On November 5, 2024, the fourth GreenCityLabHuế Policy Round Table on nature-based solutions for heat adaptation in Hue took place. The event was held at the Institute for Research and Development of Thua Thien Hue Province (HueIDS) and a wide range of participants from administration, science and practice in the field of green space management and sustainable urban development were present. The event provided an opportunity to present a governance handbook for nature-based solutions developed during the research and development phase of the GreenCityLabHuế project, which aims to support local stakeholders in combatting urban heat in tropical cities in Southeast Asia, with Hue serving as a case study. Participants in the round table had the opportunity to read the draft handbook presented by the research partners and provide feedback. The valuable comments from the participants will be evaluated after the policy roundtable and integrated into the final handbook, which is scheduled for publication in spring 2025. This was the last roundtable of the project during its research and development phase, which concluded a series of consultations with stakeholders on the development of green and blue infrastructure for urban areas in Hue City.
After the introduction and program overview, Fabian Stolpe, MSc, presented key sections of the handbook, emphasizing aspects unique to Hue. For sections on the governance of nature-based solutions, promising green and blue infrastructure in Hue, and the benefits of NBS, the project asked the participants for feedback. Attendees were divided into three groups at three different tables, each table with a large sheet for discussing specific topics needed for the handbook. After 20 minutes of discussion at each table, the sheets rotated, allowing each table to discuss all three topics where GreenCityLabHuế sought additional input.
In the final discussion of the roundtable, the participants were asked for their personal vision for green and sustainable urban development in Hue. The participants suggested that Hue should reorganize its land to create more green spaces, adapting the planning of green spaces to local conditions to preserve local identity and create good access to green spaces throughout the city. Future landscaping should also consider the spaces between green areas to improve the connectivity of green spaces across the city, creating green corridors. The preservation of old trees was also emphasized in order to maintain the ecological values that have been created. Participants unanimously advocated for more tree planting in Hue, both now and in the future, to make the city more resilient to climate change.
Representatives from agencies involved in green and blue infrastructure, development such as the Department of Natural Resources and Environment, the Department of Tourism, the Urban Environment and Public Works Joint Stock Company, the Green Park Center, the Forest Management and Protection Fund, the Huong River Protective Forest Management Board, the Center for Social Development Research, the Community Development Center, the Faculty of Architecture at Hue University of Science, and other related organizations took part in the round table. The GreenCityLabHuế project sincerely thanks all the participants for their valuable contributions in numerous project workshops, which have enabled the GreenCityLabHuế project to be implemented successfully and to accurately investigate the need for green and blue infrastructure development in the urban areas of Hue City.
