Yggdrasil – The Living Nordic City

The Nordic Cities Nature-Based Solutions Project is a pivotal initiative within the Nordic Council of Ministers' comprehensive program to achieve Vision 2030 – making the Nordic Region the most sustainable and integrated region in the World. Focused on promoting nature-based solutions in Nordic cities, the project centers on the 3-30-300 principle, which is a rule of thumb for urban trees and greening, emphasizing biodiversity, climate adaptation, and public health. As the final phase of a thematic program, it follows literature synthesis, pilot projects, and guidelines for implementation.

The 3-30-300 principle provides clear criteria for the minimum provision of urban trees in our urban communities: all citizens shall be able to see 3 trees from their home; there should be 30 percent tree canopy cover in every neighbourhood; there should be 300 metres from the nearest public park or green space. 

This project aims to evaluate the 3-30-300 principle's effectiveness in enhancing biological diversity, climate resilience, and public health, with a specific focus on native tree species. A key objective is to establish a collaborative network among Nordic cities, fostering the preservation and expansion of local tree populations. This collaboration is integral to achieving the overarching goals of Vision 2030, contributing to the region's sustainability and resilience. 

In countries where the 3-30-300 principle might not be relevant to implement (e.g. Faroe Islands, Iceland and Greenland) due to lack of native tree species, the aim should be to assess native shrub species in urban green areas.

The project's timeline extends until December 2024, aligning with the broader initiative's commitment to creating more resilient and healthier cities through nature-based solutions. 

This project is intended to promote and support nature-based solutions in Nordic cities. It will contribute to making the case for more resilient and healthy cities with more nature-based solutions that address both biodiversity, climate change, health and equality in the same measures. The project must also contribute to forming a network of cities that collaborate to preserve and increase the proportion of local native trees.

The project is intended to guide the Nordic Countries in their implementation of the Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework Target 12 on green cities (Target 12 (cbd.int) ) and support their work on targets 8 and 11 on climate change, nature-based solutions and ecosystem services.

The successful tender winner is tasked with conducting an analysis of multiple Nordic cities, with a specific focus on the 3-30-300 principle. The first step involves a map analysis to the current adherence of these cities to the principle, including the verification of any city meeting the 3-30-300 criteria. Subsequently, a gap analysis is required to pinpoint areas with less than 30% canopy cover. The examination of socio-economic parameters related to green space accessibility is imperative, with a particular emphasis on vulnerable demographic groups, such as children, the elderly, and individuals with health issues, and areas with socia-economic vulnerability (if possible). Additionally, the inclusion of data on noise levels, air quality, and climate-related parameters, such as heat mapping, is essential if available.

Post-analysis, the supplier must develop scenarios illustrating the potential transformation of these cities if the 3-30-300 principle were fully implemented. The exploration of impacts on climate adaptation, including considerations for heatwaves, contributions to biodiversity, and the justice perspective, is mandatory. An evaluation of how vulnerable populations would be influenced is also integral. To enhance the project, villages renowned for their profound understanding of their tree population, exemplified by locales like Umeå and Oslo, can be invited to participate.

Furthermore, the establishment of a network comprising tree-focused villages willing to experiment with the 3-30-300 principle is encouraged. A detailed mapping of tree species within the cities, incorporating an assessment of the proportion of native and exotic species, must be conducted. Utilization of aerial image interpretation or databases for gathering this information is imperative, offering valuable insights into the composition of the urban tree canopy.

• Broad participation across Nordic countries
• Co-ordination with NordGen on their work on crop-wild relatives (project 5 in the nbs programme) is required.

The report must be written in English and two Nordic languages with additional summary in at least Finnish and Icelandic. The reason for this is that one of the main success criteria of the project is that information material is easily accessible and widely distributed. Factsheets, posters, or other communication material should include relevant logos and acknowledgement of the Nordic Council of Ministers (agreed with the project coordinator). Other electronic communications for social media have to be in Finnish, Icelandic and at least two Nordic languages and can be in accessible electronic file format (English).

2024: DKK 2.000.000

These are absolute requirements that must be met in order to proceed in the tendering process.

The supplier must be a legally established company (company certificate required) and have experience in carrying out projects. The project is financed with funding from the Nordic Council of Ministers and must have relevance and value for at least three of the Nordic countries including Greenland, Åland and the Faroe Islands.

Deadline for questions: 7th February 2024

Providing the offers: 13th March 2024

Choosing the supplier: 22th of March 2024

Signing the contract: March 2024

The timing of the contract: April 2024 - December 2024

Time of delivery: Project deadline December 2024

For more information about background, deliverables, assessment criteria etc., download the project description:

For guidelines and templates, see here:

Read more about the programme: