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Description
We have created the Living Landscape Model, a comprehensive step-by-step approach to landscape remodelling aimed at renewing the hydrological regime. We spread this know-how among active citizens, turning it into a citizen science tool that enables anybody to effectively participate in the process of climate change adaptation.This project seeks to establish a strong civic platform which would accelerate the adaptation endeavour and put pressure on regional and state administration to start allocating more conceptual and financial resources for water retention projects in the landscape and for agricultural practice changes. The necessity of the project stems from the fact that there is currently no universal tool that would allow the Czech public to become truly involved in climate change adaptation processes. The landscape and its condition are still viewed as a responsibility of experts and farmers. Those who feel the impacts of climate change the most, i.e. rural area residents, do not possess sufficient expertise to initiate any change. This project will allow them to acquire such qualifications and provide them with ongoing support, as members of a nation-wide platform. Under our supervision, they will establish strong local communities. These will be able to, first, produce feasibility studies for specific territories, creating a basis for the remodelling of local landscapes so that they would become more resilient to climate change, and second, put pressure on public administration to start to systematically support such projects. As a result, public authorities will gain greater insight into landscape adaptation measures and be faced with a louder public demand for executing them. This will lead to many local projects, kick-starting further adaptation processes.
Summary of project results
The Living Landscape Model, a comprehensive step-by-step approach to landscape remodelling focused on renewing the hydrological regime,
was successfully upgraded during the project. The initiative aimed to disseminate this knowledge among active citizens, transforming it into
a citizen science tool that empowered individuals to actively participate in climate change adaptation processes. The primary goal was to establish
a robust civic platform that could expedite adaptation efforts and exert influence on regional and state administration, encouraging the allocation
of more conceptual and financial resources for water retention projects in the landscape and changes in agricultural practices.
The project addressed the crucial need for a universal tool allowing the Czech public to engage meaningfully in climate change adaptation.
Currently, the responsibility for the landscape and its condition is predominantly perceived as the domain of experts and farmers. The project
recognized that rural area residents, who often bear the brunt of climate change impacts, lacked the necessary expertise to initiate change.
Therefore, the initiative aimed to empower them by providing the qualifications needed and continuous support within a nation-wide platform.
Under our supervision, local communities were established, enabling residents to first produce feasibility studies for specific territories.
These studies formed the basis for the remodelling of local landscapes, enhancing their resilience to climate change. Additionally, these
communities exerted pressure on public administration to systematically support such projects. The outcome was twofold – public authorities
gained a deeper understanding of landscape adaptation measures, and there was a growing public demand for their implementation.
Consequently, numerous local projects were initiated, catalyzing further adaptation processes.
We have strengthened and expanded the civic initiative that accelerates climate change adaptation through its activities. We have involved the general
public, other non-profit organizations, and experts in the landscape restoration process, as well as newly included private companies that can fulfill their
sustainability strategies.
- We have strengthened the internal infrastructure of the organization, both in terms of personnel and IT technologies. We continue to professionalize
and stabilize the organization.
- We exert pressure on local and state administration to create systemic tools for climate change, regardless of the not entirely favorable status quo
resulting from current legislative and historical limits. The goal is to create a unified landscape adaptation plan addressing the impacts of climate change
and gradually move towards a resilient landscape. We continue participatory work with the general public and establish collaborations at the national
and international levels.
The number of people actively involved in adaptation increased through training, online tools, and mapping of local areas. Strong regional teams
of local coordinators were formed, leading public events, field mapping, and planning. The project significantly influenced local governments
and state administration, leading to improved processes for incorporating water retention projects into the fight against climate change.
Local authorities expressed interest in conducting studies in their areas, and several discussions took place with central authorities and political
entities. The project brought clarity to the association''s activities, updated the strategic plan, strengthened the organization''s financial capacity,
and adopted an ethical code.