Written by: Anželika Dautartė, VMU

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First Version of the ŽŪA Arboretum Visualisation Tool

On 27 November 2025, the initial iteration of the ŽŪA Arboretum visualisation tool was showcased at the Vytautas Magnus University Agriculture Academy. The event was organised as part of ᴇNᴀBʟS and continues the university’s ongoing efforts to involve the community in the creation and application of Nature-Based Solutions (NBS) in real environments.

The presentation built on the earlier community meeting held on 15 May, during which participants explored the Arboretum’s biodiversity, landscape structure, and potential to serve as a Living Lab where NBS concepts can be experienced through guided walks and discussions. The insights and expectations collected during that event formed an important foundation for the preparation of the first version of the visualisation.

According to the organisers, the purpose of the visualisation tool is to create a space where Nature-Based Solutions are clearly visible, easy to understand, and integrated into visitors’ everyday experience. This includes conserving and enriching local species, shaping the landscape based on ecosystem processes, developing educational zones, restoring natural habitats, and harmonising human activity with the needs of biodiversity. The visualisation tool is intended to demonstrate how the university campus can become an accessible NBS demonstration site for students, educators, residents, and young visitors.

The event was attended by members of the Lithuanian Living Lab, representatives of the local authorities, residents of the Akademija township, dendrology specialists, kindergarten educators from Kaunas, as well as other interested stakeholders. Representatives of technical and vocational education and training (TVET) institutions from the Kaunas region were also invited, recognising the Arboretum’s potential as a valuable educational and practical learning environment. Participants actively discussed how the visualisation could be further aligned with community needs and shared numerous insights directly related to the implementation of NBS.

The discussions highlighted the need for more clearly marked paths and functional areas, helping visitors better understand the logic and interconnections of different environmental elements. Participants also emphasised two important directions: first, the value of more prominently highlighting the diversity of local plant and tree species; and second, the importance of expanding educational NBS content suitable for different age groups. In addition, there was a clear request for improved navigation and visitor maps to indicate where specific NBS are demonstrated within the Arboretum.

The event once again confirmed that the university can serve not only as a place of knowledge, but also as a genuine co-creation environment where NBS become visible, tangible, and meaningful to the broader community. The insights collected will be integrated into further refinement of the visualisation, with the aim of creating an open, biodiversity-friendly, and educational space that meets the expectations of both Akademija residents and the wider public.