Funded by
Erasmus+ KA2
Information
- Length: 2025
- Lead Partner: City of Trollhättan (SE)
- Members Involved: SERN (IT)
- Other Partners: Företagarna Trollhättan (SE)
- Priority Area: #Green&SustainableCommunities #ClimateAction
Contacts
- federica.gravina@sern.eu
- +393928695762
LEAF
Learning and engaging for action on biodiversity-friendly SMEs
About the project
This project addresses critical challenges related to biodiversity and sustainability, aligning with the EU’s Green Deal and Biodiversity Strategy for 2030. These objectives emphasize the need to integrate biodiversity into corporate governance, restore ecosystems, and promote green infrastructure in urban and peri-urban areas. SMEs, which form the backbone of the European economy—particularly in Emilia Romagna and Västra Götaland—are key to achieving these goals but face significant gaps in understanding and implementing biodiversity practices. Industrial expansion and urbanization have led to habitat loss, with limited efforts targeting industrial areas or involving SMEs in conservation efforts. To bridge this gap, the project will collect best practices, provide professional counseling, and explore innovative training approaches, empowering SMEs to adopt sustainable practices. By enhancing their capacity, the project fosters biodiversity conservation while promoting a culture of continuous professional development within business communities and municipalities.
Objectives
The main objective addressed by the project partners will be to increase the capacity of SMEs to adopt and implement strategies and practices that make a positive contribution to biodiversity in industrial areas.
Specifically, the project aims at raising awareness among SMEs about the importance of biodiversity and the role that businesses can play in its conservation.
Finally, partners will collaborate to Identify the training needs of entrepreneurs and municipal professionals both in Italy and Sweden in relation to the knowledge and skills required to integrate biodiversity considerations into business practices.
Activities
To achieve the project objectives, partners and stakeholders will be engaged in the following activities:
- Kick-off meeting in Italy
- Mapping of local good showcases and already on-going initiatives on integration of biodiversity consideration into business practices in Italy and Sweden and dedicated counselling
- Transnational seminar in Sweden aimed at creating a space for a collaborative discussion and learning among SMEs and stakeholders about enhancing biodiversity practices within SMEs.
- Final report on training needs focused on knowledge gaps and required skills for integrating biodiversity into business and environmental/city planning practices.
Results
Upon the completion of the activities, the results achieved will be the following:
- Increased knowledge and awareness among SME owners, municipal professionals and other target groups about biodiversity and its importance for local sustainable development.
- Identified good examples/showcases in Sweden and Italy on how to integrate biodiversity into business practices that can be shared.
- Identified relevant VET-needs among the stakeholders about biodiversity conservation in industrial areas.
- Established a collaborative network of stakeholders committed to biodiversity conservation.
- Provided counseling and strategic support to SMEs
