Following intense lobbying, the European Landscape Contractors Association (ELCA), of which BALI is the UK’s representative, has won support from EU parliamentarians for the inclusion of landscaping issues in new EU funded research.

Within the framework of the ‘Horizon 2020’ research programme, and specifically in the area of ‘climate protection, resource efficiency and raw materials’, reference is made to potential research into urban eco systems.

ELCA Secretary General Dr Herman Kurth, said: “Making funds available for research concerning the ‘Green City’ is becoming increasingly urgent. The landscape gardening industry can only develop innovative solutions for landscape construction if they are based on factual knowledge. The predominantly small and medium-sized businesses of the landscape gardening industry in Europe rely upon important initiatives from the EU for growth and employment.”

Research funding within the overall ‘Horizon 2020’ framework totals Euros 90 billion and this will be allocated during 2013 for the period 2014-2020. In her submission to parliamentarians, EU delegate Dr Renate Sommer stressed the importance of inner city green spaces in improving city climates: “They can contribute considerably to the reduction of noise, greenhouse gas emissions and micro particle pollution. The inclusion of such research activities in the ‘Horizon 2020’ programme is an important contribution to the research of the interdependencies of the biosphere and human health, the inner city management of ground and surface water, and sustainable development, as well as how to cope with climate change.”

BALI’s Chief Operations Officer Wayne Grills commented: “Lobbying is a crucial part of ELCA’s role and BALI is extremely proactive in ensuring its members and the wider UK landscape industry’s interests are represented within Europe and protected. A huge amount of work goes on behind the scenes, as ELCA Vice President and BALI’s Technical Director Neil Huck will confirm. Securing a chunk of EU funding to help our industry plan for the future will be a huge achievement.”