The workshop "Natural solutions for the resilient future of Kaštela" was held in the morning as part of the project NATURED - Natural solutions for the resilience of Adriatic-Ionian cities in Vila Niki, organized by the Public Institution RERA SD
The NATURED project is co-financed through the Interreg IPA ADRION programme. The aim of the project is to strengthen the capacity of decision-makers, experts and citizens to deal with climate change, in particular by preventing urban flooding and urban heat island effects, using nature-based solutions (NbS), such as green oases and parks, vertical gardens, green or white roofs, streets and pavements with materials that reflect sunlight, etc.
- The Nature project is one of our projects that deals with the topic of climate change and its impact on our environment, our cities and our lives. Although through these projects we cannot significantly influence climate change, we can raise awareness of the consequences and how to mitigate them and reduce the risks and consequences of climate change, especially within urban projects - said Mihaela Tomašević, Head of the Department for Implementation of Programmes and EU Projects of the Public Institution RERA SD, at the beginning of the workshop.
Among the experts in sustainable development and climate change and representatives of utility companies and thematically related institutions, the workshop participants included representatives of the City of Kaštela and the Kaštela Tourist Board, as well as students of the "Braća Radić" High School.
- Every day, through our activities, we witness how climate change is reflected in our actions, how it is becoming increasingly difficult for us to cope with what nature brings us. We ourselves have contributed to this through our urbanization and devastation of space, therefore, through projects like these, we revalue the experiences and knowledge of our ancestors. Our ancestors lived in a more harmonious and meaningful coexistence with nature. We are trying to return to these values and remediate the current situation in order to cope with climate change more easily - emphasized the head of the European Union Funds Department Marijana Mišerda Bajić, inviting all participants to actively participate in the discussion, because feedback is of great importance, adding that all workshop participants possess certain knowledge and skills and can contribute to a common understanding of the problem and offer solutions that can be applied in practice. In this way, Mišerda Bajić emphasized, the quality of life is improved and a more sustainable environment is created for future generations.
Director of the Eupolis Group and founder of several non-profit organizations dealing with environmental protection, Ranko Milić, explained natural solutions for urban resilience using examples of good practice. He presented what nature-based solutions are and why they are the right ones. Through examples of good practice in the world and in our country, he explained the approach and method of financing nature-based solutions, as well as the Green SDŽ action plan.
Guest expert Lovel Čulić also spoke about solutions for urban resilience, focusing on Kaštela. He pointed out that Kaštela is a part of coastal Croatia with problems of high rainfall that causes floods and torrents, and that there is no system that can handle such a large amount of rainfall. The problems that lead to floods and torrential waters in Kaštela are, in addition to the unresolved drainage system and sea level rise, intensive construction that is destroying absorbent surfaces and poorly permeable soil in our area.
Through EU projects, Kaštela, in addition to the coastal belt they care about, is investing in a green transition in which the urban part of the city would be greened as much as possible with oases and parks, vertical gardens, and the like, which is just part of what they will be doing much more of in the future to solve problems with floods and torrents.
After the presentation of two experts on solutions for urban resilience, discussions on climate challenges and the possibilities of natural solutions in the area of the City of Kaštela followed. Eight solutions were presented, one of which will be implemented, and it was agreed to continue working on solutions for a resilient future of Kaštela.
Photo: Ivana Topic
