1. General information
Location and description of the intervention
City or FUA
Zagreb
Region
Europe
Native title of the NBS intervention
Zeleni Kampus
Short description of the intervention
The project involved the redevelopment of old military infrastructure at the periphery of the Zagreb city (Boronaj) into a green and carbon-negative university campus. The Boronaj campus has planned to be the green campus of the university and includes the use of renewable energy (biomass, geothermal and solar), treatment cell for wastewater and a huge green area (with trees and shrubs). The buildings (constructed and to be constructed) are planned to be carbon negative (Ref 1). A significant portion of the campus is the green areas (with trees and shrubs). This was created with the aim to contribute and maintain the native species diversity (Ref 3, 4). In addition to increasing the biodiversity of the city, the tree species has improved the air quality of the area and reduced the local air temperature. The project is partially completed. Some buildings are yet to be constructed. The Campus was officially opened on October 12th 2007 and for now, it hosts 4 university units: Centre for Croatian Studies, Faculty of Education and Rehabilitation, Faculty of Traffic Engineering and Faculty of Economics and Business (only vocational study programmes in economics and business). Five other faculties are also planning to relocate to the Campus in the next few years. Besides the (re)construction of university buildings, campus will be home to a sports centre, student residence hall and a number of institutes. The project is partially completed, some of the buildings are completed while some are yet to be constructed. (Ref 1, 3, 7).
Address

Borongajska cesta 83f 10000 Zagreb
10000 Zagreb
Croatia

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 (16.033855 45.815483)
POINT (16.046994 45.816901)
POINT (16.044464 45.809709)
POINT (16.040368 45.810257)
POINT (16.035308 45.806471)
POINT (16.030175 45.807843)
NBS area image
Source of NBS area image
Google maps. Available at: https://www.google.com/maps/search/boronaj+campus/@45.8114835,16.034982,1116m/data=!3m1!1e3. Accessed and downloaded on 21st July, 2020.
Total area
930000.00m²
Type of area before implementation of the NBS
Previous derelict area
Website of the intervention
https://www.srce.unizg.hr/kampus-borongaj
Timeline of intervention
Start date of the intervention (planning process)
2006
Start date of intervention (implementation process)
2007
End date of the intervention
ongoing
Present stage of the intervention
Ongoing
Please specify "other" stage of the intervention
The project is partially completed. Some of the buildings are completed while some are yet to be constructed.
Goals of the intervention
The goal of the intervention was to build a green university campus in a previously derelict area. The objectives planned under the goal are:
- to develop the campus as a carbon-negative site using the natural benefits of location in the vicinity of the mountain for cooling over summer and for preserving heat over winter. The campus will use biomass for heating and algae for the consumption of CO2. The campus will also use solar energy.
- to allow only bicycles for transportation within the campus
- to create a research facility to study renewable energy usage and new technologies. The aim was to educate the students on the benefits of renewable energy and create awareness.
- to increase the green space in the city by planting trees, shrubs and flowering plants. This is to help in restoring the habitat for the native species and maintain the species diversity.
- shifting and opening some new academic departments and create jobs (Ref 1, 2, 4, 7).
Quantitative targets
(a) To convert 93ha of a derelict area to a green university campus.
(b) To transfer four departments to the new site. Now the plan is to move five more departments.
(c) Also, to build sports terrains: 1 football field, 1 athletic track, 1 handball field, 1 tennis, 1 basketball, 4 volleyball, 4 badminton and 4 small football fields. (Ref 1)
Monitoring indicators defined
Reduction in CO2, the amount of renewable energy used (Ref 1, 7).
Sustainability challenge(s) addressed
Climate action for adaptation, resilience and mitigation (SDG 13)
Climate change mitigation
Environmental quality
Air quality improvement
Green space, habitats and biodiversity (SDG 15)
Habitat and biodiversity restoration
Green space creation and/or management
Regeneration, land-use and urban development
Regulation of built environment
Water management (SDG 6)
Stormwater and rainfall management and storage
Improvements to water quality
Health and well-being (SDG 3)
Enabling opportunities for physical activity
Social justice, cohesion and equity (SDG 10)
Environmental education
Economic development and employment (SDG 8)
Employment/job creation
Sustainable consumption and production (SDG 12)
Sustainable consumption
Sustainable production
Climate change mitigation: What were the goals of the NBS?
Sequester and store carbon
Reduce energy demand, with the use of renewables or energy efficiency improvements
Climate change mitigation: What activities are implemented to realize the conservation goals and targets?
Increase green urban nature for carbon storage (wetlands, tree cover)
Improve carbon sequestration through selection of more adaptable species
Invest in public transport/bicycle infrastructure as a means to prevent car use
What types of restoration goals are / were defined for the NBS intervention?
Ecosystem-focused
What activities are implemented to realize the restoration goals and targets?
Rehabilitate and restore damaged or destroyed ecosystems
Restore species (native, endangered, or unspecified)
Implementation activities
The implementation activities included converting a 93ha land to a green university campus, building a living laboratory for research and exploitation of renewable energy sources and to plant trees and shrubs to create a common green space for the users. The initial plan was to build a student dormitory, technology park, a hydrometeorological institute, spiritual centre, lecture hall, incubation centre and tram lines connecting the city. But most of the project is still under the ongoing status due to some political dilemma (Ref 1, 3).
Type of NBS project
Creation of new green areas
Transformation of previously derelict areas
NBS domain and interventions
Ecological domain(s) where the NBS intervention(s) is/are implemented
Grey infrastructure featuring greens
Institutional green space
Parks and urban forests
Large urban parks or forests
Pocket parks/neighbourhood green spaces
Vegetation Type
Grass
Shrubs
Trees
Please specify how many trees were planted
Unknown
Amenities offered by the NBS
Playgrounds
Sports areas and equipment
Educational or biodiversity trails
Educational and research amenities (nature protection centre, monitoring stations)
Complementing infrastructure (bathrooms, café)
Services
Expected ecosystem services delivered
Provisioning services
Water (surface and ground water for drinking and non-drinking purposes)
Other
Regulating services
Local climate regulation (temperature reduction)
Air quality regulation
Carbon storage/sequestration
Water purification / filtration
Habitat and supporting services
Habitats for species
Cultural services
Aesthetic appreciation
Recreation
Intellectual interactions (scientific and / or educational)
Spiritual and / or emblematic (symbolic, sacred and / or religious)
Please specify "other provisioning service"
energy production
Scale
Spatial scale
Sub-microscale: Street scale (including buildings)
Beneficiaries
Primary Beneficiaries
Researchers/University
Citizens or community groups
Young people and children
Governance
Governance arrangements
Government-led
Non-government actors
Researchers, university
Please specify the roles of the specific government and non-government actor groups involved in the initiative
The project is a joint engagement of Zagreb University and national-level ministries. The engagement of the national ministries is necessary to ensure funding from the EU funds and solve the problematic property rights issues (Ref 5).
Key actors - initiating organization
National government
Local government/municipality
Researchers/university
Land owners
Public space owned by the city
Key actors - Other stakeholders involved (besides initiating actors)
National government
Local government/municipality
Researchers/university
EU body
Land owners
No information found
Participatory methods/forms of community involvement used
Co-planning (e.g. stakeholder workshops, focus groups, participatory mapping)
Taskforce groups
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
NBS intervention implemented in response to a local regulation/strategy/plan
Yes
Please specify the "local regulation/strategy/plan"
Spatial plans were changed to accommodate the NbS. (Ref 1, 3) Zagreb 2020 plan also mentions the Green Campus without going too much into detail.
Mandatory or voluntary intervention
Voluntary (spontaneous)
Enablers
Presence of specific city-level GI/NBS vision/strategy/plan - mentioned in connection to the project
Unknown
Presence of specific city-level GI/NBS section/part in a more general plan - mentioned in connection to the project
Yes
Please specify the general plan with GI/NBS section
Zagreb 2020, which mentions the Green Campus project (Ref 3)
If there is a relevant strategy or plan, please specify the theme / type of the plan.
Municipal / city level environmental plan or programme
Presence of city network or regional partnerships focused on NBS - mentioned in connection to the project
Yes
Please specify
UNICA Green
Established in 2011 on the initiative of the participants of the UNICA Student Conference 2010 in Rome, the UNICA GREEN (formerly UNICA Green Academic Footprint, UGAF) is a platform for Sustainability/Environmental Coordinators to discuss and exchange experience and practices in different elements of the implementation of environmental sustainability strategies at universities: strategic tools, environmental management systems, and best practices related to the day-to-day work of a sustainable management office, student involvement, and outreach. The annual UNICA GREEN Workshops gather Sustainaibility/Environmental coordinators, Vice-Rectors responsible for the implementation of institutional sustainability strategy from UNICA member universities, as well as representatives of UNICA GREEN Partners, peer networks, governmental bodies, and city authorities (Ref 2).
Presence of GI / NBS research project - mentioned in connection to the project
Unknown
Subsidies/investment for GI / NBS in the city - mentioned in connection to the project
Yes
Please specify
City of Zagreb is also providing some funds for the NbS - defined through signing of the Agreement between the City and the University - which specifically mentions Green Campus. It is not defined yet how much money the city will allocate (Ref 6).
Co-finance for NBS
Yes
Co-financing governance arrangements
Yes
Co-governance arrangement
Other
Please specify other co-financing type
EU budget and Public National budget
Was this co-governance arrangement already in place, or was it set up specifically for this NBS?
Already in place
Financing
Total cost
More than €4,000,000
What is/was the Cost/Budget (EUR) of the NBS or green infrastructure elements?
Unknown
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)
EUR 500 million (Ref 5)
Source(s) of funding
Public national budget
Public local authority budget
EU funds
Type of fund(s) used
Earmarked public budget
Non-financial contribution
No
Business models
Vacant space model
Green education model
Which of the involved actors was motivated by this model?
Public actor (e.g. municipality)
Type of innovation
Technological
Process innovation
Infrastructural innovation
Please specify technological innovation
Energy use and water management (1)
Novelty level of the innovation
Unknown
Please specify novelty level of the innovation
Unknown
Replicability/Transferability
Unknown
Please specify Replicability/Transferability
Unknown
Impacts, benefits
Environmental impacts
Climate change
Lowered local temperature
Enhanced carbon sequestration
Reduced emissions
Environmental quality
Improved air quality
Water management and blue areas
Improved water quality
Green space and habitat
Increased green space area
Restoration of derelict areas
Description of environmental benefits
The intervention resulted in transforming a derelict unused space into a green university campus, with infrastructure that allows the production and use of renewable energy. Planting trees and shrubs has shown a positive effect on the local climate, by reducing the temperature and improving the air quality of the locality. The project also has increased the green area in the city (Ref 1, 3, 5, 6).
Economic impacts
Increase of green jobs (e.g. paid employment positions)
Description of economic benefits
The creation of a new campus generated new jobs. 2000-3000 jobs in the construction of the campus and an additional 6000 in the broader industry (Ref 1, 6).
Social and cultural impacts
Social justice and cohesion
Improved access to urban green space
Increased involvement of locals in the management of green spaces
Health and wellbeing
Gain in activities for recreation and exercise
Promotion of cultural diversity
Improvement in people’s connection to nature
Education
Increased support for education and scientific research
Description of social and cultural benefits
The Boronaj campus has attracted students from all over Europe and other countries and is highly valued for maintaining cultural diversity within the campus. The place also has bicycle paths encouraging the users of the campus to live carbon-free transportation and to be more physically active. Additionally, the research and education centre has shown to contribute significantly to studying renewable energy sources and usage. The green space within the campus encourages the students and the researchers to spend more time and connect with nature. The university has a cell to monitor and manage the green spaces and the renewable energy production unit. Students are directly involved with this. (Ref 1, 5, 7).
Type of reported impacts
Achieved impacts
Indicators
2000-3000 jobs in the construction of the campus and additional 6000 in the broader industry, reduced CO2 levels and previously defined recreational centres (Ref 5).
Environmental, social and economic impacts
Water management (SDG 6)
Green space, habitats and biodiversity (SDG 15)
Environmental quality
Regeneration, land-use and urban development
Inclusive and effective governance (SDG 16)
Social justice, cohesion and equity (SDG 10)
Economic development and employment (SDG 8)
Analysis of specific impact categories
Job creation: The NBS created ...
Paid employment positions
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
Unknown as of July, 2020.
Methods of impact monitoring
Process of recording NBS impacts
Collection of monitoring data continuously throughout the project to aid evaluation
Methods used to evaluate the impacts of NBS
Focus groups
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
Questionnaire
Focus Group
Please specify other modes of citizen involvement in evaluation/assessment
To assess the opinion of the students about the consequences of (un)successful campus development, a survey research was conducted by Geography Fraculty in January and Febrary of 2014 on 520 students of Transport Studies, Croatian Studies and Educational-Rehabilitation studies, which makes 10% of the student population of the campus.
The goal was to analyse whether students are familiar with the previous use of the campus as military site and whether they are satisfied with connections to campus and contents on the campus.(4)
Citizens involvement in the analysis of the assessment/evaluation
Unknown
Follow-up to the evaluation / assessment
Unknown
References
Web links relevant to the intervention
Spatial plan for the Borongaj campus
Student satisfaction with the project Zeleni Kampus
Article on the property rights issues related to the project
Agreement between the CIty of Zagreb and University
Documents relevant to the intervention
Attachment Size
campus_presentation.pdf (5.96 MB) 5.96 MB
List of references
1. Arhitekti HKA. (2014) ZELENI KAMPUS BORONGAJ – INOVACIJE BEZ FRAZA. Available at: https://www.arhitekti-hka.hr/files/file/pdf/2013/ZET/zet_2013_predavanje%20josic_20130513.pdf. Accessed on 19th July, 2020.
2. Bojan Baletic. (2013) Campus Borongaj: A Living Lab for Zagreb. ppt. at UGAF conference in Lisbon.
3. City of Zagreb (2013) Zagreb Plan.
4. Pogledaj. Kampus Borongal tek lista lijepih želja. Available at: http://pogledaj.to/arhitektura/kampus-borongaj-tek-lista-lijepih-zelja/. Accessed on 19th July, 2020.
5. Jutarnji list (2014) Zbog sporosti države propao najveci sveucilisni projekt od 500 milijuna eura. Available at: http://www.jutarnji.hr/vijesti/hrvatska/ekskluzivno-zbog-sporosti-drzave-propao-najveci-sveucilisni-projekt-od-500-milijuna-eura/861040/. Accessed on 21st July, 2020.
6. City of Zagreb. (2016) Potpisan Sporazum izmedju Grada Zagreba i Sveucilista. Available at: http://www.zagreb.hr/potpisan-sporazum-izmedju-grada-zagreba-i-sveucili/93162. Accessed on 21st July, 2020.
7. Boronaj Campus Network Operating Centre. Available at: https://www.srce.unizg.hr/kampus-borongaj. Accessed on 21st July, 2020.
8. About the University. University of Zagreb. Available at: http://www.unizg.hr/homepage/about-university/. Accessed on 21st July, 2020.
Attachments
Attachment Size
zagrebplan-ciljevi_i_prioriteti_razvoja_do_2020.pdf (3.51 MB) 3.51 MB
Comments and notes
Comments
Not much info on events after 2015 available, sent an e-mail to request these documents if they exist.