Between drought and flooding. Blue and green infrastructure in Lesna

About this project

<p>Leśna, like other communes in the Sudetes, is struggling with floods (2010, 2013) and droughts (2015, 2018). Poor water management causes that there is less and less groundwater, and with heavy rainfall, streams cause floods and inundation. Research was carried out among representatives of 12 communes in the region, which allowed for the analysis of the initial situation regarding the knowledge and capacity gaps related to blue and green infrastructure implementation for climate change adapt.&nbsp;</p> <p>&nbsp;</p> <p>Implementing innovative blue&amp;green infrastructure (BGI), providing retention capacity of 2700 m3 and revitalization of 9500 m2 greenery. Equipping key stakeholders with effective tools for BGI implementation, through seminars and conferences. Raising awareness about the connection between landscape management and climate change adaptation &amp;capacity to implement simple but effective nature based solutions among non-specialists, via demonstration site, publication, tutorial videos, workshops, education events.&nbsp;</p> <p>&nbsp;</p> <p>Adapt Lesna to climate change. Create Izery Climate Adaptation Center (regional scale capacity building institution). Raise awareness&amp;knowledge about climate change adapt. via BGI among target groups.&nbsp;</p> <p>&nbsp;</p> <p>Decision makers in Izery Region via seminar and conference. Inhabitants, farmers and tourists in Lesna and the Izery region via capacity building events. Future BGI designers via specialist trainings.&nbsp;&nbsp;</p>

Bilateral cooperation results

The participation of the Norwegian Partner (COWI) in the project enriched educational activities with additional content based on the Partner's extensive knowledge and experience in the implementation of comprehensive solutions for blue-green infrastructure. The participation of the Partner's representatives in the seminar inaugurating the project raised its profile, and the presentation of the possibilities offered by solutions based on nature using examples of completed investments from various places around the world. In particular, COWI’s projects from Norway and Iceland inspired the seminar participants and other partners. The main result of the bilateral cooperation was the exchange of good practices and knowledge, as well as mutual inspiration for further actions in the implementation of blue-green infrastructure solutions. We do not have a plan to continue cooperation with COWI at the moment. However, we maintain such an option if in the future an idea to implement a similar investment project appears, in which the experience of such a large consulting company would bring significant value to the project.

Project partners

• Aquateam COWI AS Donor project partner· Norway
• Leśna Municipallity Project partner· Poland