BGMK0300064

Urban greening for healthy breathing

Interreg VI-A IPA Bulgaria - North Macedonia Programme

Specific objective RSO2.7 – Enhancing protection and preservation of nature, biodiversity and green infrastructure, including in urban areas, and reducing all forms of pollution

About the project

The project “Urban Greening for Healthy Breathing” will provide environmental, economic and social benefits in the cross-border region of Kyustendil – Kumanovo by introducing nature-friendly solutions that will allow us to better understand the advantages that nature gives to humans and to mobilize investments to maintain and increase these benefits. In other words, the green infrastructure to be implemented within the project will provide sustainable eco-system services that will contribute to human well-being and quality of life.

The project is aimed at achieving sustainable development of the green infrastructure of the Kyustendil – Kumanovo region, which would achieve synchrony and synergy with other elements of the environment. The goal of the project partners is efficient management and development of the green infrastructure, which is achievable with consistent institutional measures, professionally implemented, with public involvement, with the application of modern technological approaches and reasonable consumption of resources to improve the standard of living.

The main goal of the project is:

Achieving a sustainable functional connection of the natural and planned elements of the green system in the urbanized cross-border environment Kyustendil – Kumanovo, so that the functioning of the green infrastructure provides multiple benefits for people and continuously improves the quality of life while preserving and development of the natural environment.

Specific goal 1

Ensuring environmental, economic and social benefits in the Kyustendil – Kumanovo cross-border region through the introduction of environmentally friendly solutions in green infrastructure;

Specific goal 2
Preservation, storage and increase of natural capital, as well as protection of the health and well-being of citizens in the cross-border region;
Specific goal 3
Elaboration of joint green network solutions.
Total Budget EURO
0
Municipality of Kyustendil (euro)
0
Municipality of Kumanovo (euro)
0
Center for development of NorthEast planning region (euro)
0

The implementation of the project will be carried out through the following approaches:

  • Development of green infrastructure with sustainable use of resources and environmental protection;
  • Development of green infrastructure in synergy with the priorities of interregional cross-border development and in accordance with European policies
  • Quality maintenance and sustainable development of the green infrastructure with the application of innovative solutions
  • Construction of green infrastructure in Kyustendil region and Kumanovo region through economically efficient and environmentally friendly solutions
  • Effectiveness and efficiency of green infrastructure management

Challenges

The problems and challenges faced by the development of green infrastructure in the cross-border region Kyustendil – Kumanovo, even if they are focused only on the territory of the two cities, affect different sectors and spheres of public development and the quality of life of citizens, which requires the application of integrated, complex, complementary approaches to their resolution, which at the same time provide an opportunity for individual and local initiatives.

The development of green infrastructure will connect existing natural areas and support the maintenance of healthy, functional and sustainable urban ecosystems, thus contributing to improving the quality of the urban environment. The construction of quality green infrastructure can only be achieved through an integrated approach to the development of the urban environment and its spatial planning.

The established model of life in the modern urban environment forces the human body to cope with difficult conditions that include the accumulation of harmful substances and fatigue, mental tension, stress and all the consequences arising from modern dynamics, which together negatively affect health and impair the quality of life. Green spaces are the most natural and most desirable place for recreation in cities to restore people’s physical, mental strength and working capacity. The need for real opportunities for recreation in a natural environment requires continuous expansion of the possibilities for full use of green spaces in cities and improvement of the conditions they provide for full recreation in a “green” environment.

The project implementation aims to develop new, innovative and green cross-border approaches in the region, interconnected with the main objective of the project proposal:

  • continuous development of green infrastructure, with efficient use of resources, preservation and protection of the environment and maintenance of the functionality of ecosystems
  • development of green/ecological infrastructure in synergy with the policies and priorities of interregional development and in relation to climate change; resilience to natural disasters and environmental protection
  • construction of green infrastructure that offers cost-effective and nature-based solutions to many of the challenges of society, e.g. eco-innovations of various nature, responses to social problems, etc.
  • high-quality maintenance and sustainable development of green infrastructure, based on developed institutional capacity, through continuous investment in training and qualification of professionals and application of innovations and technological solutions;
  • effectiveness and efficiency of planning, implementation, management, monitoring and evaluation of activities for the maintenance and development of the green infrastructure of the cities of Kyustendil and Kumanovo, as an element of integrated systemic measures for inclusive, inclusive and sustainable growth of the local cross-border community.

The project will be implemented through the implementation of activities divided into two work packages.

Within both work packages, activities are foreseen to ensure the visibility of the project. The communication and publicity measures for the interventions are designed to raise awareness of the positive impact of EU funding, to ensure the visibility of EU funding opportunities, to provide information on thematic activities and to contribute to the capitalisation of the achieved results and project outputs.
Raising awareness of the effects of the use of green infrastructure on improving the quality of life in urban areas, in order to encourage activities to improve the quality of life and health through the increase of green areas, green solutions and awareness-raising and advocacy campaigns for the protection of health from climate change and air pollution at local level. Within the framework of the activity, an awareness-raising and advocacy campaign will be implemented in order to put green infrastructure at the centre of the climate change mitigation and adaptation agenda at local level.
Work package 1 - Creation of strategic conditions for greener urban areas in CBC region
Activity 1.1
Development of Green infrastructure strategy and Action Plan for North East Region, North Macedonia and Municipality of Kyustendil, Bulgaria
Recognizing the important role that green infrastructure plays in protecting the environment and improving the quality of life in urban areas, and taking into account that this type of infrastructure and this way of solving certain municipal problems in cities is still not sufficiently applied in the North-East planning region of North Macedonia and the municipality of Kyustendil in the Republic of Bulgaria, this activity will develop a green infrastructure strategy for this region. The development of a green infrastructure strategy, which defines the planning and management of green infrastructure, is key to tackling climate change. Our aim is to use the strategy to inform decision-making, planning policy and development management. In this way, conditions will undoubtedly be created for creating a healthier and more attractive place for residents, with better access to nature and high-quality open spaces. Biodiversity will also be improved throughout the region. Therefore, the aim of the Strategy is to help ensure the effective implementation of the green infrastructure agenda in the cross-border cooperation areas covered by the project. The formulation of the Strategy will involve key stakeholders. As part of the strategy development process, a series of four workshops will be conducted. The development of the Green Infrastructure Strategy should consist of several main steps – analyses, reviews, a proposal for a vision, objectives. An Action Plan will also be formulated. The activities described in the Action Plan will be oriented towards the development of new infrastructure areas or the creation of green infrastructure elements (green areas, green walls and green roofs, elements of sustainable rainwater management, planting alleys and hedges, etc.), improvement by proposing a certain qualitative change – i.e. functional changes in existing green infrastructure areas, eliminating fragmentation and creating connections, increasing the diversity of plant species, etc.
Activity 1.2
CBC network of "Green Cities"
This activity has two parts: (1) Development of a website and Facebook page and (2) Networking of relevant professionals, decision-makers, urban planners and other relevant stakeholders in the field of green infrastructure from both sides of the border.
The project web portal will be designed, developed and implemented in 3 languages: Bulgarian, Macedonian and English. Some activities within the campaign will also be implemented on this website.
Activity 1.3
Green urban area and community garden in Kumanovo

Improvement, renovation and landscaping of urban areas in Kumanovo, which includes:

  • Tree planting in Kumanovo
  • Development of green areas for water management (green streets for stormwater/rain gardens – sustainable urban drainage systems) in Kumanovo
  • Development of an urban green space and a communal garden at the “Pero Nakov” secondary school in Kumanovo
Activity 1.4
Creation of a project communication plan
This is a single-task activity that aims to develop a communication plan that will define the project’s communication strategy and will be used as a guide by the project partners to maximize its impact on target groups. The project communication plan will define the objectives, describe the target groups of the communication and dissemination activities, and outline the appropriate means, communication channels, and materials needed to reach the target groups and achieve the objectives.
Work package 2
Creation of methodical conditions for greener urban areas in CBC region
Activity 2.1
Capacity building in Kyustendil and North East region
Capacity building will begin with a series of trainings related with the green infrastructures. The main purpose of the training is to equip represents of the municipalities (departments of local economic development, urban planning and policy creation), public enterprises and other stake holders with the basic set of skills and knowledge necessary for the planning and utilization of green infrastructure. he activity will include implementation of 2 two-days trainings focused on the green infrastructure as a potential measures for solving of local and regional environmental issues.
On each training 40 represents of the invited institutions will participate (by 20 from each country). – First training will cover: “Green infrastructure basic and utilization” in Kumanovo
– Second training will cover: “Transition to the “Green city” in Kyuistendil
Activity 2.2
Green urban area in Kyustendil region

The Activity includes recovery of Green urban area in Kyustendil region, including the follwing objects:

  • – Renovation of the “Ezerata” eco park, Kyustendil city, including current repair and maintenance of the green areas, construction of ecologically clean exhibition areas for educational purposes, creation of a botanical avenue and landscaping;
  • Improvement of a recreational zone in the central part of the city of Kyustendil.
Activity 2.3 Green infrastructure awareness campaign
Raising awareness of the effects of utilization of green infrastructure on the improvement of the quality of life in the urban and peri urban areas, in order to prompt action for improvement of quality of life and health through increasing of green areas, green solution and awareness and advocacy campaigns to protect health from climate change and air pollution at local levels.
In the frame of the activity awareness-raising and advocacy campaign aiming to put green infrastructure at the center of the climate change mitigation and adaptation agenda at the local level will be implemented. The campaign will aim to clarify the role and necessary actions of the population, policy-makers and others for implementing green infrastructure measures to enhance adaptation of green solution and reduce air and other types of pollution. In this regard, the benefits for local citizens of different choices in areas such as energy efficiency, prevention of floods, green urban solutions and green areas, will be clarified and quantified. The campaign will use standard methods (billboards, brochure, audio and video spots, campaign events, presentations) and will also use innovative approaches on multimedia platforms. Relevant stakeholders, youth groups and nongovernmental organizations will be actively involved. A better understanding of the risks and effects of utilization of green infrastructure on quality of life will motivate and facilitate both behavioural change and societal support for actions taken to mitigate climate change, reduce greenhouse gas emissions and improve quality of air. Improved awareness will help municipal professionals to provide leadership in supporting rapid and comprehensive green infrastructure strategy and plans that will both improve quality of life and reduce vulnerability. Campaign will be implemented in North East Region of Republic of North Macedonia, Kumanovo and Kuystendil.

Partners

Disclaimer

This publication was funded/co-funded by the European Union. Its contents are the sole responsibility of Center for Development of North East planning region and do not necessarily reflect the views of the European Union.’