Last updated: October 2021
A project began in June 2017 to plant grass, flowers, trees, and shrubs on 10 hectares of “muddy spots”, or unused lands that were being eroded and increasing of dust particles in the city. The aim of the project was to improve the air quality and stop these muddy areas being used as unregulated parking spots. The project was initiated and is partly implemented by the municipality, while volunteers also took part in the initiative, brought together by the citizen group called When we Become 100 000 – we Will Plant a Forest. The project planned to use compost from the new composting facility in Sofia, which reuses food waste. (Ref. 1; Ref. 2)
https://www.facebook.com/events/1327169327379153/?active_tab=discussion
Overview
Nature-based solution
- Parks and urban forests
- Pocket parks/neighbourhood green spaces
Key challenges
- Green space, habitats and biodiversity (SDG 15)
- Green space creation and/or management
- Environmental quality
- Air quality improvement
- Social justice, cohesion and equity (SDG 10)
- Social interaction
- Health and well-being (SDG 3)
- Creation of opportunities for recreation
Focus
Creation of new green areas, Maintenance and management of urban nature, Transformation of previously derelict areas
Project objectives
- Advance Sofia Municipality's goal of improving the air quality in the city
Implementation activities
- Planting grass, and where possible trees, shrubs, and flowers on muddy spots which are sources of fine dust particles in the air
- Mobilizing volunteers to take part in the planting
- Adding compost from processed food and other organic waste to the soil
- Fence the areas so that they not be used for illegal parking anymore
(Ref. 1; Ref. 2; Ref. 4)
Main beneficiaries
- Local government/Municipality
- Citizens or community groups
Governance
Management set-up
- Co-governance with government and non-government actors
Type of initiating organisation
- Local government/municipality
- Citizens or community group
Participatory approaches/ community involvement
- Joint implementation (e.g. tree planting)
Details on the roles of the organisations involved in the project
The intervention was initiated by the Municipality of Sofia. It was implemented by the Municipality with the help of about 65 volunteers from the citizen group When We Become 100 000 - we will Plant a Forest. (Ref. 1; Ref. 2; Ref. 4)
Project implemented in response to ...
... an EU policy or strategy?
Unknown
... a national policy or strategy?
Unknown
... a local policy or strategy?
Yes
(The Municipality's Programme for Control of the Air Quality in Sofia Municipality for the Period 2015 - 2020 (Ref. 3).)
Financing
Total cost
Unknown
Source(s) of funding
- Public local authority budget
Type of funding
- Earmarked public budget
Non-financial contribution
Type of non-financial contribution
- Provision of labour
Who provided the non-financial contribution?
- Citizens (e.g. volunteering)
Impacts and Monitoring
Environmental impacts
- Environmental quality
- Improved air quality
- Green space and habitat
- Increased green space area
Economic impacts
- Unknown
Socio-cultural impacts
- Social justice and cohesion
- Increased opportunities for social interaction
- Increased involvement of locals in the management of green spaces
Type of reported impacts
Expected impacts
Presence of formal monitoring system
Yes
Presence of indicators used in reporting
Yes
Presence of monitoring/ evaluation reports
Yes
Availability of a web-based monitoring tool
No evidence in public records
References
Ref. 1. Труд (2017). Озеленяват 100 дка кални паркинги в София. [online] available at: Source link [Accessed on 7 September 2020]
Ref. 2. КОГАТО СТАНЕМ 100 000 - ЩЕ ПОСАДИМ ГОРА (2017). [online] available at: Source link [Accessed on 7 September 2020]
Ref. 3. Стефанов, Б. (2015). ПРОГРАМА ЗА УПРАВЛЕНИЕ НА КАЧЕСТВОТО НА АТМОСФЕРНИЯ ВЪЗДУХ НА СТОЛИЧНА ОБЩИНА ЗА ПЕРИОДА 2015-2020 г. – НАМАЛЯВАНЕ НА ЕМИСИИТЕ И ДОСТИГАНЕ НА УСТАНОВЕНИТЕ НОРМИ ЗА ФИНИ ПРАХОВИ ЧАСТИЦИ ФПЧ10. [pdf] available at: Source link [Accessed on 7 September 2020]
Ref. 4. Пейчева, В. (2017). От "кални точки" в зелени – затревяват 100 дка в София. [online] available at: Source link [Accessed on 7 September 2020]
Ref. 2. КОГАТО СТАНЕМ 100 000 - ЩЕ ПОСАДИМ ГОРА (2017). [online] available at: Source link [Accessed on 7 September 2020]
Ref. 3. Стефанов, Б. (2015). ПРОГРАМА ЗА УПРАВЛЕНИЕ НА КАЧЕСТВОТО НА АТМОСФЕРНИЯ ВЪЗДУХ НА СТОЛИЧНА ОБЩИНА ЗА ПЕРИОДА 2015-2020 г. – НАМАЛЯВАНЕ НА ЕМИСИИТЕ И ДОСТИГАНЕ НА УСТАНОВЕНИТЕ НОРМИ ЗА ФИНИ ПРАХОВИ ЧАСТИЦИ ФПЧ10. [pdf] available at: Source link [Accessed on 7 September 2020]
Ref. 4. Пейчева, В. (2017). От "кални точки" в зелени – затревяват 100 дка в София. [online] available at: Source link [Accessed on 7 September 2020]
Volunteers planting flowers
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