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Description
An environmental issue in the context of climate change is the fact that the civil society lacks the means and support to be involved in the management of public green spaces, despite the fact that Law 24/2007 regarding the regulation of urban green spaces,stipulates the right of everyone to contribute to improve the quality of those green spaces. The project proposes a solution to the issue, an interactive mobile application with a watchdog role, by using the local register of green spaces of Miercurea-Ciuc, meant to open an efficient communication channel between the civil society and decision makers. The main activities aim to involve 3400 citizens (of which at least 2500 will download the mobile application) with an emphasis on the younger generation (14-35 years) as final beneficiaries, within the information and awareness campaigns, ecological education, civic activism and public advocacy debates. The Applicant will benefit from the increase of its organizational capacity through HR management activities, methodologies for monitoring the objectives and the achieved results. Miercurea-Ciuc City Hall,as one of the final beneficiaries, will benefit from an efficient communication tool and an updated information package about its trees/green spaces. An Administration-Citizens Interaction Strategy will be elaborated together with the civil society, within the advocacy campaign, for the management of green spaces, based on the use of the mobile application. As a result of the campaign, a Decision of the Local Council will be elaborated to assimilate the Strategy. The Green Szeklerland Association will be involved in carrying out extracurricular activities in local educational institutions, and in the communication, awareness and advocacy campaigns. They will bring to the project over 15 years of experience in ecological education and the municipality as administrator of green spaces brings expertise and commitment to improve the partnership with civil society.
Summary of project results
An environmental issue in the context of climate change is the fact that the civil society lacks the means and support to be involved in the management of public green spaces, despite the fact that Law 24/2007 regarding the regulation of urban green spaces,stipulates the right of everyone to contribute to improve the quality of those green spaces.
In the Municipality of Miercurea-Ciuc, there were assessed 500 trees, creating a database with information on species, diameter, height, age, vitality, maintenance, risk. This, together with the Local Green Spaces Register, formed the data base for the development of the interactive TREES App, acting as a watchdog and facilitating communication between civil society and decision makers. The application, civic activism and an environmental education program were promoted in 12 educational institutions, involving 886 students. In the advocacy campaign, a Working Group was created with project'' partners and other 8 local NGOs in order to elaborate an action plan and a sustainability strategy. 10 public debates with local public institutions, involving 81 people, in order to elaborate a City Council Decision on the adoption and approval of the Mobile App Sustainability Strategy.
The project beneficiaries included 886 educated young people, 2,539 citizens registered as users of the app, and 224 citizens who participated in the advocacy campaign and public debates. Additionally, 10 NGOs and the project team increased their organizational capacity by developing transparent procedures, standards, and methodologies, and by participating in training sessions. The project fostered openness and support from the local community. The close working relationships established with local NGOs have proven to be very useful. The TREES app is available for IOS and android on: https://projectbag.org/trees/