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Description
The reason for the implementation of the project is the necessity to adapt the infrastructure of Kowary to the ongoing climate changes and to introduce solutions that will reduce their impact. The identified climate risks in the area of the city include, among others, the difficulties with rainwater retention, heat waves and deterioration of air quality or degradation of green areas. These are corroborated by the provisions of the Climate Change Adaptation Pian for the Municipality of Kowary
The project will address the above risks and problems through adaptation and mitigation activities, e.g. increasing rainwater retention capacity, revitalization and creation of green areas as well as improving water penełration in soli. These actions will invoive raising the ecological awareness of the society. The resuit will be the development of infrastructure and the increase in the residents'' ability to adapt to climate change.
The project will increase Kowary resilience to climate change, including its green areas and water management process, reduce emissions, and raise public awareness of environmental issues.
The project will be addressed to a diverse group of Kowary residents who will become more aware and educated in the field of environmental protection and will gain a better environrinent for living
The partnership has been established with a Norwegian company, Entini AS, a RES producer. A study visit of
the Requestor at the Partner''s site and a visit of the Partner''s employees to Poland are planned. The result of
the undertaken cooperation will be a code of good practices for the development of Kowary as well as the
implementation of environmental education projects. The added values of the partnership:
- increase of ecological awareness of the project recipients,
- broadening of the project recipienłs'' knowledge,
The above mentioned benefits would not be attainable withouf the project.
Summary of project results
The project aimed to increase Kowary''s resistance to negative phenomena resulting from climate change and the adaptation of urban space and communities to these changes by implementing activities in the field of green and blue infrastructure and raising ecological awareness.
The largest investment carried out as part of the project was the renovation of the "Kowary" flow-through storage reservoir on the Bystra stream.
"Green-Blue Kowary" is not only about the renovation of the retention reservoir. As part
of this project, many tasks related to green and blue infrastructure were carried out:
- "Open-air education" places were created at the Kowary kindergarten, schools and in
the House of Tradition of the City of Kowary;
- with a view to eliminating "urban heat islands", many types of trees, shrubs, perennials and other plants were planted in the city. Their purpose is not only to please our eyes.
Their main task is to collect water and bind carbon dioxide, which is unfortunately very abundant nowadays. They will also create shaded areas for hot summer days;
- an irrigation system for the turf of the Municipal Stadium was created, and the fountain was renovated at the town hall and a fountain was installed on the pond at Karkonoska Street;
- 13 rest areas for cyclists were created, sidewalks in the housing estate at Matejki Street were rebuilt so that they could retain rainwater
- as part of activities related to rainwater management, 340 rainwater tanks and 100 rain gardens were provided to units subordinated to the commune, housing communities, municipal buildings and private users;
- 8 "Green stops" were created in the city
- 4 chargers for mobile phones powered by "solar energy" were created in the city
"Green-Blue Kowary" is not only about investments. These are primarily educational and information activities
The „Kowary” reservoir has been in need of renovation for several years. As part of this project, the hydrological structure itself was revitalized. The main emphasis was placed on improving the technical condition and operational conditions of the facility. Thanks to this, it is possible to ensure the safety of Kowary residents during heavy rainfall. Additional revitalization activities will increase the biodiversity of this area and create a good place for active rest. Additional revitalization activities increased the biodiversity of the area and created a good place for active rest.
About two hundred workshops, educational festivals, training courses and seminars were conducted. They were aimed at audiences of different ages. They have been adapted to the educational needs of preschoolers through school children to seniors. There were also educational campaigns on the radio, in the press and on the Internet. About one million people benefited from all these forms of educational training.
Summary of bilateral results
Representatives of the Kowary Municipality, during the visit to the Project Partner in Norway, could learn more about many technological solutions regarding methods of obtaining heat and electricity. Many discussions were held on how to transfer these solutions to the project implementation site - Kowary. During the visit of the Norwegian Partners in Kowary, the most interesting solutions that could be implemented in the city in the future were presented to the city''s residents.During a training trip to the Norwegian Project Partner, employees of the Kowary Municipality could see many activities related to the use of natural energy sources, such as the sun or water. Some of them will be worth implementing in the Kowary Commune, both now and in the future. As part of the cooperation and exchange of experience between the project Partners, the "Code of Good Practices - Zielono-blue Kowary" was created. This Code includes, among others: solutions for rainwater management, methods of managing and using rainwater in road infrastructure, future-proof solutions for heating, which is - “GeoThermos” A high-temperature well for storing thermal energy. Activities have also been developed for future generations regarding living in harmony with the natural environment, which are aimed at ecological education.Further bilateral cooperation between project partners is planned. However, the time frame for further cooperation with the Norwegian Project Partner has not yet been determined.