and managing their care to ensure their long-term viability (7).
NBS domain and interventions
Ecological domain(s) where the NBS intervention(s) is/are implemented
Blue infrastructure
Riverbank/Lakeside greens
Amenities offered by the NBS
Services
Expected ecosystem services delivered
Regulating services
Air quality regulation
Cultural services
Tourism
Aesthetic appreciation
Mental and physical health and wellbeing
Scale
Spatial scale
Meso-scale: Regional, metropolitan and urban level
Beneficiaries
Demographics in implementation area
The population living closely to the river are at risk of flooding, however Bahlui has been properly controlled over the years (8, p. 288). Additionally, the geomorphological nature of the river represents a barrier for adequate connective to other parts of the city, representing an obstacle for and adequate mobility for its surrounding inhabitants (8, p. 216).
Socio-economic profile of the area
Communities vulnerable to environmental hazards or climate change impacts
Yes
Specification of climate or environmentally vulnerable communities
Non-government actors
Citizens or community groups
Primary Beneficiaries
Specify primary beneficiaries
Citizens: "requested by many citizens of the Municipality of Iași, who would have the gift to better value the touristic and aesthetic potential of the riverbeds, especially Bahlui, but also, above all, to increase the surface of green spaces, to reduce pollution and to increase air quality" (1).
Marginalized groups
Governance
Governance arrangements
Please specify the roles of the specific government and non-government actor groups involved in the initiative
In 2019, the Moldova Development Movement Association (NGO) proposed to the City Hall of Iași the idea of planting Paulownia trees along the Bahlui River. Although the proposal did not initially gain traction, growing support from civil society led to increasing public calls for planting (1, 2). Eventually, the Municipality of Iași adopted the idea and integrated it into its urban development plans (1, 2).
To carry out the project, the municipality requested access to the riverbanks from the Prut-Bârlad Water Basin Administration, the managing authority (regional). A cooperation agreement was signed between the two entities, granting permission for planting, provided that certain regulations were followed (6). The tree planting occurred in 2024, with support from an on-site officer from the water administration (3–6). The "Ion Ionescu de la Brad" University of Agricultural Sciences and Veterinary Medicine in Iași provided expertise for planting and will monitor plant health (1–3, 7).
Key actors - Other stakeholders involved (besides initiating actors)
Regional government
Citizens or community group
Researchers/university
EU body
Level of citizen and community engagement
Community empowerment or capacity-building initiatives
Uncommon actors ("Missing actors")
Land owners
Please specify other landowner
It is land owned by the national government and managed by the Prut-Bârlad Water Basin Administration (6).
Policy drivers
NBS intervention implemented in response to a Regional Directive/Strategy
Yes
Please specify the "Regional Directive/Strategy"
The sources mention standards of green space per inhabitant as per EU standards (8, 9)
NBS intervention implemented in response to a national regulations/strategy/plan
Yes
Please specify the national regulations/strategy/plan
The provisions of Law 24/2007 regarding the regulation and administration of green spaces in the urban area
localities, republished, with subsequent amendments and additions, art. 7 (6). // ORDONANŢĂ nr. 114 din 17 octombrie 2007 for standards of green space per inhabitant in the country (10).
If there is a relevant strategy or plan, please specify the theme/type of the plan
Please specify other national policy instrument
Regulation of green spaces in urban environment (8) and standard of green space for citizens (10).
NBS intervention implemented in response to a local regulation/strategy/plan
Yes
Please specify the "local regulation/strategy/plan"
Strategia Integrata de Dezvoltare Urbana 2015-2030 (8) // STRATEGIA INTEGRATA DE DEZVOLTARE URBANA A MUNICIPIULUI IASI SI A ZONEI METROPOLITANE 2021-2030 (9) - Integrated Urban Development Strategy 2015-2030 (8) // INTEGRATED URBAN DEVELOPMENT STRATEGY OF THE MUNICIPALITY OF IASI AND THE METROPOLITAN AREA 2021-2030 (9).
Mandatory or voluntary intervention
Mandatory (based on policy)
Intervention is mandatory
Enablers & Barriers
Please provide details (e.g, name of the plan or strategy) for the selected policies or initiatives.
City network or regional partnerships focused on climate change, sustainability, GI or NBS in the city: HOTĂRÂRE approving protocol pland between Municipiul Iași and riverbasin administration Administrația Bazinală de Apă Prut Bârlad - Sistemul de Gospodărire a Apelor Iași (regional body) (6).
Barriers
Unknown
Financing
Total cost
Please specify total cost (EUR)
Unknown
What is/was the Cost/Budget (EUR) of the NBS or green infrastructure elements?
Unknown
Non-financial contribution
Yes
Who provided the non-financial contribution?
Please specify other source of non-financial contribution
University (1)
Type of non-financial contribution
Co-finance for NBS
No
Entrepreneurship opportunities
Unknown
Business models
Which of the involved actors was motivated by this model?
Impacts, benefits
Description of environmental benefits
-Expected improved air quality: "The project aims to combat the negative effects of pollution by increasing the amount of oxygen" (3).
-Achieved increased green space area: "We started planting last week on the area of ​​the upper bed of the Bahlui river between the Sf. Ioan bridge and the Stone Bridge (6 km), in partnership with Apele Romane. Approximately 1200 trees will be planted" (3).
-Expected increased number of species present: "Following the consultations with the experts from USV, the City Hall's intention is that on the bed of the Bahlui river be planted trees of the species Birch, Willow, Red Maple and Malin, as well as shrubs of the species Derainul alb (Cornus alba), Kalina (Viburnum) and Juniper (Juniperus)." (3)
Environmental impact indicators
Total number of vascular plant species protected or introduced
7
Description of economic benefits
-Expected more sustainable tourism: "which would have the gift of better highlighting the touristic and aesthetic potential of the riverbeds" (2).
Description of social and cultural benefits
-Expected improved liveability: "The revitalization of the banks of the two rivers ar definitively contribute to increasing the quality of housing in the neighboring districts" (8, p. 188).
-Achieved improved access to urban green space: "All land resources mentioned above represents the basis for increasing the indicator of square meters of green spaces / inhabitant" (8, p. 199).
Evidence for use of assessment
Presence of an assessment, evaluation and/or monitoring process
Yes
Actors involved in the assessment, monitoring or evaluation of NBS impacts
Presence of indicators used in reporting
Yes
Type of indicators
Presence of monitoring/evaluation reports
No evidence in public records
Availability of a web-based monitoring tool
No evidence in public records
Name of any specific impact assessment tools
Unknown.
Use of GIS in mapping impacts
No evidence in public records
Cost-benefit analysis
Unknown
Justice
Community satisfaction
Description of locals satisfaction with the project
Unknown
Trade-offs & Negative impacts
Measures to prevent gentrification or displacement
High-quality & Transformative NBS
Multiple impacts delivery (climate, biodiversity, just community)
No
Goal setting and impacts delivery
No, project goals were not set, and benefits were not delivered in all 3 key areas.
Reaching original project goals
Please specify the achievements of the project goals
Social justice and community:
-Expected improved liveability: "The revitalization of the banks of the two rivers definitively contributes to increasing the quality of housing in the neighboring districts" (8, p. 188).
-Achieved improved access to urban green space: "All land resources mentioned above represents the basis for increasing the indicator of square meters of green spaces / inhabitant" (8, p. 199).
Long-term perspective
Unknown: No information about the project's long-term sustainability.
Cost-effective solutions
Unknown
Application of lessons learned
Perception of Environmental Change
Unknown
References
1.
Mihat, E. (2022). Pădurea Bahluiului: vor fi plantați copaci (sălcii, mesteceni, arțari, mălini) în lungul râului. APIX , Accessed on August 13, 2024, [Source link] [Archive];
2.
Agora Press (2022). Padure de mesteceni pe Bahlui! Chirica anunta ca va planta 7 specii de copaci si arbusti in albia Bahluiului. Accessed on August 13, 2024, [Source link] [Archive];
3.
TeleM Regional (2024). Se planteaza copaci pe malul Bahluiului. Accessed on August 13, 2024, [Source link] [Archive];
4.
Ziarul de Iasi (2024). Apar noi copaci pe malul Bahluiului . Accessed on August 13, 2024, [Source link] [Archive];
5.
Apele Române Prut-Bârlad (2024). Astăzi, am dat startul plantării de arbuști pe malurile râului Bahlui din municipiul Iași FB . Accessed on August 13, 2024, [Source link] [Archive];
6.
Primaria Iasi (2022). HOTĂRÂRE privind încheierea unui protocol între Municipiul Iași și Administrația Bazinală de Apă Prut Bârlad - Sistemul de Gospodărire a Apelor Iași. Accessed on August 13, 2024, [Source link] [Archive];
7.
Primaria Iasi (2020). HOTĂRÂRE privind aprobarea Acordului de colaborare între Municipiul Iași și Universitatea de Științe Agricole și Medicină Veterinară “Ion Ionescu de la Brad” din Iași. Accessed on August 13, 2024, [Source link] [Archive];
8.
Primaria Municipiului Iasi (n.d.). Strategia Integrata de Dezvoltare Urbana 2015-2030. Accessed on October 8, 2024, [Source link] [Archive];
9.
Primaria Municipiului Iasi (2023). STRATEGIA INTEGRATA DE DEZVOLTARE URBANA A MUNICIPIULUI IASI SI A ZONEI METROPOLITANE 2021-2030. Accessed on October 8, 2024, [Source link] [Archive];
10.
Ministerul Justiției (2007). ORDONANŢĂ DE URGENŢĂ nr. 114 din 17 octombrie 2007pentru modificarea şi completarea Ordonanţei de urgenţă a Guvernului nr. 195/2005 privind protecţia mediului. Accessed on October 8, 2024, [Source link] [Archive];
Comments and notes
Public Images
Image
Bahlui copaci
Bahlui copaci
https://www.ziaruldeiasi.ro/stiri/apar-noi-copaci-pe-malul-bahluiului--376669.html#google_vignette
Image
Bahlui copaci
Bahlui copaci
https://telem.ro/se-planteaza-copaci-pe-malul-bahluiului/
Image
Planted trees in the Bahlui river bed
Planted trees in the Bahlui river bed
https://www.facebook.com/permalink.php/?story_fbid=686132357064029&id=100070018113590&locale=ta_IN
Image
Planted trees in the Bahlui river bed
Planted trees in the Bahlui river bed
https://www.facebook.com/permalink.php/?story_fbid=686132357064029&id=100070018113590&locale=ta_IN
Image
Planted trees in the Bahlui river bed
Planted trees in the Bahlui river bed
https://www.facebook.com/permalink.php/?story_fbid=686132357064029&id=100070018113590&locale=ta_IN