Even in towns and cities people have a deep connection with nature. Denial of that connection leads to diminished physiological and psychological wellbeing.

Society functions best when it is embedded in natural green spaces; green spaces where people live, play and work.

Research is now proving what we as individuals already know – that green space in our towns and cities is good – but it is placing values on what that means for commercial, retail and residential spaces in which we live, play and work.

In this presentation we will take an overview of that research and the need to harness its findings in policy and guidance to build ‘strong and stable’ places for society.

Jago Keen has qualifications and experience in arboriculture and nature conservation and applies complex system thinking to the challenges presented by town planning, green infrastructure management and projection planning. He has two decades experience spent in the ‘natural capital’ sector, managing natural assets to ensure ecosystem services are delivered.

In private practice as an international green infrastructure consultant, Jago Keen is consulted by clients in local government, healthcare trusts, property development companies and private individuals, throughout the UK and Eurasia, to deliver pragmatic solutions to build resilient ecosystem provision.

Jago was, until recently, chairman of the Arboricultural Association in the United Kingdom.

President of the Moscow International flower and garden festival (Moscow flower show)

“… We should feel our city as a harmonic unity of all its elements, and only the nature itself in the hands of a landscape designer can become the uniting ecosystem of our concrete jungle. In fact, a landscape designer is an artist, who brings together macro-elements citywide with the help of the live plants…”

“… Its seems that in is impossible to turn the concrete jungle of buildings into a part, because the buildings occupy very much space and press us with their massive constructions, but the modern technologies and creative way of thinking of the landscape designers are able to turn even the concrete bulk into the blossoming gardens…”

… All the events, arranged for the Ecology Year, are aimed to improve the environmental situation in the region. This will affect not only the overall condition of nature, but also the attitude of the citizens of our region…

Arboriculturist

Urban green consultant

Expert for the outdoor plants’ International market

New-plant varieties hunter

President ANVE (Italian Nursery Exporters Association) -2006/2014

Vice President ENA (European Nursery Stock Association) -2010/2012

President ENA (European Nursery Stock Association) -2012/2014

Nursery consultant for Sapienza University, Rome – 2014/2015

Chairman  at the Worldwide Round Table of Nurserystock organized by ENA (European Nurserystock Association). - 2013. 

Creator of the Master “Export Manager” for Flower and Ornamental Plants in partnership with the Ministry of Foreign Trade and ICE (Italian Trade Agency)

Coordinator of the EXPORT MANAGER MASTER -2010/2014

Creator and Coordinator of the experimental project  “Therapeutic Terraces – the green effect on patients affected by Cancer” in partnership with the Oncology Department of Carrara Hospital

Chairman of the table on the problems of  horticulture in Task Force Italy-Russia  organized by the Italian and Russian Ministries of Economic Development.

Vice-director for academic work, director of the landscaping design and stable ecosystems department of the Agrarian and technological institute of RUDN University.

Doctor of Science (biology), professor, head of the chair of ecology and land resources at the Federal State Budgetary Educational Institution of Higher Education “Voronezh State University”