Project Activities

Phase 1

Inception, Analysis, and Planning (Months 1-8)

This initial phase focuses on laying the project’s foundation and gaining an in-depth understanding of the current situation.

Activity 1.1:

Current Situation Analysis and Policy Review

  • Existing legislative and strategic plans for climate adaptation in the four target countries—Türkiye, Bulgaria, Georgia, and Greece—will be analyzed.
  • “Initiative groups” composed of local stakeholders, NGOs, and experts will be formed in each country.
  • A common working methodology and questionnaires will be developed, and local meetings will be held with these groups.
Key Milestone:

A kick-off meeting in Uzunköprü, Türkiye, will be held with all partners to officially launch the project and share the initial analysis results.

Phase 2

Establishing the Scientific Infrastructure (Months 5-12)

During this phase, the scientific and technical core of the project will be established.

Activity 1.2:

Establishment of the International LANDLAB

  • An international Landscape Research Lab (LANDLAB) will be established within the Department of Landscape Architecture at Istanbul University-Cerrahpasa’s Faculty of Forestry. This lab will evaluate the urban heat island (UHI) effect and provide green solutions.
  • Specialized equipment, including drones with thermal cameras, will be purchased to measure meteorological conditions such as air temperature, wind speed, and humidity.
Key Milestone:

A study visit will be held in Kavala, Greece, to present the LANDLAB’s work plan and measurement methodology.

Phase 3

Fieldwork and Data Collection (Months 9-16)

LANDLAB experts and local teams will conduct on-site measurements to assess the Urban Heat Island (UHI) effect in the target cities.

Activity 1.3:

Joint Measurement of the Urban Heat Island (UHI) Effect

  • The LANDLAB team, together with local measurement groups, will conduct thermal measurements in the four target cities: Uzunköprü, Sozopol, Batumi, and Kavala.
  • These measurements will be performed using both “measurement walks” with mobile ground equipment and aerial thermal imaging with drones. This process will facilitate the transfer of academic knowledge to local experts.

Phase 4

Green Transformation and Pilot Implementations (Months 5-24)

Based on the collected data, concrete green recovery projects will be implemented in the cities. This is one of the longest-running phases of the project.

Activity 1.4:

Green Recovery Actions and Pilot Implementations

  • LANDLAB will create heat-stress maps and strategic reports with green solution proposals for the target cities based on the measurement results.
  • Three pilot investment projects will be implemented:
    • Uzunköprü: A Climate Adaptation and Community Garden Park will be established.
    • Sozopol: Pedestrian paths and a rainwater collection facility will be built in a forest park.
    • Kavala: Trees will be planted for shading in heat-affected urban areas, applying the principle of “circularity”.
  • After the green spaces are created, the heat stress in these areas will be measured again to evaluate the effectiveness of the interventions
Key Milestone:

A joint workshop will be held in Sozopol, Bulgaria, to promote the developed “Pathway Planning Guide”.

Phase 5

Capacity Building and Knowledge Transfer (Months 9-26)

To ensure the project’s sustainability, this phase aims to increase the knowledge and skills of local experts and the public.

Activity 1.5:

Capacity Building on Climate Resilience

  • A “Training of Trainers” model will be adopted. First, an online training will be organized for experts from each partner country.
  • These trainers will then conduct in-person training sessions in their native languages for municipal park and garden experts and for the general public (e.g., garden owners, citizens).
  • Specialized booklets will be prepared for the training sessions and shared online.

Phase 6

Strategy, Sustainability, and Dissemination (Months 17-26)

The final phase focuses on translating project outputs into lasting policies and securing future collaboration.

Activity 1.6:

Integrating Green Measures into Long-Term Planning

  • The four target municipalities will develop their  first Heat Resilience Strategies using the project’s outputs.
  • A  Memorandum of Partnership will be signed among the partners to ensure the continuation of their collaboration after the project ends.
Key Milestone:

An international closing conference will be held in Istanbul, Türkiye, to present all project results, the developed guides, and strategies to a wide audience