1. General information
Location and description of the intervention
City or FUA
Liège
Region
Europe
Native title of the NBS intervention
Parc de la Chartreuse
Short description of the intervention
The Chartreuse Park has been chosen as a pilot site for the EU-funded VALUE project, enabling the City of Liège to finance and pilot a participatory requalification process for the Chartreuse Park. Since the acquisition of the site (about 20 hectares of park and green spaces), the City has taken several steps to recognize the historical and environmental potentialities of the Park and to integrate its values in the operations for the urban development of this old military site (the Fort de la Chartreuse). As a result of broad consultation with citizens, between 2012 and 2014, three circular walkways were created in the park connected to each other, enabling greater access to the park (Ref. 1).
Address

Parc de la Chartreuse
4030 Liege
Belgium

Location
The NBS is situated in an area, with clear delineation of boundaries and a specific shape (polygon). The NBS project can also have more than one area location (more than one polygon, situated close by).
Area boundary
POINT (5.5895205997083 50.631169496439)
POINT (5.5903330915614 50.628020378127)
POINT (5.5960193769024 50.630546525113)
POINT (5.5955774925703 50.632922108368)
POINT (5.5912639636412 50.63398804644)
NBS area image
Source of NBS area image
Available at: https://www.liege.be/fr/vie-communale/services-communaux/environnement/la-chartreuse/plan-des-promenades-et-des-acces-au-parc (Accessed: November 9, 2020). Coordinates offer a rough approximation of extent of NBS.
Total area
190000.00m²
NBS area
190000.00m²
Type of area before implementation of the NBS
Natural Heritage Area/Untouched nature
Cultural Heritage Area
Website of the intervention
https://www.liege.be/fr/vie-communale/services-communaux/environnement/la-chart…
Timeline of intervention
Start date of the intervention (planning process)
2012
Start date of intervention (implementation process)
2012
End date of the intervention
2014
Present stage of the intervention
Completed
Goals of the intervention
The main objectives of this project were to:
- Re-qualify urban green spaces in a concerted manner;
- Increase the involvement of citizens and local stakeholders in the planning of green infrastructure and the development of public green spaces.
- Greater involvement of "rarely heard" people (such as isolated elderly people, youth, ethnic minorities, etc.) to better take into account their needs in relation to green spaces.
- Use participatory methods as an opportunity to generate innovative initiatives, activities and partnerships;
- Demonstrate the economic and social value of urban green spaces. (Ref 1)
Quantitative targets
Unknown
Monitoring indicators defined
Unknown
Sustainability challenge(s) addressed
Green space, habitats and biodiversity (SDG 15)
Habitat and biodiversity conservation
Green space creation and/or management
Regeneration, land-use and urban development
Conversion of former industrial areas
Inclusive and effective governance (SDG 16)
Inclusive governance
Effective management
Social justice, cohesion and equity (SDG 10)
Environmental education
Social justice and equity
Health and well-being (SDG 3)
Creation of opportunities for recreation
Economic development and employment (SDG 8)
Economic development: agriculture
Tourism support
Cultural heritage and cultural diversity
Preservation of natural heritage
Protection of historic and cultural landscape/infrastructure
Habitats and biodiversity conservation: What types of conservation goals are / were defined for the NBS intervention?
Species-focused
Habitats and biodiversity conservation: What activities are implemented to realize the conservation goals and targets?
Protect species
Undertake specific measures to protect species
Means for conservation governance
Raise public awareness
Public engagement
Create and use scientific knowledge for conservation
Implementation activities
The project created accessible footpaths within the site (Ref. 1). "appropriate markup and signage, securing spaces accessible to the public from these routes, allowing the implementation of appropriate maintenance of the site" (Ref. 1).
The City of Liège entrusted the non-profit association Education-Environnement with carrying out a study of the natural heritage of the site. They proposed the development of an underground passage as a shelter for bats and measures for the restoration of the moor, now invaded more and more by the woody vegetation (Ref. 1). "During 2014, the asbl Education-Environnement integrated the Interreg IVb Value Added Project in connection with the Parc de la Chartreuse by taking charge of the following aspects:
Carrying out of an inventory of the natural heritage of the Parc de la Chartreuse ;
Development principles and management methods for the enhancement of this heritage;
Creation of animation and awareness tools. (Ref. 5).
Beyond providing financing, the EU-funded VALUE project also allowed the exchanges of ideas and experiences with players from other regions, facing the same problems.(Ref. 1).
Type of NBS project
Maintenance and management of urban nature
Improved governance of green or blue areas
NBS domain and interventions
Ecological domain(s) where the NBS intervention(s) is/are implemented
Parks and urban forests
Large urban parks or forests
Vegetation Type
Other
Amenities offered by the NBS
Educational or biodiversity trails
Services
Expected ecosystem services delivered
Habitat and supporting services
Habitats for species
Cultural services
Tourism
Aesthetic appreciation
Recreation
Intellectual interactions (scientific and / or educational)
Physical and experiential interactions with plants and animals
Scale
Spatial scale
Micro-scale: District/neighbourhood level
Beneficiaries
Primary Beneficiaries
Local government/Municipality
Citizens or community groups
Marginalized groups
Young people and children
Marginalized groups
Elderly people
Refugees, asylum seekers, and migrants
Governance
Governance arrangements
Co-governance with government and non-government actors
Non-government actors
Non-governmental organisation (NGO) / Civil society / Churches
Please specify the roles of the specific government and non-government actor groups involved in the initiative
Within the framework of VALUE Added EU-funded INTERREGIVB project, the City of Liège has entrusted the non-profit organization Education-Environnement to carry out a study of the natural heritage of the site, one of whose objectives is to make proposals for biodiversity (Ref. 4).
Key actors - initiating organization
Local government/municipality
Land owners
Public space owned by the city
Key actors - Other stakeholders involved (besides initiating actors)
EU body
Local government/municipality
Non-government organisation/civil society
Citizens or community group
Land owners
Public space owned by the city
Participatory methods/forms of community involvement used
Co-planning (e.g. stakeholder workshops, focus groups, participatory mapping)
Dissemination of information and education
Consultation (e.g. workshop, surveys, community meetings, town halls)
Policy drivers
NBS intervention implemented in response to an Regional Directive/Strategy
Unknown
NBS intervention implemented in response to a national regulations/strategy/plan
Unknown
Please specify the national regulations/strategy/plan
unknown
NBS intervention implemented in response to a local regulation/strategy/plan
Unknown
Please specify the "local regulation/strategy/plan"
unknown
Mandatory or voluntary intervention
Unknown
Enablers
Presence of specific city-level GI/NBS vision/strategy/plan - mentioned in connection to the project
Unknown
Please specify
Prior to implementing a more ambitious program for the overall restoration of the site, in 2011, the City began securing publicly accessible spaces and began the redevelopment of the walking paths in the form of three looping routes. (4)
Presence of specific city-level GI/NBS section/part in a more general plan - mentioned in connection to the project
Unknown
Please specify the general plan with GI/NBS section
unkown
Please specify other vegetation type
Unspecified
Presence of city network or regional partnerships focused on NBS - mentioned in connection to the project
Yes
Please specify
The regeneration of Chartreuse Park was a pilot project of the European project Interreg IVB "VALUE Added" which brings together 12 partners from different regions of North-West Europe (United Kingdom, Netherlands, Germany and Belgium). The partners are interested in the role of urban green spaces and the participation of local inhabitants and actors in their development (Ref. 2).
Presence of GI / NBS research project - mentioned in connection to the project
Unknown
Please specify
unkown
Subsidies/investment for GI / NBS in the city - mentioned in connection to the project
Yes
Please specify
The VALUE Added project was part of the Interreg IVB program, which means that the Walloon partners are funded 50% by Europe (FEDER funds) and 50% by Wallonia (Ref. 1).
Co-finance for NBS
Yes
Co-financing governance arrangements
Yes
Co-governance arrangement
A fund / grant
Was this co-governance arrangement already in place, or was it set up specifically for this NBS?
Already in place
Financing
Total cost
€500,000 - €2,000,000
What is/was the Cost/Budget (EUR) of the NBS or green infrastructure elements?
400 000 euros
What are the total amount of expected annual maintenance costs?
Unknown
What is the expected annual maintenance costs of the NBS or GI elements?
Unknown
Please specify cost savings
Unknown
Please specify total cost (EUR)
"The “Value Added” project (2012 – 2015) is a European project funded as part of the Interreg IV B North West Europe programme. The total budget for the project was 5,165,829 euros (of which 50% was subsidised by the ERDF of the EU)" (Ref. 2). "The operators are funded to the tune of 50% by the Interreg programme and 50% by the Walloon Region (DG04 and DGO5). The total budget of part conducted by ULG (now known as ULiège) totalled 305,712 euros. The City of Liège part totalled 438,300 euros" (Ref. 2). "Liège therefore tested these innovative approaches on the Chartreuse site. Between 2012 and 2015, the City of Liège extricated 400,000 euros from the municipal budgets to create footpaths within the site" (Ref. 2).
Source(s) of funding
EU funds
Public regional budget
Type of fund(s) used
Earmarked public budget
Direct funding (grants, subsidies, or self-financed projects by private entities)
Non-financial contribution
Unknown
Business models
Green heritage model
Which of the involved actors was motivated by this model?
Public actor (e.g. municipality)
Type of innovation
Social
Governance innovation
Please specify social innovation
The co-governance that they used to involve the citizens in the visioning and the planning phases, indicated in the objectives as well:
- Re-qualify urban green spaces in a concerted manner;
- Use participatory methods as an opportunity to generate innovative initiatives, activities and partnerships;
- Demonstrate the economic and social value of urban green spaces.
A program of work has been implemented to enable a basic ownership of the site, as expressed by the inhabitants represented by the committees of the neighboring district (Ref. 2)
Novelty level of the innovation
Unknown
Please specify novelty level of the innovation
Unknown
Replicability/Transferability
Ambiguous (e.g. multiple interpretations)
Please specify Replicability/Transferability
The objectives were the same for all VALUE partners (Ref. 2). "The 12 partners on the “Value Added” project were:

South Yorkshire Forest Partnership – main partner
Sheffield City Council (GB)
Gemeente Amersfoort (NL)
Vlaamse Landmaatschappij (B)
University of Sheffield (GB)
Verband Region Stuttgart (D)
University of Liège (B)
Institut für Landes- und Stadtentwicklungsforschung gGmbH (D)
Community Forests North West Limited (GB)
Stichting Van Hall Larenstein (NL)
Intercommunale Leiedal (B)
City of Liège (B)" (Ref. 2).
Impacts, benefits
Environmental impacts
Green space and habitat
Increased conservation or restoration of ecosystems
Reduced biodiversity loss
Restoration of derelict areas
Description of environmental benefits
Green space and habitat:
-Increased conservation or restoration of ecosystems (local habitats for local species)/Reduction of biodiversity loss: The City of Liège has entrusted the non-profit association Education-Environnement with carrying out a study of the natural heritage of the site. They proposed the development of an underground passage as a shelter for bats and measures for the restoration of the moor, now invaded more and more by the woody vegetation (Ref. 1). "So, we hope, such moments will favor everyone a better awareness of the importance of the site: a biodiversity relay zone, steeped in history and offering the population beauty, relaxation and well-being" (Ref. 3).
-Restoration of derelict areas: The project is located on a historic military site and is designed to recognize its historic and environmental potential (Ref. 1).
Economic impacts
More sustainable tourism
Description of economic benefits
-More sustainable tourism: "This document is intended for anyone wishing to bring a group to the site de La Chartreuse: socio-cultural animators, educators, teachers, tourist guides, Nature & Environment interpreters, Nature guides, parents, grandparents, ... It brings together fifteen files describing activities to be carried out in the field with different audiences, in order to put them in contact and make them discover the riches of the place" (Ref. 3).
Social and cultural impacts
Social justice and cohesion
Fair distribution of social, environmental and economic benefits of the NBS project
Improved access to urban green space
Increased visibility and opportunity for marginalised groups or indigenous peoples
Increased involvement of locals in the management of green spaces
Health and wellbeing
Gain in activities for recreation and exercise
Cultural heritage and sense of place
Protection of natural heritage
Protection of historic and cultural landscape / infrastructure
Education
Increased support for education and scientific research
Increased knowledge of locals about local nature
Description of social and cultural benefits
Social justice and cohesion:
-Improved access to urban green space: The project created accessible footpaths within the site (Ref. 1). "appropriate markup and signage, securing spaces accessible to the public from these routes, allowing the implementation of appropriate maintenance of the site" (Ref. 1).
-Fair distribution of social, environmental and economic benefits of the NBS project/Increased visibility and opportunity for marginalized groups or indigenous peoples/Increased involvement of locals in the management of green spaces: "One of the project’s objectives was to reconcile and integrate the “top-down” and “bottom-up” approaches of town and country planning and in particular green infrastructure. The other objective of Value Added was to encourage greater participation of citizens and local stakeholders, not only through increased consultation but also via more active involvement of these people in all the stages of the process: during design, implementation but also in more long-term management of planning. The project’s ambition was to show that more participation contributes to creating opportunities and benefits well beyond the planning project, in terms of community movements, social cohesion, more equitable and inclusive urban development and learning" (Ref. 2).

Health and wellbeing:
-Gain in activities for recreation and exercise: The project created accessible footpaths within the site (Ref. 1).

Cultural heritage and sense of place:
-Protection of natural heritage: "During 2014, the asbl Education-Environnement integrated the Interreg IVb Value Added Project in connection with the Parc de la Chartreuse by taking charge of the following aspects: Carrying out of an inventory of the natural heritage of the Parc de la Chartreuse ; Development principles and management methods for the enhancement of this heritage; Creation of animation and awareness tools" (Ref. 4).
-Protection of historic and cultural landscape / infrastructure: The project is located on a historic military site and is designed to recognize its historic and environmental potential (Ref. 1).

Education
-Support education and scientific research/Increased knowledge of locals about local nature: "During 2014, the asbl Education-Environnement integrated the Interreg IVb Value Added Project in connection with the Parc de la Chartreuse by taking charge of the following aspects: Carrying out of an inventory of the natural heritage of the Parc de la Chartreuse; Development principles and management methods for the enhancement of this heritage;
Creation of animation and awareness tools" (Ref. 4).
Type of reported impacts
Achieved impacts
Indicators
Unknown
Environmental, social and economic impacts
Cultural heritage and cultural diversity
Green space, habitats and biodiversity (SDG 15)
Regeneration, land-use and urban development
Analysis of specific impact categories
Job creation: The NBS created ...
No information available
Environmental justice: The implementation of the NBS project resulted in ...
Positive distribution of NBS benefits
Improved access to green and/or blue spaces
Negative impacts: Did the project cause any problems or concerns?
No information was found regarding negative impacts of the project
COVID-19 pandemic
No specific information available as of November 9, 2020. Rules currently in effect (from November 2 to December 13 inclusive) in Liege: "General
Curfew from 10 p.m. to 6 a.m. except essential travel (medical emergencies, assistance to a loved one, work)
Obligation to have a mask on oneself when in public space
Wearing a mask is compulsory in many places (see " Masks " section)
Each member of a family has the right to have 1 close contact.
Families can only invite one close contact to their home at a time. You cannot receive other visitors at home. An exception is given to people who live alone: ​​next to their close contact, they can invite only one other person, but not at the same time.
Gatherings on public roads and outdoors are limited to a maximum of 4 people
Alcohol consumption on public roads and in public spaces is prohibited
Door to door is prohibited".

Available at: https://www.liege.be/fr/actualites/comment-se-proteger-contre-les-virus-comme-le-coronavirus-covid-19-ou-la-grippe-saisonniere (Accessed: November 9, 2020).
Methods of impact monitoring
Process of recording NBS impacts
Conduct a baseline survey before and after NBS implementation
Methods used to evaluate the impacts of NBS
Measurements of biophysical aspects of the NBS (e.g. temperature, water flow)
Where can this data be accessed? Please include a link to a report or web-page.
https://www.liege.be/fr/vie-communale/services-communaux/environnement/la-chart…
Evidence for use of assessment
Presence of an assessment, evaluation and/or monitoring process
Unknown
Presence of indicators used in reporting
No evidence in public records
Presence of monitoring/evaluation reports
No evidence in public records
Availability of a web-based monitoring tool
No evidence in public records
Impact assessment mechanism
Name of any specific impact assessment tools
Unknown
Use of GIS in mapping impacts
No evidence in public records
Citizen involvement
Citizens involvement in assessment/evaluation
Yes
Mode(s) of citizen involvement in evaluation/assessment
Interview
Other
Please specify other modes of citizen involvement in evaluation/assessment
An extensive participatory process was co-organized by the City and the University of Liège within the framework of the VALUE Added project. Its goal: to involve the population and local stakeholders, citizens, collectives, schools, in the reflection and dynamics of valorisation of the Parc de la Chartreuse (Ref. 5).
Citizens involvement in the analysis of the assessment/evaluation
Yes
Please specify
An extensive participatory process was co-organized by the City and the University of Liège within the framework of the VALUE Added project. Its goal: to involve the population and local stakeholders, citizens, collectives, schools, in the reflection and dynamics of valorisation of the Parc de la Chartreuse (Ref. 5).
Follow-up to the evaluation / assessment
Unknown
References
Web links relevant to the intervention
(2)
(3)
(4)
(5) Chartreuse project video
List of references
(1) Universite de Liège (n.d.). La Chartreuse VALUE project description. (Document attached).
(2) Ville de Liège (n.d.). Interreg IVB - VALUE project. Available at: https://www.liege.be/en/municipal-life/international/european-cross-border-projects/interreg-iv-b-north-west-europe-value-added (Accessed: November 9, 2020).
(3) Ville de Liège (n.d.). 15 fiches d’activités à mener sur le site de la Chartreuse… Pourquoi ? Available at: https://www.liege.be/fr/vie-communale/services-communaux/environnement/la-chartreuse/telechargements/chartreuseficheanimationlight.pdf (Accessed: November 9, 2020).
(4) Ville de Liège (n.d.). Fiches d’animation et de sensibilisation à l’environnement. Available at: https://www.liege.be/fr/vie-communale/services-communaux/environnement/la-chartreuse/fiches-d-animation-et-de-sensibilisation-a-l-environnement (Accessed: November 9, 2020).
(5) Ville de Liège (2015). Chartreuse project video. Available at: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WxHmdfZrpEg (Accessed: November 9, 2020).
Attachments
Attachment Size
Ref. 1 (1.58 MB) 1.58 MB
Comments and notes
Comments
A program of work has been implemented to enable a basic ownership of the site, as expressed by the inhabitants represented by the committees of the neighboring districts, by serving three interconnected loop-ride paths with
markings and an appropriate signage, securing the spaces accessible to the public from these routes, allowing also for maintenance of the site (Ref. 2).
Additional insights
*Section 4: the total cost of the footpath project is calculated to be ~800 000 EUR as Ref. 2 indicates that "The operators are funded to the tune of 50% by the Interreg programme and 50% by the Walloon Region (DG04 and DGO5)" and that "extricated 400,000 euros from the municipal budgets to create footpaths within the site".
Pictures of the NBS
/sites/default/files/nbs/images/chartreuse.jpg
/sites/default/files/nbs/images/chartreuse2.jpg
/sites/default/files/nbs/images/chartreuse3.jpg
/sites/default/files/nbs/images/citizens.jpg
Public Images
Interconnected Public Paths at Chartreuse Park (2017)
Interconnected Public Paths at Chartreuse Park (2017)
Photographer: Urbanisme| Ville de Liège| JP Ers., retrieved 08/29/2018 from Lucie Lefebvre
Interconnected Public Paths at Chartreuse Park (2014)
Interconnected Public Paths at Chartreuse Park (2014)
Lucie Lefebvre, retrieved 08/29/2018