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Activities in Podluží region
In the South Moravian municipalities of Hrušky, Moravská Nová Ves, Mikulčice, Lužice and Hodonín, affected by the devastating F4 tornado in June 2021, and also in nearby Dolní Bojanovice, which was affected by flash floods 3 days before the tornado, we immediately offered long-term assistance with preventive measures in addition to humanitarian aid. These include participatory discussion of proposals for nature-friendly measures, which are developed after thorough landscape planning involving local citizens, associations, interest groups and other stakeholders. In all municipalities, we are developing Climate Action Plans, i.e. a plan for a municipality's adaptation and mitigation strategy aimed at climate-friendly measures in and around the municipality, which will be reflected, for example, in more sustainable operation of municipal buildings, use of renewable energy sources, improved cooling of surfaces during tropical summer days, and overall increased resilience of the area to climate extremes.
In Dolní Bojanovice, which is repeatedly affected by flash floods, we decided to take a very specific and even more comprehensive approach after consulting with the municipal leadership. This started with participatory meetings and planning with local residents, but also with socio-scientific research among stakeholders. The active citizens approached decided to participate in a large-scale landscape mapping exercise (more than 30km2) and, after proper training, recorded digital field data over a period of one year, dealing in particular with water retention in the landscape, pathways of concentrated runoff or erosion events in the terrain. In two workshops, all the data was discussed together and the expert institution produced a comprehensive landscape plan with dozens of proposed measures. The municipality then decided to focus on two sites in the first phase. The Fore Mountain site is a 20 hectare slope north of the village that causes flooding of the village and major property damage during heavy rainfall. Expert surveys have led to the design of soakaway swales to keep water from entering the village. We are now trying to convince about 120 owners of plots affected by the proposed measure of the proposal. The second site to be addressed is the so-called "Řešice" site, where river revitalisation in the form of meandering of the river, creation of retention pools and also recreational areas for citizens is proposed on a large municipal plot on the outskirts of the village. A technical feasibility study is now being prepared under our coordination.