Living Lab "Our Trees, Our Future" represents a collaborative initiative developed within the CROSS-REIS project to promote urban biodiversity and strengthen climate resilience in the City of Niš. The initiative builds on the successful cooperation between the Faculty of Economics, University of Niš, and the Public Utility Company Mediana, which resulted in the development and public availability of the City's digital tree cadastre.
The Living Lab demonstrates how existing biodiversity data can be transformed into concrete actions in a real urban environment. By connecting academia, local authorities, public utility companies, students, and citizens, it illustrates the value of co-creation and open innovation in addressing contemporary urban challenges.
Located in the city park at King Alexander the Unifier Square, the Living Lab focuses on one of the city's most valuable green public spaces. Based on the existing tree cadastre, trees have been selected and documented. For each tree, educational content has been prepared, including information about the species, estimated age, ecological importance, oxygen production, and contribution to the urban ecosystem.
In cooperation with the City Municipality of Medijana, QR code information plaques have been installed next to every selected tree, enabling visitors to access detailed information through their mobile devices. The park has thus become an open-air learning environment where digital technologies support environmental education and public awareness.
Students and professors from the Faculty of Economics have actively participated in the Living Lab by preparing educational materials, promoting urban biodiversity, and engaging citizens in discussions about the importance of trees for climate resilience, ecosystem services, and quality of life. Through these activities, the Living Lab has created opportunities for knowledge exchange between researchers, students, local institutions, and the wider community.
Beyond its educational value, Our Trees, Our Future demonstrates how biodiversity data can support evidence-based urban planning and sustainable city governance. By transforming data into knowledge and knowledge into action, the Living Lab contributes to the broader objectives of the CROSS-REIS project and promotes a transition towards more regenerative, resilient, and citizen-centered cities.