The Treeathlon Good Practice Catalogue presents a cross-border Romanian–Hungarian project aimed at promoting small-scale sustainable urban solutions to improve ecosystem services and reduce transport-related pollution in the towns of Biharia and Derecske.
The document highlights that small and medium-sized towns face increasing challenges. Climate change impacts—such as droughts, heatwaves, and biodiversity loss—are becoming more severe, while growing urbanization and motorization contribute to air and noise pollution. These factors negatively affect the quality of life and require innovative, locally applicable solutions.
The main objective of the Treeathlon project is to enhance climate resilience and livability through small-scale urban interventions involving local communities. Key focus areas include the development of green and blue infrastructure, improvement of air quality, and preservation of biodiversity. The project places strong emphasis on community participation, especially involving young people.
The catalogue presents 16 international good practices from various countries, categorized into four main themes:
- green infrastructure and biodiversity,
- blue infrastructure and water retention,
- circular economy and waste management,
- sustainable mobility.
The selection of these practices was based on criteria such as relevance, geographic diversity, scalability, and long-term sustainability. The examples include both simple, low-cost solutions and more complex urban development projects.
Each good practice is presented in a standardized format (challenge, description, results, and adaptability), making it easier to compare and replicate them in other contexts.
Overall, the catalogue aims to support knowledge sharing, provide inspiration, and assist local action planning. It demonstrates that nature-based solutions combined with community involvement can lead to tangible environmental and social benefits.