Orbital Forest, a balance between the city and nature rediscovered Immediate lasting actions were needed.Suddently, everyone in the city wanted to plant trees to celebrate occassions such as valentines day, birthdays, gifts and to create lasting memories of their beloved ones. The 1st strategic objective in Boeri ‘s General Local Plan 2030 proposes an “Orbital Forest” of 2 million trees, encircling Tirana, acting as a green belt to prevent urban sprawl. The square is in the middle, but there is no city centre as such, and no major shopping street comparable to Regent Street or the Rue de Rivoli. "Bosco Puglia", donated 3000 trees to the orbital forest of Tirana. "We are delighted that we will work together for the realization of this project, from which Tirana, the municipality and all citizens will benefit greatly. Indeed it views them as crucial to the creation of a sustainable municipal environment which will stimulate the capital’s economic growth and improve living conditions for our citizens.
Veliaj said such initiatives are positive to raise awareness among young people regarding the importance of creating green spaces and for environmental care. For example, he points to the conversion of Skanderbeg Square, which had become little more than a vast traffic island, into the largest pedestrianised space in the Balkans – “a destination, rather than a place of transit”. The plan is to build up rather than out to accommodate the still growing population.As per the stylings of the architect, Tirana 2030 is made up of three elements: a metropolitan “fresco” based on 10 major themes (biodiversity, polycentrism, diffuse knowledge, mobility, water, geopolitics, tourism, accessibility, agriculture and energy); an “atlas”If Boeri’s Tirana plan sounds grandiose and often vague, Veliaj insists it will serve a practical purpose. so far 70% of trees have been donated by citizens, mostly for their children’s birthdays.
It will contain a considerable number of trees with coniferous and/or wide leaves, as well as a combination of various wood species of continuous greenery. “We can’t afford urban sprawl because we can’t afford a metro, which costs €300 million per kilometre,” he says. Tirana's initiative to realize the Orbital Forest, which foresees the planting of 2 million trees, is getting the support of citizens, institutions and financial organizations. Nor is there the familiar conjugation of chain stores – no Zara, no Mango, no Nando’s or McDonalds.Everything about the city feels haphazard. He won the 2015 mayoral election by a landslide as the Socialist party candidate, joining the ranks of Europe’s radical mayors alongside Ada Colau in Barcelona and Virginia Raggi in Rome.
“I know it’s a cliche, but I really believe that if you build it, they will come,” he says.He is especially proud of a scheme to encourage citizens to plant trees, either for their birthdays or as memorials. “They are rarely used to construct public services that usually don’t create revenues, and as such the debt remains for future generations.”There are also questions about where the money is coming from. The population of Tirana increased from 280.000 in 1989 to 1 million. "I am very enthusiastic that, thanks to the Italian Cooperation, we have just secured the funding for the Orbital Forest Project, which will produce concrete results in greening up the 23 areas identified for this project." We started a campaign for planting trees every year to achieve the target. “The square is also a signal to people about how we think the city should work.”The mayor is criticised for what some see as a top-down, oligarchical way of getting things done, and Veliaj admits that he prefers to explain rather than consult.
Another benefit is the economic and territorial revitalisation of the area of about 14.000 hectares.2. The plan is to create density but with qualityFrom Edi Rama, the former mayor and now Albanian prime minister, Veliaj inherited Tirana 2030: an ambitious plan intended to sort out the urban chaos. "With this agreement, we are taking a new step in the consolidation of friendship between the two countries and we are very happy to contribute to this greenery plan of Tirana.