Building Capacity for Urban Forest Management across Europe: Indicators, Knowledge, and Participation
(Antalya, Türkiye – 27–30 April 2026)
The Urban Forestry Network will convene in Antalya for a four-day event dedicated to advancing urban forest planning across Europe. This meeting will bring together researchers, municipal representatives and stakeholders to share knowledge and co-develop practical tools for Urban Forest Management Plans (UFMPs).
Key Features:
- Strategic Planning: The Management Committee and Core Group will discuss about next steps and prepare communication materials.
- Keynote speakers: We have three keynote presentations on topics regarding the potential of COST actions to the development of broad international research project proposals, on urban forestry management and on participatory urban forest management and planning.
- Exploratory synergy sessions: Task leaders and members will get together with other working group members for exploring ways in which the different tasks interact and complement their efforts.
- Collaborative Sessions and workshops: Breakout groups on educational networks, municipalities, stakeholder engagement tools and scientific approaches.
- Call for Short Communications and Poster Presentations: Showcase research and best practices from COST members.
Format: Hybrid | Dates: 27–30 April 2026
Location: Antalya, Türkiye
Venue: Akdeniz University, Guest House
Program: You can see the preliminary program here:
REGISTRATION:
There is no registration fee, and attendance to the event is free to all members.
- Management Committee Meeting (27th April): open only for MC members. Travelling expenses can be covered for only one member per country, giving preference to those MC members who are also task leaders. You can decide among yourselves who will be attending in person and who on-line. Otherwise, selection will be on a first come-first served basis.
- Action meeting (28th -30th April): all members are invited to join, either in person or on-line. Travelling expenses can be covered to attend in person only for task leaders and selected short communications presenters.
Application form:
If you plan to attend the event in person, please fill in this pre-registration form to help us plan the resources accordingly.
CALL FOR ABSTRACTS:
All action members can present their research during the event as short communication or as poster.
Presentation can be in person or on-line. Send your short abstract (2000 characters maximum) via this form before 15th February. Selected candidates will be informed by the 27th. Accepted abstracts will be published in a Book of Abstracts available on the Faculty of Engineering and Architecture webpage and stored in the Burdur Mehmet Akif Ersoy University digital repository, including the assignment of an e‑ISBN. Research topics:- Topics WG1
-
- The role of key performance indicators (KPIs) in Urban Forest Management Plans
- Manager’s perspectives on urban forestry key performance indicators (KPIs)
- Key Performance Indicators (KPIs) for Nature-based solutions and Green Infrastructure – lessons for urban forestry (workshop)
- Topics WG2
-
- Educational Networks and Best Practices for Urban Forest Management
- Engaging Small Cities and Towns in Urban Forestry Capacity Building
- Bridging Scientific and Practical Communities in Urban Forestry
- Topics WG3
-
- Public Participation in Urban Forestry
- Innovation in Community Forestry
TRAVEL EXPENSES AND DAILY ALLOWANCE:
Based on the results from the pre-registration application form, a personal invitation will be sent via e-cost to those actions members that will be attending in person and whose travel expenses can be covered. As always, long-distance travel costs will be covered and a daily allowance will be provided depending on the number of days you will be attending in person. Remember to sign the attendance record when in Antalya to be able to claim later the expenses. Here you can read more about rules and eligible expenses and common mistakes on reimbursement claims.
Closer to the event date, we will send links for those attending the meetings on-line.
Any questions, please send us an email to urbanforestrynetwork@gmail.com
Looking forward to meeting all in Antalya!!




