UrbanGaia Research Project

Vilnius is the capital of Lithuania and its historic centre is listed in the UNESCO world heritage. It has approximately 500.000 inhabitants, and is characterised by a humid continental climate. The intensive use of green areas, makes Vilnius a living laboratory for testing the importance of green infrastructure and ecosystem services in urban areas.

Despite the increasing urban sprawl, especially in the postsocialist period, large parts of the city are covered by green areas, such as urban parks, private gardens (e,g. Zveryinas) and protected areas, which provide a wide range of services to city inhabitants.