Description
The project will focus on rainwater harvesting, recycling and reuse. It will involve children, parents, local communities and the general public. The objective of the project is to increas public environmental awareness in adaptation to climate change issues. Through the project implementation, the volume of rainwater that is reused will be achieved and the knowledge among children about climate change adaptation measures will be raised. The curricula focused on management of rainwater and climatic changes will be modified for the school education programme. Educational activities focused on environment will also be organised. Children, students and civil services are expected to benefit from the project implementation. The partner, the Norwegian Forest and Landscape Institute, will be responsible for monitoring and contribute to the implementation of adaptation measures in the elementary school Podhoroď.
Summary of project results
The protection of the climate and of the all environment around us is actually the protection of life itself. We have to adapt to the changes that have occured over the last period in nature, while making efforts to avoid negative changes to the whole Earth´s climate system. The long- term goal of our school was to increase the awareness of school pupils and the public about the ongoing climate change and ways to prevent and mitigate the negative consequences of these changes, that was achieved by implementation of the project. Through the project, we have put in place preventive measures against floods and droughts in the area of the school by building up two rain gardens in which plants with typical vegetation were planted. We have created systems to capture rain water from the roof of a school building into collecting drains. We have caught the rain water to the collecting vessels, to the pond and to the rain gardens. We use collected water to watering plants and trees around the school. At the same time with these works, educational activities were carried out aimed at disseminating knowledge in the field of environmental education for pupils and all those who are involved in education. We have developed a curriculum in the field of protection of environment, adaptation to climate change and managing rain water. The result of the project is mainly gaining knowledge about the environment, protection of the environment, protection from the negative effects of climate change, protection against drought and floods. Practical activities: building up two bioretention systems, the installation of eight collecting tanks, capturing 80 % of rainwater from the school roof, the construction of two rain gardens, revitalizing the surroundings of the school yard, reducing the surface of impermeable surfaces, planting water - retaining plants in the country, planting 25 pieces of trees. Education activities: two conferences, two debates, three seminars, three training sessions, creating up the curriculum about managing rain water, teaching environmental topics in ten school subjects.
Summary of bilateral results
The main results of bilateral co-operation are knowledge and experience of our Norwegian partner applying in the conditions of our country and region. We could not achieve these achievements without a generous financial contribution from a Norwegian partner, for which we are very grateful for. We hope that we will be able to cooperate and gain new environmental knowledge from our partner in the future project again.