Regenerating and revaluing urban forests at scale: Research case studies

Abstract

The shared mission of this HIPI-2 Initiative is to incentivise mass participation and financing of urban forest regeneration in Melbourne and across Victoria. To achieve this, the initiative built and tested diversified methodologies, platforms, and systems of valuing urban forests which factor in a far greater range of qualitative and quantitative indicators than existing models which separate ‘natural’ and ‘social’ benefits. These include new models of decentralised investment and exchange through geo-locative and Web3 technologies, opening novel opportunities for diversified systems of value creation through and for Victoria’s urban forests. The initiative investigates how emerging technologies offer multiple possibilities for large-scale impact, including:· connecting Victorians to the diverse benefits of urban forests· incentivising Victorians to actively participate in urban regeneration and knowledge sharing· revitalising diverse cultural and historical relationships with urban forests· enabling new legal and economic status for Victoria’s urban forests· building transdisciplinary literacies and lifelong learning through Victoria’s urban forestsTo realise these possibilities, the initiative has established strong research and impact partnerships to investigate the benefits and capabilities of emerging eco-digital platforms to scale up urban greening across Victoria. This initiative bridges leading RMIT research on urban greening, digital economies, regenerative education, and social innovation to develop new pipelines for regenerating and revaluing urban forests at scale.