VIRIDIS LOCI ACADEMY
Viridis Loci Academy
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The Viridis Loci project aims at providing specialized VET training/transfer of skills in the correct management of green areas and parks in municipalities to public technicians and private subjects who are interested in dealing with an advanced professional management of urban nature (with special regards to those impacted by pandemic) and to graduates in three European islands: Sardinia, the Balearics and Madeira. The partnership will actively cooperate to reach this aim, and it is composed by public bodies, SMEs, and an international VET provider (ABA international). The contribution of ABA International will be essential to provide the ICT e-learning platform and transfer knowledge to make the best use of ICT tools; Fitoconsult will provide the contents for the realization of the outputs while ATM will provide contents for the preparation of outputs and will coordinate the methods of knowledge transfer. ABA International will also implement the training internationally and will share it among the 29 countries that are part of its network. Implementation will also be assured by the associated partners. The consortium presented this project for three main reasons:
1) Environmental sustainability and the fight against climate change: it emphasizes the role of wellmanaged green areas/parks within cities and municipalities in general as providers of ecosystem services (benefits that people obtain from nature, e.g.,, climate regulation, CO2 capture, air quality improvement, cultural values, public health and biodiversity conservation).
2) Increase Inclusion: The training will address the need for updating to bridge the knowledge gap of those who operate in the public and private sectors or who intend to enter this job market. The project will operate in three island contexts in southern Europe, which due to their geography, tend to be isolated and at a permanent economic disadvantage compared to other regions of the continent. Islands tend to lag behind in economic terms and innovation processes negatively impact the communities residing on the islands. Unemployment rates in the three islands are high with dramatic peaks among young people and in all cases higher than the respective national averages: Sardinia (18% - youth unemployment around 45%), Balearic Islands (youth unemployment 17% - around 40%) and Madeira (10% - 50.5% youth unemployment).
3) Overcoming the knowledge gap with the use of ICT technologies to impart a highly technological and innovative working methodology. The project will be innovative, both for the contents and for the methods of conducting the courses (high-tech maintenance methods) and for the methods of carrying out the activities (use of the ICT platform for e-learning and as an innovation storage device) . The platform developed by ABA International will be used as a cutting-edge technology for e-learning at a distance and will alternate with practical workshops, will collect all the teaching material and will also constitute a repository of ideas, exchange of best practices as well as maintaining all deliverables. of the project.
Project Partners:
ANCI Sardegna: ANCI Sardegna is a voluntary and independent association that represents all Sardinian municipalities. It aims to represent Sardinian municipalities and their interests towards other local administration at Regional level. It promotes the cooperation between Italian municipalities and it conceives initiatives aimed to their economic and social development. It is the fundamental organization of the National Association of Italian Municipalities, in accordance with the provisions of the National Statute, operates in conformity with it. It represents the views and concerns of Sardinia Municipalities at Regional and National meetings between central and local institutions. ANCI represents the interests and protects the rights of the members before the Regional administration and the peripheral organs of the State; promotes the study of problems that affect the associates; it intervenes with its own representatives in every forum where the interests of local autonomies are discussed or administered; promotes training courses for the benefit of administrators and employees of local authorities; establishes a committee of experts in the various disciplines, coordinated by the Secretary of the Association, providing assistance and advice to the associated bodies; promotes and encourages initiatives to spread knowledge of local institutions, civic education of citizens and to encourage their participation in the life of local autonomies; promotes the participation of associated bodies in forms of collaboration and coordination; studies and promotes initiatives aimed at favoring the economic and social development of communities; maintains operational links with state bodies, with the Regional Adminitration of Sardinia, with the Provinces, with other regional associations and with the organizations of local autonomies operating in Sardinia; works for a decentralization of public interest functions at every level; participates in the activities and initiatives of the national ANCI, representing the will and requests of the member bodies; promotes initiatives aimed at resolving disputes that may arise between private entities, between businesses, between businesses and consumers, between local authorities and private entities in the management of their functions, from public works to supplies, and local public services.
Fito-consult srl: Fito-consult (Fito) is an Italian SME, active in the field of environmental management, with a focus on arboriculture, urban forestry and tree care, and active too in the field of training and formation, being a certified and recognized regional training center. Fito has focused its business on urban environment management, in particular focusing on urban trees and modern arboriculture, introducing new techniques and tools in the tree care sector. Fito is considered as a pioneer company in Italy and Europe as well, since we have introduced and disclosed the principles of correct care to be given to trees and green spaces, back in years when there were still no konowledge and awareness about the proprer working techniques. Today Fito-consult works taking care of trees in a scientific way and using the latest modern arboricultural practices to test tree health. We have been involved in several research projects about tree biology, working with the main experts in the field and in collaboration with important research centers (as University of Mendel, Empa etc); we have been involved too in different EU-funded projects (Leonardo, Erasmus Plus, Interreg CH-IT and various PSR regional funds) to promote lifelong education and professional training.
ATM Consulting: ATM Consulting is an Italian limited partnership SME company, which acts as a business consultancy, providing advisory services for firms in administration, management and business planning in the agricultural and agri-food sector at large. ATM Consulting provides expertise in the design and management of projects in the agricultural sector, ranging from the identification of funding sources to innovation transfer, and territorial promotion of rural areas. It has received funding through the RDP of the Umbria and Sardegna regions and has a wealth of expertise in projects ranging from the INTERREG, ENI CBC MED and ERASMUS+ programs. The company has its head office in Perugia (Umbria) and two operational offices in Serramanna (Sardegna) and Brunello (Lombardia).
AREAM - Agência Regional da Energia e Ambiente da Região Autónoma da Madeira: AREAM is a private non-profit making association, recognised as a public utility, situated in Autonomous Region of Madeira, Portugal. The main purposes of AREAM are the promotion of sustainable energy, sustainable use of water, climate change mitigation and adaptation, sustainable mobility, protection of the environment and biodiversity conservation, namely by supporting local and regional authorities, energy suppliers and end-users. It develops local and regional policy planning and research, demonstration and innovation projects in these areas in cooperation with other regions, islands and outermost regions. In the scope of their areas of intervention, AREAM also provides technical support in the elaboration and implementation of regional policies and develops awareness raising campaigns directed to general public, education community, local and regional authorities and economic actors, to promote sustainable procedures and technologies and to promote the adoption of sustainable behaviours.
FELIB - Federació d'Entitats Locals de les Illes Balears: FELIB is a non-profit organization with the aim of integrating all the local entities of the Balearic Islands, being made up of all the municipalities and island’s councils of the Balearic Islands who voluntarily decided to associate for the promotion of their interests, and local autonomy within the constitutional framework and the Statute of Autonomy of the Balearic Islands. FELIB can maintain cooperative relations with other similar associations in others regions of Spain. FELIB is a regional association linked to the Spanish Federation of Municipalities and Provinces (FEMP). The territorial scope of the Federation is that of the Autonomous Community of the Balearic Islands and its purposes, among others, are promote and spread the interests of the local entities, promote the language and culture of the Balearic Islands at the municipal level, promote studies and debate on issues that affect their associates, spread the knowledge of the associated entities and stimulate the participation of citizens in local life.
ABA International:ABA International (ABA) a non-profit education association and skills accreditation 'umbrella body' was developed with a clear vision to help reduce accidents & fatalities to skilled workers & members of the public and promote quality professional certification schemes within Europe and worldwide i.e. National Certification, International Recognition. ABA's mission is to enhance safety standards through continuous improvement (including the safe use of technological developments) and supporting the recognition of certification. It is selffunded & sustainable. ABA has provided a framework, supported, promoted, further enhanced skills qualification products particularly qualifications, also within the tree care sector since 2012 & has a proven track record. Its membership includes broad representation from education organisations, research organisations, industry bodies etc which includes specialists in the fields of urban tree care, inspection & management for safety and the application of modern technology such as unmanned aerial vehicles or drones. ABA develops & regulates approved qualification centres delivering European & international qualifications across currently 4 continents & over 20 countries. All European qualifications are referenced & weighted to the relevant EQF credit rating with clear learning outcomes.
