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Description
Tori municipality has large intensively mowed green areas under municipal ownership and these areas are increasing under the pressure of the population. There are many parks in the city of Sindi, but all of them are characterized by poverty of flora and species, not to mention other green areas in the municipality with dense meadow intensity. In addition, biodiversity, and the living environment in densely populated areas, incl. Sindi, are affected by the construction of large, black-covered car parks and the large roof areas of new buildings, which generate urban heat islands. Heat islands are dangerous to both human health and nature.
The objective of the project is to establish four nature-based demonstration areas in the different areas of Tori municipality and one green area to city of Sindi in order to mitigate climate change and reduce the urban heat island and to raise the awareness of community and municipality officials about climate change.
Actions:
1: Conversion of Sindi river side into a green area. An urban area with gravel grass and landscaping will be built on the existing gravel-covered site in Sindi.
2: Awareness raising program on climate change and biodiversity. Trainings in four rural municipality centres, at different times. The trainings are intended for both the community and the employees of municipality and sub-institutions.
3: Establishment of four biodiversity pilot or demonstration sites as workshops in different areas of the municipality as a practical part of community training. All pilot areas are planned to be diverse, using different seed mixtures of flower meadows to suit the soil, moisture and other characteristics of the area. Seed mixtures come from Estonian nature. Information boards explaining the importance of the topic and the principles of construction and maintenance will be installed on all pilot areas.
4: Implementation of the communication plan.
Target groups are all local people living in Tori Municipality.
Summary of project results
The main challenge was to address climate change mitigation and adaptation in local level. Tori implemented activities related to the construction of nature-based solutions and created demonstration areas for the purposes of environmental and climate education. The municipalities plans for action is preserving nature and biodiversity and increasing those areas within the municipality. The main goal was to create 4 nature-based demonstration areas and to increase knowledge within the community and among municipality workers with a training-program.
Tori converted Sindi riverside into a green area - an urban area with gravel grass and landscaping was built on the existing gravel-covered site in Sindi.
The second challenge was an awareness raising program on climate change and biodiversity. Trainings were carried out in four rural municipality centres, at different times. The trainings were for both the community and the employees of municipality and sub-institutions.
The third challenge was establishing four biodiversity pilot/demonstration sites as workshops in different areas of the municipality as a practical part of community training.
Results: 4 community gardens (demonstration areas) and 1 heat-island area created into nature-based solution.
The beneficiaries for this project were the people living in Tori municipality. With their training program the knowledge about nature biodiversity and different nature-based solutions among community members and municipality workers has increased. Trainings were about flower meadows - how to create and maintain them (in public and in private gardens).