Community planting initiatives in Vilnius, the greenest city in the making

Vilnius has had increasingly more heat waves with up to 35 degrees celsius. For a northern city, this is quite an adjustment. Although the higher temperatures may be bringing in more summer tourism, this also requires careful planning to maintain the city‘s liveability. Vilnius took to greening the streets and making drinking water accessible throughout the city. 94 % there.  

In 2017 Vilnius has set an ambitious target to plant 100,000 new trees and 1 million bushes. A further 300 000 winders would help green the school yard fences and create hedges. In 2025, the year of European Green Capital, Vilnius has already reached 94 % of this target. It has been been a strategic choice to set trees as the priority, especially making all efforts to protect existing mature trees on proposed construction sites and let self-seeded trees continue to grow where possible. 

The greenest capital city in Europe

Vilnius reportedly has the largest greenery coverage out of all capital cities in the world. 61 % of Vilnius City territory is green (forests, parks, grass meadows), according to the Husqvarna Index HUGSI. This impressive figure is not yet enough and Vilnius is raising the bar to make the city even more green and liveable for its citizens. 

Vilnius is not only blessed with vast greenery, but also high quality drinking water, which is why new drinking water fountains have been introduced in the city. This is vital to help citizens and tourists endure rising temperatures. Green spaces have contributed towards liveability and health especially during the COVID pandemic, and the planting efforts continue at a steady pace through to 2025. 

^{Shrub planting volunteer event in Šeškinė © the City of Vilnius}

Data backed greening strategy 

Using data analytics to determine the highest concentrations of heat, air and noise pollution, Vilnius has identified strategic priority areas for greening. This includes some of the city‘s busiest road, public squares, pedestrian pavements and cycling roads. 

A detailed map was created, measuring and monitoring specific areas of the city, where heat islands form. The hottest spots were found in shopping centres and parking lots, with significantly lower temperatures recorded alongside the tree lines by the roads and pedestrian pavements. 

^{Vilnius Heat Map}

Sites for planting bushes were selected using a thorough analysis of noise pollution, with the aim of creating green corridors. Sites for planting trees were carefully selected using feedback from local authority workers, with criteria being population density and lack of existing trees. One particular example is the European GreenMe5 project that Vilnius took part in.  

^{Shrub planting volunteer event in Fabijoniškės © the City of Vilnius} 

Citizens plant a brand new forest 

In spring 2025, a large new forest park has been planted in Vilnius. The area spans 10 ha, and has been prioviously a derelict garage parking lot. Once the site has been cleared, it did not take long to decide what should become of it. This fit perfectly with the city‘s ambition to plant a new forest. 

Private sector companies have contributed 80 % of the tree saplings, with the rest coming from the municipality. The planting event had a great turnout of 600 people, planting 1300 tree saplings at a record time of 20 minutes. The community enjoyed getting together and contributing to their city in a meaningful way. 

^{Forest planting event © the City of Vilnius} 

No more single-use plastic water bottles 

Vilnius has used its gift of nature – high quality groundwater that is healthy and safe to drink. One can even discover pure water springs in the hilly forests of Vilnius. 

Vilniaus Vandenys, the municipal water supply company, sources the water from underground wells, which are drilled to depths ranging from 40 to 245 meters. Drinking water has been made easily available to residents and visitors, as 40 drinking water refill stations have been installed in the city and operate from spring to autumn. In 2024 nearly 4 mln. cups of water have been consumed from the water fountains, which saved 194,68 tons of plastic waste. 

Each water fountain is equipped with smart data detectors that track water usage, and this information is accessible via an interactive online map  

Main challenges in addressing heatwaves

• Site selection is very important, to target the parts of the city were the heat island effect is highest
• The number of unusually hot days in Vilnius has tripled in the last 10 years and will continue to grow
• Careful planning in advance is required, as it takes a few years for the vegetation to grow to reap the maximum benefits 

Lessons learnt and next steps 

• The community involvement was bigger than expected, so it is always a good idea to prepare for extra resources such as gardening gloves and tools
• Next time we will communicate more in advance so that the message reaches more private companies and offers them the opportunity to get organized in advance and donate more trees
• We will repeat the forest planting event again in autumn.

Replicability

Great results come when the municipality, the community and the private sector combine their strengths and working together towards a common goal. The municipality is primarily responsible for initiating, organizing, urban planning, site selection and planning documents. The community is the force behind planting, you will be amazed how quickly 600 people can plant 1200 trees! School children and private company employees with their families were the most active at the tree planting event. The private sector is essential for financial contributions

Vilnius is part of the Cities Refresh campaign, creating lively and safe places for all.

Vilnius' Refresh

Number of solutions implemented: 100 000 new trees in 10 years 

Maximum temperature reached during extreme heat events: 35°C

• Nature
• Community Driven
• Governance
  • Greening the streets and planting a large new forest, hosting planting events where hundreds of citizens get involved - data backed strategy 

Expected results with the solutions implemented:  

• Reduce temperatures and create shade alongside pedestrian and cycling routes
• Reduce noise and air pollution
• Improve safety - a line of trees and bushes along the road protects pedestrians and cyclists from heavy road traffic 

Covenant Figures 

Signatory to the Covenant of Mayors since: 2012

Emission reduction ambitions:  

Overall CO2 emission reduction target:

• % GHG emissions reductions by 2030: -80%
• % GHG emissions reductions by 2050: Climate neutrality

City Awards

• Green Capital 2025
• Mission City

Related links

• Vilnius – European Green Capital website
• Climate Neutral Vilnius website